Only now is science confirming the knowledge that has been available to people for 5000 thousand years. The postulates set forth in the spiritual and sacred writings of the East and other ancient texts emphasize the positive impact of meditation. Science is currently agreeing with the Vedic teachings.
Meditation has a powerful effect on human health, and experienced meditators are endowed with superhuman abilities. Their practice and ability to influence the body and mind really deserve close attention. The latest scientific research has proven how beneficial meditation can be. If you do this practice on a regular basis, you can change the human genome.
Experiment in a resort town
A team of American researchers conducted a five-day experiment at the OMNI La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California. The scientists selected women between the ages of 30 and 60 as volunteers. Each of the participants had never had any meditation experience before. The women faced a simple task. The first group of participants mastered the practice of meditation for beginners, and the second group rested in its usual mode. The researchers then compared the results obtained in both groups in relation to each other, as well as in relation to the results of women who meditate on a regular basis. The general health of the participants was examined twice: before the five-day course, and also after its completion. In addition, control tests were performed after a month and after 10 months.
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What interested the researchers in the first place?
Standard psychological tests were used to determine symptoms of depression and perceived stress levels. On the first and fifth day of the experiment, the participants took blood for biomarkers of aging and analysis of the composition of RNA sequences.
What were the results?
Rest and meditation improve your overall psychological well-being. This was eloquently evidenced by psychological tests in all three groups of subjects. Although all women showed significant improvements in emotional well-being, in the long term, the beginner meditators showed the largest increases in depression resistance. In this regard, the following conclusion can be drawn: a regular resort vacation improves well-being only for a short period of time. Meditation is subject to more lasting changes.
How do genes affect resistance to stress?
Usually, when a person is on vacation, his body accumulates genes responsible for stress resistance, wound healing, and the level of injury. In the presented experiment, scientists focused their attention on the MME and FOXO3 genes, which are commonly associated with stress. This study provides the first documentary evidence that meditation decreases FOXO3 gene expression.
The effect of meditation
According to the results of the experiment, the researchers identified a phenomenon that they managed to dub the "meditation effect". The bodies of participants meditating on a regular basis showed a clear gene structure with cellular functions associated with anti-aging. Despite the fact that vacation often increases the expression of gene networks associated with mental and physical well-being of the body, this effect may not be sustained throughout the year. People are not able to go on vacation six times a year at a time when they feel the need for it. But now we have a more efficient alternative. According to scientists, the effect of meditation may be more sustainable, but this requires resorting to practice on an ongoing basis. In such a case, meditators are continuously reaping the benefits of welfare.
Gene network formation
Groups of genes interacting with each other take control of the phenotypic traits of systems encoded in the genome. These structures have the ability to self-regulation, which is achieved through closed loops with feedback. RNA and DNA cells actively interact with each other, which makes it possible to regulate the organization of the entire gene network.
Other experiments
There have been other studies in academia that support the benefits of meditation for the mind and body. Thus, a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University revealed changes in the structure of the gray matter of the brain in just eight weeks of continuous practice. This incredible discovery was made with a magnetic resonance imaging machine that scanned the brains of 16 volunteers over a two-week experiment.
Relaxation reaction
Another Harvard study found that meditation can help reduce the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improve the microflora of the digestive tract. The experiment showed that positive changes are achieved by improving the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. The so-called "relaxation response" is due to a decrease in the amplitude of alpha and theta waves. The meditators showed significant reductions in irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, a decrease in anxiety, and an overall improvement in quality of life.
Conclusion
If you are not already familiar with meditation, you should know that this ancient practice is for everyone. There is no circle of chosen persons, especially since there is no specific scheme for mastering the technique. If you don't have the skills, just learn to disconnect your mind from external stimuli and completely immerse yourself in yourself. Then direct your thoughts to the feeling of the functioning of the internal systems of the body.
Inga Kaisina
