1 Join me in Meditation UPDATED
just like my broccoli sprout seedlings need water and sunlight and care everyday.
meditation needs to be regular everyday to get increasing benefits from it.
If you are a meditator post any questions or research here in this thread. i would be really interested.
I am still developing my practice but can clearly feel the benefits.
Just goggle meditation, mindfulness and cancer.
Lots of clinical trials prove its benefits, its free and easy.
goodluck and ask any questions here.
The motivation for my practise is that our lives are too busy, too stressful.
Meditation can offer alot of peace of mind, pain relief and improved immunity.
You can read the biology of belief or molecules of emotion if your interested in this subject area of mind body interaction.
i believe i have lots of benefits in fighting cancer with the power of my mind.
some may dispute this. its not something i choose to argue, i would rather channel my energies in discussion amongst like minded meditators or those interested in trying it.
it costs nothing but time and what it offers is up to your mind.
http://shamrockdesign.com/sitesOffline/sp/pdfs/Med_The_Effect_of_a_Mindfulness_Meditation-Based_Stress_Reduction_Program_on_Mood_and_Symptoms_of_Stress_in_Cancer_Outpatients.pdf
I owe my practise of meditation to petria king and ian gawler and the meditation support group i attend at the san hospital cancer support center. i am indebted to them all.
Guided image based meditation is relaxing but deep mindfulness meditation is required to unlock the healing powers of the mind per meditation guru who is a phd lecture on this very subject at monash school of medicine.
The goal of my meditation is peace of mind POM, healing and health and a strong immune system.
Your oncologist may not recommend this, mine did not. But its my mind and i will do absolutely nothing with it if i want too. Our oncologists are essential but they do not know everything. see the research below. I will get better research papers when i comeback from the ian gawler conference this weekend.
For me this is about taking control of my health and well being. If you notice the walking thread, this offers the balance. one is physically active this one is the exact opposite. although i do walking meditation on the treadmill but that for a separate reply another day.
hugs,
pete
http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/Melatonin_Cancer.html
Using Meditation To Increase Melatonin Levels
Studies have revealed those who meditate have low rates of cancer. Meditation is a tool to directly increase melatonin production as well as a tool to indirectly increase melatonin production by inducing deep sleep.
Meditation for Melatonin involves meditating for 20-30 minutes twice daily, during the morning and the evening to stimulate the pineal gland of the brain. Stimulation of the pineal gland produces melatonin.
Meditating during the evening serves two purposes. Firstly, it stimulates the pineal gland production of melatonin for that evenings sleep, and secondly, it calms and quietens the mind allowing for uninterrupted sleep. Studies at the University of Texas showed that melatonin administered to rats in the evening reduced tumour size greatly over melatonin administered in the morning. Other factors that lower melatonin levels include: High protein diets, overeating, chronic stress, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, lack of natural lighting during the day, sleep deprivation, and sleeping in a room that is not pitch black due to moonlight, streetlight or other.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22065424
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15865493
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18704692
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21116746
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21035021
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21035949 My favourite, skip to the conclusion.
Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators.
Jacobs TL, Epel ES, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Wolkowitz OM, Bridwell DA, Zanesco AP, Aichele SR, Sahdra BK, MacLean KA, King BG, Shaver PR, Rosenberg EL, Ferrer E, Wallace BA, Saron CD.
Source
UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain, Davis, CA 95618, USA. tljacobs@ucdavis.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Telomerase activity is a predictor of long-term cellular viability, which decreases with chronic psychological distress (Epel et al., 2004). Buddhist traditions claim that meditation decreases psychological distress and promotes well-being (e.g., Dalai Lama and Cutler, 2009). Therefore, we investigated the effects of a 3-month meditation retreat on telomerase activity and two major contributors to the experience of stress: Perceived Control (associated with decreased stress) and Neuroticism (associated with increased subjective distress). We used mediation models to test whether changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism explained meditation retreat effects on telomerase activity. In addition, we investigated whether two qualities developed by meditative practice, increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life, accounted for retreat-related changes in the two stress-related variables and in telomerase activity.
