We've all heard about the many benefits of meditation. It can calm the mind and body, reduce the negative effects of stress and release tension. Meditation also helps us gain more inner balance and peace. More medical professionals are now recommending meditation to patients as a way to decompress and relieve stress.
A 2004 Center for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 19 million people in the United States practice some form of meditation. While meditation has become an accepted way of reducing stress and anxiety, there are still many people who either have little time to dedicate to the art of meditation; or have been told by their doctor they should meditate but don't know how. Perhaps they feel frustrated trying to sit still and quiet their mind.
A key goal of meditation is to calm a racing mind. When we can learn how to turn down mental noise and tap into an inner stillness, we connect with deeper feelings and the intuitive guidance of our heart. However, quite often many of us find that we spend a good portion of our meditation trying to chill and quiet the persistence of the mind. It's hard to unplug when your mind won't turn off. Many people tell us they are so fatigued that they fall asleep during their meditation time.
While we all need to unplug and recharge, the most common struggle is finding something that works and making time for it. There is a solution that can give you a lot of the benefits of meditation within a few short minutes.
Through 20 years of research on the effects of emotions on physiology, the Institute of HeartMath developed a simple yet powerful technique called Quick Coherence(R) that enables you to recharge in as little as three to five minutes. Using this technique a couple times a day brings you more inner clarity and balance.
You're probably wondering what "coherence" is. It's a term used by researchers to describe a highly efficient psycho-physiological state in which your nervous system, cardiovascular, hormonal and immune systems are working together efficiently and harmoniously. How do you get into this state of coherence?
Research has found that the pattern of your heart rhythm reflects the state of your emotions and nervous system dynamics. For example, when you are feeling tense, irritable, impatient, frustrated or anxious, your heart rhythm shifts into a disordered and incoherent pattern, like the diagram below. No wonder you can't calm your mind in this state.
Your heart signals "incoherence" to the brain, which inhibits your higher brain functions and triggers a stress response. You can't perceive as clearly and old emotional issues can start coming to the surface.
On the other hand, when you're feeling positive emotions, like sincere appreciation, care, compassion or love, your heart rhythm shifts into a more harmonious and coherent pattern, reflecting the emotional balance you feel inside. Your heart sends coherent signals to the brain and the brain synchronizes to the heart's coherent rhythm. You get into this state of coherence by learning how to shift your emotional state, and then heart coherence helps to calm your mind.
Heart coherence also triggers positive hormonal releases. This makes it easier to experience peace, positive feelings and a deeper meditative state more quickly.
You can use the Quick Coherence techniqueto bring your heart rhythms into coherence and enable your brain to synchronize with your heart's coherent rhythm. Start by learning how to shift into a heart-focused, positive emotional state through three simple steps.
Quick Coherence Technique
The next step is to take this technique and make it a habit. Do this by picking certain times of the day when you can give yourself a guilt-free three to five minutes to focus on your heart: Start of your day, right before lunch, just before bed. Waiting in line is also a great time to use this technique instead of getting aggravated. You'll be amazed at how different your experience of waiting can be. Instead of draining your energy by focusing on the negative you're using the time to recharge. The more you practice, the more quickly heart coherence emerges and the easier it is to sustain.
Think about where else you can fit in a Quick Coherence moment. At a stop light? Right before lunch? Doing the dishes? There are many little opportunities throughout the day; it is now just a matter of doing it.
Now that you have this powerful recharge tool, you may want to see for yourself how it affects your physiology. HeartMath has developed the emWave (emotion-wave) technology that actually tracks your coherence level using lights, sounds and visuals, training to help people increase coherence for longer periods. Using this technology leads you to periods of high coherence, a state that many people who meditate spend years trying to achieve.
Adding coherence to your meditation - or whatever method you use to unplug and recharge - can enhance your results. Some people use the emWave handheld device at the start of or even during their meditation, to help them activate heart rhythm coherence. John Gray, the author of the popular book, Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus, uses the emWave and told us, "The emWave can take people quickly to where they try to get to through years of meditation."
Remember that taking mini breaks to "get in coherence" can go a long way in helping help you gain inner balance and save a lot of energy along the way.
Note: There are a number of additional ways that you can learn to increase your coherence. You can check out the free webinars that HeartMath provides or if you prefer personal coaching you can find a licensed HeartMath Provider in your area that will work with you as you are building your new skills. There are also an increasing number of healthcare clinics and hospitals around the country that are now offering stress reduction classes using HeartMath tools and the emWave technology.
We welcome your insights and comments. Put your comments in the section below or send us an email at dr@heartmath.com.
Doc Childre is the founder of HeartMath, co-author of The HeartMath Solution and From Chaos to Coherence. Deborah is a behavioral psychologist and business executive, and co-author with Doc of Transforming Stress, Transforming Anger, Transforming Anxiety and Transforming Depression. You can find out more about Doc Childre, Deborah Rozman, and HeartMath at www.heartmath.com.
