| Meditation is a discipline where the mind is focused | | | | fastest brain wave, beta. The frequency of beta |
| either on an object or on breathing. It has been | | | | waves are generally from 15-40 cycles per second. |
| described as ‘self regulation of attention, in the | | | | The next brain wave is called alpha, which are slower |
| service of self-inquiry, in the here and now.” | | | | and indicates someone who may be sitting down and |
| There have been numerous articles in major | | | | resting after completion of a task, taking a walk in a |
| magazines as well as in medical journals of the | | | | garden or meditating is considered to be in an |
| positive benefits of meditation from reducing stress to | | | | ‘alpha state’ or using the alpha brain wave. The |
| healing the physical body. Meditation has been known | | | | frequency of alpha waves are between 9-14 cycles |
| in eastern religions for more than 5,000 years as a | | | | per minute. |
| quest for spirituality. | | | | The third brain wave is called theta, which is even |
| Today, there are different types of meditation from | | | | slower than the alpha brain wave. Theta waves are |
| the spiritual to psychophysical disciplines, which | | | | considered active when you are daydreaming. If you |
| emphasizes the development of a high degree of | | | | are driving down a highway and can’t remember |
| mental concentration. | | | | the last few miles, you are or were in a theta state. |
| In one small study by the University of | | | | The repetitiousness of a task can often allow us to |
| Wisconsin-Madison, 25 Madison-area employees went | | | | complete the task without thinking about it. Theta |
| into an eight-week meditation training program to study | | | | cycles are between 5-8 cycles per second. |
| the mind-body connection. After training, results | | | | The last brain wave is called delta. Delta waves are |
| showed nearly a 50 percent increase in electrical | | | | shown during a deep and dreamless sleep. The cycle |
| activity in the left frontal area, (the part of the brain | | | | range is between 2-3 cycles per second. |
| associated with positive emotions and anxiety | | | | Brain waves can also be changed by sound. Music |
| reduction,) of the brain. The study also included the | | | | can change the brain waves from active to relaxed. |
| administration of flu shots to the employees. Sixteen | | | | Through external stimuli, such as a tone playing in one |
| other employees also received the shots, but received | | | | ear at 440 hertz and a tone being played at 448 hertz |
| no meditation training. The study found that the | | | | in the other ear, the person listening will hear 8 hertz |
| meditators on average had a five percent increase in | | | | per minute. Although not really a ‘tone’, it is |
| flu antibodies and some had an increase of up to 25 | | | | created within the brain stem which synthesizes the |
| percent. This goes far in proving meditation can have a | | | | two tones, bringing together the right and left |
| positive affect on the body and the mind. | | | | hemispheres of the brain. |
| It has been found through study that meditation actually | | | | Meditation in itself changes brain waves and this helps |
| changes brain waves. Because the brain is an | | | | one to learn how to relax, which in turn will allow one |
| electrochemical organ and works off electromagnetic | | | | to be able to better deal with everyday stresses and |
| power, meditation will alter the brain waves. | | | | emotional issues. It could also lead one into becoming |
| Science has classified four categories of brain waves. | | | | more self-aware and more observant of those things |
| When the brain is aroused and active, usually during | | | | around us. |
| the activities of every day life, you are using the | | | | |