Wellbeing webinar: improved brain function via meditation – Epigram
Posted: February 3, 2021 at 10:54 pm
By Emma Hanson, English Literature MA
The Croft Magazine // In the final webinar of Transcendental Meditation Societys 360 Degree Wellbeing series, Emma learned about the benefits of transcendental meditation from Gaetano Arena and James Miles.
Gaetano Arena is a PhD student at the University of Bristol who set up the 360 Wellbeing series. I asked him about the impact that it has had on his life:
I learnt transcendental meditation (TM) a couple of years ago when, at the end of my PhD in Aerospace Engineering, I was really struggling with my own mental health. It was very hard to concentrate and write my dissertation, and my mood and energy levels were always incredibly low. I thought that it was only stress and some personal issues that were causing this sudden drop in my motivation and enjoyment of life.
I felt some of the benefits of TM just days after I had tried my first meditation. I was feeling more and more energetic and happy each day, but the main benefit I noticed was that I became much more aware of my physiology and its connection to my mind. I could notice almost immediately the effect food and sleep had on my mood and energy level.
Likewise, I could feel how introducing yoga and a more regular workout routine had a massive impact on my mental health. Basically, the meditation practice removed deep layers of stress that prevented me from realising what was causing the issues with my own physiology and mental health.
TM is a very simple technique, best done twice a day for 20 minutes in the morning and evening. It is a meditation technique that uses a mantra to go beyond the thinking process and reach a fourth state of consciousness to transcend thoughts and in this way reach a state of peace and rest.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced this technique to the Western world in the 1950s and it has since been practised by celebrities such as Jerry Seinfeld and Hugh Jackman. Celebrities are fans of it, but what makes transcendental meditation is its simplicity.
So how do you actually do it? As I said before, TM is a type of mantra meditation. You simply close your eyes and chant a mantra. Mantras can be found by searching transcendental meditation mantras on YouTube, and you can find one that works for you. There is also a free app called 1 Giant Mind, which offers a guided introduction to TM meditation, and the option to do a 30-day challenge.
TM allows you to reset yourself. It makes us more efficient, stops us procrastinating (the dream!), and gives us the ability to focus more sharply by developing our full mental potential.
Patrice Gladwin, a transcendental meditation teacher, attested to the benefits of TM, commenting: I love teaching TM as it makes life so much more joyful and stronger than life without it.
Gaetano talked about why he felt the need to set up this wellbeing series and educate students about various aspects of wellbeing:
I was shocked when I read the studies and annual reports on the wellbeing and mental health of UoB students. Therefore, I submitted a proposal to the UoB Alumni Grant Award, asking to sponsor the university's TM Society for the organisation of wellbeing courses that I could exploit to spread the awareness of TM and several healthy habits among university students. The grant was eventually assigned, and, with the help of the TM national organisation, I have organised the 360 Wellbeing Webinar. I am really grateful to the UoB Alumni Group for the support.
At the start of the first session, James Miles talked about the importance of our wellbeing, summarising the importance of the techniques learnt over the course of this webinar series.
We all want more energy, we want to be creative, we want full use of our brain functioning, we want to be successful, happy, and reduce stress. Most of all we want to enjoy life. And we must remember that we can achieve this because our wellbeing is in our own hands.
Even if you missed the 360 Wellbeing webinar series, you can easily access information about the techniques discussed by reading my other articles on sleep hygiene, the benefits of yoga and how Ayurveda can support wellbeing. As James Miles concisely says, your wellbeing is in your own hands, and the benefits of these four practices have the potential to transform your university experience.
