Meditation

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Meditation

• any attempt to focus and maintain awareness on a
  stimulus that is unchanging or repetitive

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Meditation has its roots in religion...

• Hinduism
• Taoism
• Buddhism
• Christianity

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Goals of Meditation

• Shut off rationality (LB)
• Turn on intuition (RB)
• Access spiritual states of consciousness

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Types of Meditation

• Inclusive - e.g., zazen (everything)
• Exclusive - e.g., prayer, word / phrase, images

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Characteristics of Meditation

• Quiet environment conducive to
  single-mindedness and fast learning
• Specific posture physically comfortable, minimal
  muscle tension (sitting or lying, hands)
• Meditation objects focal point of meditation
• Passive volition gentle return to focus and
  concentration
• Regular practice 2x per day at same time (5 - 10
  minutes)

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Tibetan Mandala (Hindu)
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Tibetan Mandala (Hindu)
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Dineh Sandpainting (Navajo)
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Lakota (Sioux) Medicine Wheel
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Christian Stained Glass
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New Age Symbol
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Other Meditation Objects

• mantra (word or phrase)
• koan (answerless riddle)
• pranayama (breath)
• tratak (visual mantra - e.g., candle flame)
• nadam (repeating sounds - e.g., ocean waves)
• chanting (e.g., Gregorian)
• dervish (e.g., Muslim mystics)
• worry stone

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Physiological Effects of Meditation

• ? skin resistance
• ? alpha wave production

• ? oxygen consumption
• ? blood glucose
• ? heart rate
• ? blood pressure
• ? muscle tension

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Contraindications

• Metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes, thyroid
  problems)
• Depressive psychological types
• Para-sympathetic dominants
• Severe arrhythmias

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Activity Breathing in Pairs