METHODS:
Retreat participants (n=30) meditated for ∼6 h daily for 3 months and were compared with a wait-list control group (n=30) matched for age, sex, body mass index, and prior meditation experience. Retreat participants received instruction in concentrative meditation techniques and complementary practices used to cultivate benevolent states of mind (Wallace, 2006). Psychological measures were assessed pre- and post-retreat. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples were collected post-retreat for telomerase activity. Because there were clear, a priori hypotheses, 1-tailed significance criteria were used throughout.
RESULTS:
Telomerase activity was significantly greater in retreat participants than in controls at the end of the retreat (p<0.05). Increases in Perceived Control, decreases in Neuroticism, and increases in both Mindfulness and Purpose in Life were greater in the retreat group (p<0.01). Mediation analyses indicated that the effect of the retreat on telomerase was mediated by increased Perceived Control and decreased Neuroticism. In turn, changes in Perceived Control and Neuroticism were both partially mediated by increased Mindfulness and Purpose in Life. Additionally, increases in Purpose in Life directly mediated the telomerase group difference, whereas increases in Mindfulness did not.
CONCLUSIONS:
This is the first study to link meditation and positive psychological change with telomerase activity. Although we did not measure baseline telomerase activity, the data suggest that increases in perceived control and decreases in negative affectivity contributed to an increase in telomerase activity, with implications for telomere length and immune cell longevity. Further, Purpose in Life is influenced by meditative practice and directly affects both perceived control and negative emotionality, affecting telomerase activity directly as well as indirectly.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PMID: 21035949 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Comments
-
Pete
I am a strong believer in meditation though I haven't practiced it regularly lately. It is something that I believe is essential to health, like a healthful diet, exercise, and sleep. I had joined a meditation group last year that was offered through the hospital where I had surgery and treatment. I still have the cd; I just need to start using it regularly.
~Audrey0 -
After my diagnosis, I
After my diagnosis, I started to see a healer who uses hypnosis and guided imagery to help me relax and breathe. Since then, I have also used CDs for meditation and TAT for changing my mindset. I am a different person on the inside since starting these practices. My chatty mind has finally calmed down. I am working on getting to a deeper state of meditation. Whether this will help my immune system keep cancer at bay, I do not know. But I do know it's good for me. I am finally learning to slow down my mind and relish simple ordinary moments that I'm finding are anything but ordinary. I spent the last year so stressed with work that I'm sure it did not help my condition, what was going on in my body. Interestingly, people typically view me as a calm, mellow person. Little did they know the continual mind storm I had going on. It feels good to have released some of that.
As far as walking goes, I feel like there is a cadence of healing with it, like lymph node action. That's just what I feel and I'm sure going to miss it while I'm recovering from surgery. As I said before, I don't know how these things will affect my outcome but they make me feel good in the moment.0 -
thanks audAud said:Pete
I am a strong believer in meditation though I haven't practiced it regularly lately. It is something that I believe is essential to health, like a healthful diet, exercise, and sleep. I had joined a meditation group last year that was offered through the hospital where I had surgery and treatment. I still have the cd; I just need to start using it regularly.
~Audrey
Best of luck getting the habit started,guided is ok but mindful gets results as I was toldhug,
Pete0 -
thanks laura for sharing your experiencelauragb said:After my diagnosis, I
After my diagnosis, I started to see a healer who uses hypnosis and guided imagery to help me relax and breathe. Since then, I have also used CDs for meditation and TAT for changing my mindset. I am a different person on the inside since starting these practices. My chatty mind has finally calmed down. I am working on getting to a deeper state of meditation. Whether this will help my immune system keep cancer at bay, I do not know. But I do know it's good for me. I am finally learning to slow down my mind and relish simple ordinary moments that I'm finding are anything but ordinary. I spent the last year so stressed with work that I'm sure it did not help my condition, what was going on in my body. Interestingly, people typically view me as a calm, mellow person. Little did they know the continual mind storm I had going on. It feels good to have released some of that.
