Is meditation good for health?

Updated: 12:33 PM EST Jan 3, 2020

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ADVICE, BUT LOOK GO BACK IN TIME. -- LETS GO BACK IN TIME. IT IS A NEW YEAR, A NEW DECADE. THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER. >> I LOVE THE HOLIDAYS. SHAYNA: RESOLUTIONS MADE WITH HOPE OF A FRESH START, BUT IT IS WINTERTIME. THAT MEANS SNOW. >> THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU ARE GRIEVING AND MORNING OVER THE LOSS OF WHAT NO LONGER IS. AND GRIEVING OVER THE LOSS OF WHAT CURRENTLY ISNT AND FEELING A LITTLE BIT STRESSED WHETHER OR NOT WHAT YOU ARE HOPING WILL BE IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND IT FEELS LIKE IT IS A LONG WAY OFF. SHAYNA: DR. RUSKIN IS A PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND AUTHOR. SHE SEES ANXIETY SPIKE THIS TIME OF YEAR, SEASONAL AFFECTIVE OF -- SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER. >> THE WEATHER AFFECTS THE HUMAN BRAIN. WHEN WE ARE EXPERIENCING REAL LIGHT FROM THE OUTSIDE, IT HELPS US TO FEEL ENERGIZED. WE ARE FEELING EMPOWERED, CREATING SUNLIGHT IN OUR OWN BODY. SHAYNA: EVEN THOUGH THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, THE FALLOUT FROM FAMILY QUESTION TIME LINGERS. >> WHY HAVENT YOU HAD CHILDREN, WHY ARE YOU HAVING SO MANY CHILDREN, WHY ARE YOUR CHILDREN ACTING THAT WAY, WHY DONT YOU HAVE THAT JOB? HOW COME YOU ARE NOT WORKING ON HAVING THAT WORK ETHIC? DYNAMICS BETWEEN SIBLINGS. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE, CHOICES THAT YOU MAKE, IT IS ALL UP FOR GRABS AND ON THE TABLE WITH FAMILY GATHERINGS. SHAYNA: DR. RUSKIN SAYS RESET. NOW IS THE TIME FOR SELF-CARE. >> ARE YOU TAKING A WALK? ARE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY AND MENTALLY STIMULATE? ARE YOU INTERACTING AND SOCIALIZING WITH OTHERS IN ORDER TO EXPERIENCE CONNECTION? EVERY PERSON IS DIFFERENT IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY NEED TO HELP THEMSELVES TO FEEL HEALTHY. THERE ARE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN PEOPLE. THE FACT IS ALL PEOPLE CAN BENEFIT FROM MEDITATIVE BREASTS. -- MEDITATIVE BREATH. SHAYNA: HE SIGNED UP FOR THIS CLASS. >> THERE IS LESS WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE, NOT DRAGGING THE TEST AROUND AND I FEEL PRESENT. SHAYNA: DO YOU FEEL BETTER AFTERWARDS? >> I REALLY DO. >> YOU HAVE TO BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU ARE FEELING, WHAT YOU ARE THINKING. IT COMES DOWN TO AWARENESS. MEDITATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST SIT, CLOSE YOUR EYES, NOTICE WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE. SHAYNA: JENNIFER HARVEY OWNS LAUGHING DOG YOGA STUDIO WHERE THE CLASSES ARE POPULAR. >> PEOPLE SAY I AM STRESSED OUT. I NEED TO DESTRESS. YOGA AND MEDITATION REALLY HELP PEOPLE DO THAT. IT CHANGES YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. SHAYNA: THIS INSTRUCTOR CREDITS THE PRACTICE FOR OVERCOMING A SERIES OF CHALLENGES. >> I WAS 19, 20, GOING THROUGH A FAIRLY NORMAL MID TO LATE COLLEGIATE CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH MY WIFE AND STARTED MEDITATING. LATER ON MY BEST FRIEND DIED, AND MEDITATION KEPT ME HANGING ON. I HAD NON-HODGKINS LYMPHOMA WHEN I WAS 28. YOGA WAS INTEGRAL FOR HEALING. SHAYNA: HOW HAS THIS HELPED YOU GET THROUGH THIS EXPERIENCE? >> THE MEDITATION WHICH CAN CLEAR THE SLEET AND BRING YOU BACK TO CENTER. ZONING IN, YOU ARE BECOMING PRESENT. YOU ARE BECOMING MORE REALISTIC, NOT LEAVING REALITY. SHAYNA: WHY DO PEOPLE MEDITATE? >> THE VARIOUS LOGISTICS AND PARAMETERS COULD FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PULLING YOU APART, MEDITATION MEANS THE THINGS YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ARE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING BUT YOUR SENSE OF OK IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE OWNERSHIP FOUR. SHAYNA: MARGUERITE SAYS THE BENEFITS ARE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL. >> STRESS LIVES AND OUR BODIES AND CREATES TENSION AND HEADACHES. MEDITATION FOR ALL OF THOSE BRINGS IT DOWN, BRINGS IT IN. IT ALLOWS YOU CLARITY FOR FINDING WHAT IS IMPORTANT. IT HELPS YOU TO JUST RELAX INTO YOUR DAY. SHAYNA: I NEED A LITTLE OF THAT. >> [LAUGHTER] WE ALL DO. ANTHONY: EVERYONE EXPERIENCES MEDITATION DIFFERENTLY. WHAT WAS YOURS LIKE? SHAYNA: RELAXING BUT NOT LIKE A NAFF. THEY WANT YOU TO NOT THINK ABOUT THE PAST OR PRESENT WHICH WAS HARD. TO GET INTO THAT PLACE. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, YOU DONT NEED TO TAKE A CLASS. THERE ARE TONS OF BOOKS AND APPS TO GET IT STARTED. ANTHONY: THINK TWICE FOR SKIPPING THE WORKOUT.

Is meditation good for health?

Updated: 12:33 PM EST Jan 3, 2020

Is your mind drifting to the past? Are you worried about the future? Meditation might be a way to train yourself to be present. https://www.drkarenruskin.com/https://www.ldyoga.com/

Is your mind drifting to the past? Are you worried about the future? Meditation might be a way to train yourself to be present.

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Is meditation good for health? - WCVB Boston