Featured image: Epigram / Robin Ireland
Read more:
Wellbeing webinar: improved brain function via meditation - Epigram
- 7 types of meditation: What type is best for you? - February 13th, 2021
- How to Meditate with Anxiety - Mindful - February 13th, 2021
- A Beginner's Guide to Meditation | Learn the Basics of How ... - February 13th, 2021
- 12 must-know meditation tips for beginners - February 13th, 2021
- 11 Best Meditation Apps 2021 - Free Meditation Apps for ... - February 13th, 2021
- New Jersey | Vipassana Meditation Center Dhamma Dhar - February 13th, 2021
- Loving-Kindness Meditation | Practice | Greater Good in Action - February 13th, 2021
- Meditation | UMD Health Center - February 13th, 2021
- Movement, Meditation & White Space: Health Coach Says Give These A Try When Facing Pandemic-Related Stress - CBS Denver - February 13th, 2021
- Qigong Meditation: For Beginners, Techniques, Benefits, and More - Healthline - February 13th, 2021
- MasterClass Announces Class on Mindfulness and Meditation - Yahoo Finance - February 13th, 2021
- Doctor's Order: There is power in meditation - Daily Herald - February 13th, 2021
- Smart Health: I Tried MindTravel's Silent Walking Meditation and It Reignited My Zeal for Mindfulness - Everyday Health - February 13th, 2021
- Columbia wellness studio hosts night of art and meditation - ColaDaily.com - February 13th, 2021
- Shark self care: Meditation | The Current - The Current - The Student-Run Newspaper of Nova Southeastern University. - February 13th, 2021
- This Netflix meditation series calmed my anxiety and kicked off my family's meditation journey - Motherly Inc. - February 13th, 2021
- Amazing Benefits of Morning Meditation - Gildshire Magazines - February 13th, 2021
- Nomadland: Read The Screenplay For Chlo Zhaos Meditation On The American West - Deadline - February 13th, 2021
- The art of sitting still: Tri-state residents embrace meditation practices amid pandemic - telegraphherald.com - February 13th, 2021
- Meditations for Hitting the Pandemic Wall | Seriously? - North Coast Journal - February 13th, 2021
- Meditation Market 2021 | Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Industry Forecast Report Till 2027 | Simply Better Apps, Smiling Mind, Inner Explorer KSU | The... - February 13th, 2021
- Find peace in troubled times with Northwich meditation centre - Northwich Guardian - February 13th, 2021
- LaKeith Stanfield on 'Judas and the Black Messiah': I should've done some meditation, and some therapy, to prepare for something like this' - Yahoo... - February 13th, 2021
- 10 different types of meditationand which one is right for you - Gwinnettdailypost.com - February 3rd, 2021
- The Best Meditation Apps to Download Right Now - HarpersBAZAAR.com - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation Market In-depth Research Covering Share Analysis, Industry Overview and Forecast | Key Players Simply Better, Apps Smiling, Mind Inner... - February 3rd, 2021
- How to Start a Meditation Practice if You Hate Meditating - WebMD - WebMD - February 3rd, 2021
- Five meditation apps that can help your child to relax - The Indian Express - February 3rd, 2021
- 5 Best Meditation and Yoga Gear You Can Buy From Uneedum - Kev's Best - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation, the highest sadana - The Hindu - February 3rd, 2021
- Taking the Edge Off Best Meditation Apps for 2021 - Parentology - February 3rd, 2021
- Yoga nidra is an easy, fail-proof alternative to meditation - Insider - INSIDER - February 3rd, 2021
- Ask an Expert Relax and de-stress with meditation - Cache Valley Daily - February 3rd, 2021
- Hunter McGrady on How She's Taking Care of Her Mental Health During the Pandemic - POPSUGAR - February 3rd, 2021
- Review: 'The Dig' Is a Gentle, Hazy Meditation on the Fragility of Life and the Ways It Lingers On - ourcommunitynow.com - February 3rd, 2021
- Starbucks Is Offering Rewards Members Free Meditations To Pair With Their Coffee Break - Delish - February 3rd, 2021
- I Couldn't Stay Still and Focused, So I Started Meditating on the Move Here's How - POPSUGAR - February 3rd, 2021
- Kevin Hart And His Comedian Friends Want You To Meditate With Them - TheThings - February 3rd, 2021
- Student org promotes peace and mindfulness through meditation - The News Record - February 3rd, 2021
- Starbucks Offers Rewards Members Free Meditations To Go With Their Coffee | 106.7 Lite fm - iHeartRadio - February 3rd, 2021
- Cindy Crawford on Turning 55, Upping Her Meditation Game and the Under-Eye Product She Stores in the Fridge - NewBeauty Magazine - February 3rd, 2021