As far as walking goes, I feel like there is a cadence of healing with it, like lymph node action. That's just what I feel and I'm sure going to miss it while I'm recovering from surgery. As I said before, I don't know how these things will affect my outcome but they make me feel good in the moment.
I did hypnotism also.
Goodluck
Hugs,
Pete0 -
Pete
Pete,
Soon after **** was diagnosed I spoke to Dean Ornish, MD a doctor who in the US who has proven studies on reversing heart disease (he is working on cancer studies now). The protocol he teaches includes healthy diet, exercise, spiritual health and meditation. He discussed with me how the meditation was the hardest one for people to implement but that it was essential to get the full benefits of the program.
Just yesterday I knew that I was having way to much mind chatter and did just a bit of meditation and breathing. It calmed me. Your words have encouraged me to go on and try some more. I know this is good for the caregiver as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Aloha,
Kathleen0 -
for me its a real challengeketziah35 said:short answer!
I cannot relax to meditate to relax. How do you turn off the brain? BTW I still have low vitamin D.
i am reading three top books at the same time
molecules of emotion, super immunity and changing habits changing lives.
researching my super vegan diet witha crc focus. really busy miond as well.
i had to go on a retreat to master the technique, now i have got, i use it everywhere.
every at the red lights while driving, while waiting for friends.
today i met some mates for a walk, i got their 20 min early and sat and metitated in the car.
making it a priority for me or it does not happen. based on my research its fundamental to the health of my mind, now given that the mind controls our bodily health its easy to how meditation has many specific benefits for body health.
meditation for me is a paradox in our society, just like eating.
its hard to control what goes into our mouths, and look how fat we are becoming ( not me through)
its equally hard to control what comes into our minds. i don't read newspapers or watch tv. i have other much more enjoyable and rewarding life enhancing activities i pursue.
to start just download some guided imagery audio and relax. i have been exposed to meditation in groups as well, so maybe try to find a group weekly to get started.
its so life enhancing for me, i have a smartphone meditation time that tracks my sessions and progress.
hunt on the network for a free beginners course, if you find something worthwhile, post it here. getting our immune system firing is the primary benefit i am focused on , but pom is a nice side benefit.
that said i say pom is my main goal, so if i miss a walk, a juice or a supplement or loose my temper then i just think pom is most important, i gently come back to the main focus of my life. pom.
goodluck ketziah, i hope you find a way to relax. if you seek peace you will likely find it, i did. i hope you do. if you do share it here, it may help other newbies!!!!
i often meditate in the sun, i get vitamin d at the same time as peace of mind pom and its really healing and relaxing.
hugs,
pete0 -
this looked okketziah35 said:short answer!
I cannot relax to meditate to relax. How do you turn off the brain? BTW I still have low vitamin D.
http://meditation.org.au/class1.asp0 -
hi aud,Aud said:Pete
I am a strong believer in meditation though I haven't practiced it regularly lately. It is something that I believe is essential to health, like a healthful diet, exercise, and sleep. I had joined a meditation group last year that was offered through the hospital where I had surgery and treatment. I still have the cd; I just need to start using it regularly.
~Audrey
do you knw why sleep
hi aud,
do you knw why sleep is so imprtant.
http://www.alternative-cancer-care.com/Melatonin_Cancer.html
i am asking for my first blood test to measure melatonin this week.
i don't get enough sleep, to much reading! i am about to start popping melatonin supplements before bed, gives an extra deep sleep.
hugs,
pete0 -
hey Petepete43lost_at_sea said:thanks aud
Best of luck getting the habit started,guided is ok but mindful gets results as I was toldhug,
Pete
hey Pete. what is mindful meditation? how is it different than guided?
(I am not online frequently; still need to replace my computer so I use my Boyfriend's on weekends and sometimes at work at the end of the day.)