Follow Deborah Rozman Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/heartmath
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Another efficient approach: Link floating the arms (up and down "wave") in time with in- and out- breath . . . Arms have two heart meridians [heart & pericardium] on the little finger underside . . . "coherence" with heart and breath and brain becomes automatic (reports of lowering high blood pressure at doctor's office).
It's especially useful for those whose minds race when sitting still and breathing. The fluid arm motion engages the observer in the brain. Slow motion + Watch your breath.
It is helpful-- as a quick snack when there is no time for a nourishing meal..
Of course, experienced mediators understand this.
Let's avoid creating an image ( pun intended!!) in the minds of neophytes that
CV is a viable substitute for infinitely more effective meditation.
May I suggest a brief Stressbusting MP3 as an excellent method of reducing stress and recharging?
The Soul Therapy Stressbuster MP3 is only 5 minutes long. It has been designed using advanced scientific hypnotic relaxation and subtle energy principles. It is gorgeous to listen to during a lunch break, on the train or bus home, just before sleep ... in fact, any time you need a deep relaxing stressbuster to recharge your mind, emotions and spiritual energy.
The high quality MP3 format allows you to download to any MP3 player, phone, computer or other device. Each MP3 has a fade at the beginning and end of the soundtrack, allowing optimum volume to be achieved a few seconds after play has begun.
You can LISTEN to each soundtrack for free by clicking on the link below.
http://www.soul-therapy.com/Awesome_MP3_Downloads.html
maybe the rest of you should before allowing your judging mind to take over
Meditation does not have a goal.
My only complaint here is use of the word meditation, not bio-feedback or people's desire to relieve stress. Meditation itself is a different order of reality.
"Self liberate even the antidote."
I was impressed to say the least. Definitely a correlation between coherence and a positive emotional state.
However when I went to research the company and people involved it is a really mixed bag. Lots of published studies but few in substantive journals. Good science seems to be mixed in with some very unorthodox science. I couldn't research much about "Doc" Childre. Is he a doctor? Apparently not. That is his given name. But there seems to be no understanding that if they want their work to be accepted by the mainstream (scientific, medical and ultimately lay community) then they need to have top notch credentials, rigorous studies published in good peer reviewed journals and to distance themselves from alternative medicine/alternative science points of view.
They need to publish their algorhythms and have their equipment and software externally verified.
This is a pity because I think they have hit on a truly essential piece of information which will prove invaluable, however their lack of scientific professionalism (and how to play that game) will hold up the field.
The site also claims:
"IHM's emotional physiology, organizational, educational, and clinical research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at numerous scientific conferences worldwide."
But why are the references not listed? Being "published in peer-reviewed journals" can result in positive or negative results, yet the journal and article references are conspicuously absent. I would honestly like to read them.
If the method has been verified by scientifically controlled clinical trials, why does the website depend on "testimonials" to sell their product?
I have a doctorate in psychology and Doc Childre has been a stress researcher for over 30 years. We don't post CVs on the web site. The website you went to www.heartmath.com focuses on HeartMath training programs, but if you click on research tab it will take you to what you're looking for. You can find find many of the research publications and research studies at www.heartmath.org
Years ago I bought a Heartmath Institute book. The contents seemed to make sense, although I decided not to practice the exercises. Their books/products/courses sell well, apparently, even though they aren't a household name. The institute's background and member credentials seemed a little shadowy, but not moreso than many other types of spiritual-medical-philosophical groups, esp. west-coast ones. :-)
If what they say makes sense and works, then there can be something real and beneficial occurring. Not everybody has to have a Harvard degree to be taken seriously or do good work (even some who do have such a degree spout nonsense!) Not every procedure has to be tested at a major university and written up in a "big name" journal to be worthwhile and effective. (Besides, the academic/journal communities are not always corruption-free, fair, or accurate, sadly.)
These "coherence" and biofeedback effects can be aimed for without using any machines or expensive coaching, so it is a public service, I think, to explain them and promote their healthfulness.
The emWave is indeed a very nifty little devise. It's about the size of your iPhone and quickly accelerates you to a much higher level of meditative wave length. We need 'ads' like this, otherwise we never learn about these wonderful tools. The author gave us a useful technique and told us more. I don't see the problem with this at all.
The more focus we develop the stronger the neuronal signaling and the more the multiple neurons involved on our focus sync together. This creates a positive feedback loop for developing better focus. When you get good at this you have more tools you can draw on to keep you happy and balanced.
Brain training at it's best!
Of course I agree with you, but it's not because I "promote" the emWave, it's because it does exactly what you say and I use it everyday to keep that postive feedback loop going. It gets me mentally and emotionally clear very quickly. I'm glad you experience something similar.
Do this at home - best with an egg timer running for five minutes. You will be amazed what five minutes of meditation - or "coherence" - can do for you!
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D., physician, author.