- Meditation Chime Sales Market Projections, Growth Rate, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast by 2026 | Woodstock Chimes, TM Thamelmart For Beautiful... - February 3rd, 2021
- Kevin Hart Invades Headspace And Your Meditation Will Never Be The Same - Forbes - January 25th, 2021
- From Harry Styles to Kevin Hart: New Content Studios Are Selling Meditation and Sleep With Stars' Help - Hollywood Reporter - January 25th, 2021
- Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has his own way of meditatinghere's what he does - CNBC - January 25th, 2021
- A Chance Meeting In Bali Sparked This Celebrity-Favorite Meditation Brand - Forbes - January 25th, 2021
- Just breathe: How meditation is helping the world keep calm and carry on through lockdown - The Sunday Post - January 25th, 2021
- Healthier Together: meditation for stress relief - fox13now.com - fox13now.com - January 25th, 2021
- Samantha Akkineni enjoys bliss post her meditation session; Tells fans to make it a part of their life - PINKVILLA - January 25th, 2021
- Filling Our Hearts with Love Through Meditation - TAPinto.net - January 25th, 2021
- The science behind meditation - COVER - COVER - COVER - January 25th, 2021
- Sven Tennis Day 9 Hard Lockdown at the Australian Open Meditation, Spin Class and the Power Shot Maker - 10sBalls - January 25th, 2021
- New Deep Learning Discovery Paves Way for AI Interpretation of Brainwave Data - PR Newswire India - January 25th, 2021
- Orgasmic meditation - What is orgasmic meditation? - cosmopolitan.com - January 25th, 2021
- Meditation Market With COVID 19 Impact Analysis| Leading Players In-depth Analysis Research Report Foresight to 2027 KSU | The Sentinel Newspaper -... - January 25th, 2021
- A beginner's guide to meditation - RTE.ie - January 25th, 2021
- Whats The Buzz NY - Mark Stephens Author , Hypnosis and Meditation Master - BlogTalkRadio - January 25th, 2021
- How Headspace is helping users cope using meditation amid COVID-19 - Yahoo Finance - January 25th, 2021
- Global Meditation Singing Bowl Professional Survey 2020 by Manufacturers, Regions, Types and Applications, Forecast to 2026 - KSU | The Sentinel... - January 25th, 2021
- 'Promising Young Woman' crackles and burns as a meditation on revenge and grief - North Texas Daily - January 25th, 2021
- How Will Global Yoga And Meditation Accessories Market React from 2021 Onwards? NeighborWebSJ - NeighborWebSJ - January 25th, 2021
- Mindfulness Meditation Application Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast To 2026 Breethe, Stop, Breathe& Think,... - January 25th, 2021
- Global Meditation Singing Bowl Market Size, Share and Revenue Strategy 2026 NeighborWebSJ - NeighborWebSJ - January 25th, 2021
- Designing a Meditation Room That Supports Your Mind, Body, and Soul - California Herald - January 25th, 2021
- An Unexpected Meditation on Aging and Human Connection in THE MOLE AGENT on POV, Monday, January 25 at 9:30 pm - WOUB - January 25th, 2021
- Global Yoga And Meditation Accessories Market 2020: Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities Analysis and Forecast to 2026 Murphy's... - January 25th, 2021
- Make it through 2021 with one of these top-rated meditation apps - New York Post - January 19th, 2021
- Covid-19 accelerated the worlds embrace of meditation apps - Quartz - January 19th, 2021
- 10 Best Places for Guided Meditation Online in 2021 - Healthline - January 19th, 2021
- What meditation app is best for you? - Quartz - January 19th, 2021
- Focus on mental wellness in 2021 with these five meditation apps | TheHill - The Hill - January 19th, 2021
- How Headspace and Calm led the boom in meditation apps - Quartz - January 19th, 2021
- Musical Meditation and Celebration of Tu B'Shevat - jewishboston.com - January 19th, 2021
- Meditation for the Masses | The 21st Show - WILL News - Illinois Public Media - January 19th, 2021
- Im a Meditation Teacher, and This Is How I Use 5 Minutes To Let Go of Something Each Day - Well+Good - January 19th, 2021
- Why Wellness and Meditation Apps Need More Diverse Voices (Literally) - Well+Good - January 19th, 2021
- Muse S review: meditation and sleep wearable is no dream come true - Wareable - January 19th, 2021
- Sounds of silence & some noise make for the perfect meditation at "Angelic Roots" - WDJT - January 19th, 2021
- I started hosting daily meditation sessions on YouTube: How an assistant professor at U of T is helping himself (and his subscribers) get through... - January 19th, 2021
- I Recommend Meditation: The Headspace Series On Netflix Will Help - knue.com - January 19th, 2021