As far as sleep goes, I dream too much and wake up frequently - has been happening for years. I had a sleep study a couple years ago; mild/borderline apnea with no treatment suggested at this time.
One (I believe) healthy change I've made recently is adopting a low carb diet. For me this was extreme. No sugars, no white flour, no starches. Atkins style. I had started to gain weight again and I decided to do this. An unexpected benefit was that I no longer have hip/left thigh pain. It went away the first week. I still have tightness of course, and I do stretches. The other benefit, besides losing weight, is no longer having cravings.
~Audrey0 -
Dean Ornish is a legendKathleen808 said:Pete
Pete,
Soon after **** was diagnosed I spoke to Dean Ornish, MD a doctor who in the US who has proven studies on reversing heart disease (he is working on cancer studies now). The protocol he teaches includes healthy diet, exercise, spiritual health and meditation. He discussed with me how the meditation was the hardest one for people to implement but that it was essential to get the full benefits of the program.
Just yesterday I knew that I was having way to much mind chatter and did just a bit of meditation and breathing. It calmed me. Your words have encouraged me to go on and try some more. I know this is good for the caregiver as well.
Thanks for sharing.
Aloha,
Kathleen
its great we have some here getting the benefits, is this dicks cup of tea? my wife and i meditate together as often as possible.
hugs,
pete
ps its great for everyone, especially for coping with the stress of loving someone with cancer. your so lucky to have met a legend.
http://www.integrativepractitioner.com/article.aspx?id=18127
dean said this in the lancet
…And the only side-effects are good ones
Dean Ornish a
If we want to bend the cost curve—ie, reduce the rate of annual increases in health-care spending—many effective ways are outlined in the Commission for The Lancet Oncology 1 and in other recent reports. 2 However, one of the simplest yet most cost-effective approach may be encouraging patients to eat and live more healthfully. Prevention is not only better than cure, it's also cheaper and more compassionate.0 -
Meditation and TAi Chi
Meditation and Tai Chi have been encouraged by the Integrative Medicine Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I used relaxation response in delivering my two sons during mid 1970's. I continued to use it when getting shots or doing dental work for the past 30 years. I also used it instead of anti nausea medications during the days at home on 5Fu while doing Folfox.
The Mayo Clinic has several instructional CD's for meditation some which teach guided relaxations, imagery, and Tai Chi.
Meditation is helpful with losing weight and getting more deep sleep.
Thanks Pete for encouraging those who want to change their lives for a more healthy lifestyle.
NB0 -
I have done visualizationspete43lost_at_sea said:for me its a real challenge
i am reading three top books at the same time
molecules of emotion, super immunity and changing habits changing lives.
researching my super vegan diet witha crc focus. really busy miond as well.
i had to go on a retreat to master the technique, now i have got, i use it everywhere.
every at the red lights while driving, while waiting for friends.
today i met some mates for a walk, i got their 20 min early and sat and metitated in the car.
making it a priority for me or it does not happen. based on my research its fundamental to the health of my mind, now given that the mind controls our bodily health its easy to how meditation has many specific benefits for body health.
meditation for me is a paradox in our society, just like eating.
its hard to control what goes into our mouths, and look how fat we are becoming ( not me through)
its equally hard to control what comes into our minds. i don't read newspapers or watch tv. i have other much more enjoyable and rewarding life enhancing activities i pursue.
to start just download some guided imagery audio and relax. i have been exposed to meditation in groups as well, so maybe try to find a group weekly to get started.
its so life enhancing for me, i have a smartphone meditation time that tracks my sessions and progress.
hunt on the network for a free beginners course, if you find something worthwhile, post it here. getting our immune system firing is the primary benefit i am focused on , but pom is a nice side benefit.
that said i say pom is my main goal, so if i miss a walk, a juice or a supplement or loose my temper then i just think pom is most important, i gently come back to the main focus of my life. pom.
goodluck ketziah, i hope you find a way to relax. if you seek peace you will likely find it, i did. i hope you do. if you do share it here, it may help other newbies!!!!
i often meditate in the sun, i get vitamin d at the same time as peace of mind pom and its really healing and relaxing.
hugs,
pete
I have done visualizations of me being in peaceful places. I am a very busy womana. Even at church I am thinling of a lot of things.0 -
I have a very active andrelaxoutdoors08 said:Meditation and TAi Chi
Meditation and Tai Chi have been encouraged by the Integrative Medicine Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. I used relaxation response in delivering my two sons during mid 1970's. I continued to use it when getting shots or doing dental work for the past 30 years. I also used it instead of anti nausea medications during the days at home on 5Fu while doing Folfox.
The Mayo Clinic has several instructional CD's for meditation some which teach guided relaxations, imagery, and Tai Chi.
Meditation is helpful with losing weight and getting more deep sleep.
Thanks Pete for encouraging those who want to change their lives for a more healthy lifestyle.
NB
I have a very active and inquisitive mind.Difficult to quiet it down, maybe because I am a retired lawyer and always investigating some thing or another..
We only use a small portion of our brain. By meditating and relaxing our thoughts and then visualizing a healthy colon I feel is part of our battle. It works for me. It is strange but when my colon acts up, I sit on the floor with 1 candle placed in front,1 behind and 2 beside me, I go to a quiet place in my mind and visualize my colon to relax. Within minutes, the cramps stop. Really strange.
Our mind is much more part of us then we think.
Hugs Marjan0 -
dear ketz, relax and thingythingy45 said:I have a very active and
I have a very active and inquisitive mind.Difficult to quiet it down, maybe because I am a retired lawyer and always investigating some thing or another..
We only use a small portion of our brain. By meditating and relaxing our thoughts and then visualizing a healthy colon I feel is part of our battle. It works for me. It is strange but when my colon acts up, I sit on the floor with 1 candle placed in front,1 behind and 2 beside me, I go to a quiet place in my mind and visualize my colon to relax. Within minutes, the cramps stop. Really strange.
Our mind is much more part of us then we think.
Hugs Marjan
busy minds, active and inquistive.
i think we all share that in common. thanks for posting its so nice to connect on areas of our journey beyond the specifics of crc itself and for want of a better analogy get on a plain of existence where we need dealing with the unpleastantness of our disease.
so i meditate and leave it along way, way down. i feel like i am an eagle flying around, looking down on my existance. its very peaceful in the clouds.
did a very deep meditation today, over a few hours and am just coming back to reality and got a nice yoga workout in this morning.
Also did 50 laps of swimming which is very meditative in a sense, followed this up with 10 minutes meditation in the sauna and 15 minutes in the spa at the pool. very relaxing and healthy.
hugs,
pete0 -
meditated while waiting for my ct scan todaypete43lost_at_sea said:dear ketz, relax and thingy
busy minds, active and inquistive.
i think we all share that in common. thanks for posting its so nice to connect on areas of our journey beyond the specifics of crc itself and for want of a better analogy get on a plain of existence where we need dealing with the unpleastantness of our disease.
so i meditate and leave it along way, way down. i feel like i am an eagle flying around, looking down on my existance. its very peaceful in the clouds.
did a very deep meditation today, over a few hours and am just coming back to reality and got a nice yoga workout in this morning.
Also did 50 laps of swimming which is very meditative in a sense, followed this up with 10 minutes meditation in the sauna and 15 minutes in the spa at the pool. very relaxing and healthy.
hugs,
pete
did yoga on the plane flight melbourne to sydney this morning, a lovelly hosty gave me her card, she was a yoga instructor. its one way to beat dvt nd crc at the same time.
anyone else meditating today ?
just curious.
the exercise post is going well.
does anyone want to join me here posting about our daily meditations, to raise the awarness of meditation in the crc community.
the science is convincing for me. I am happy to let this thread disappear with all the other dead threads if i cannot get a few people to actively join in this very worthwhile pursuit.
hugs,
pete0
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