Stress levels among women have been rising steadily for the past five years, outpacing men’s, says the American Psychological Association’s 2010 survey. Fifty percent of the women surveyed say they lose sleep at night because of stress, and report that fatigue interferes with their willpower to exercise, choose better eating habits or make healthy lifestyle changes.
Other surveys have found that nearly twice as many women than men are affected by depression and anxiety. It’s no wonder that closing the eyes and diving within — to a place where stress and fatigue melt away — has gained such widespread appeal among women.
The women’s meditation classes that I teach have shown me that more and more women are placing tremendous value on quiet time. As a typical class begins, women turn off their cell phones and chat with one another while finding their seats.
“Barely got out of the office,” says an attorney, stretching her legs.
“Sorry I’m late, had to drop off the kids,” shares a mother of four.
Meditation begins and the air quickly changes. A palpable silence fills the room as the group settles inward, their world of cares gently receding.
After just a few class sessions, they can meditate easily on their own at home, during a break at work — anywhere. Although these women have jam-packed schedules, twice-daily meditation has become an essential part of their routine.
Why They Come
Women attending my weekly introductory talks on the Transcendental Meditation technique are of all ages and backgrounds. Most are indeed seeking relief from daily stress, but they also come for help with depression and chronic anxiety. Some are struggling with addiction. Others were sent by their doctor because of hypertension. Many seek to connect with a deeper part of their being — something sublime within them that they intuitively know exists, if they could just find a way to access it.
The beauty of meditation is that it serves all of these women.
During meditation, the mind can transcend its busy, agitated state and experience inner silence; the body relaxes and deep-rooted stresses dissolve. The transcending process takes one’s attention to the mind’s deepest level, one’s inner source of energy and intelligence. As a result, all outer aspects of our life are enriched. It’s like when you water the roots of a flower: the petals, the stem and the leaves all get nourished from within.
Another way of understanding it is by way of brain function. Research in neuroscience has found that during TM practice, your brain becomes more coherent and integrated — all the different parts of the brain work together better as a whole. Your brain regulates all other bodily systems, say neuroscientists. More efficient brain functioning naturally results in a healthier mind and body, better able to cope with and overcome stress.1
The Ultimate Me Time — And It’s Totally Unselfish
I find that women these days do not have to be convinced that they need more rest and rejuvenation. But many do need assurance that it’s okay to take the time.
The flight attendant tells us, “Put your own oxygen mask on first and then assist your child.” For the same reasons, as women we need to take time to meditate and nourish ourselves from within, so we’ll have the wherewithal to care for and give to others.
We all know that meditation is a powerful stress-buster, and that when we’re less stressed we’re more emotionally available. But more important, research shows that effective meditation can beneficially impact high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance, the three main risk factors for heart disease. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health found, astonishingly, that people practicing the TM technique had 50% fewer incidents of heart attack and stroke, compared to controls. Because heart disease is the number one cause of death among women, here’s another obvious case of how meditation can help ensure you’ll be there for others.2
Activating Your “Inner GPS”
Many of our decisions are based on feeling or intuition. Yet stress and fatigue can cloud our mind and block our ability to access our finer feelings and make right decisions. Meditation can allow us to awaken more subtle, powerful levels of the mind — the place deep inside us where truth dwells. Even new meditators report that their insight improves and they begin to see more of the bigger picture. It’s as if we’re activating a trusty, built-in navigation system.
Back to my meditation class: The time passes without much awareness of body or environment, so absorbed are these women in their inner being. I ask the group to slowly open their eyes and the room begins to stir.
Emerging from meditation refreshed and recharged, they tend to linger a little while in the peaceful silence. Someone says, “Whew, I needed that.”
They’re off to their pick up their kids or stop at the grocery store or get back to the office. Their responsibilities are the same, but they all say something is different in their life since learning meditation.
“I feel less anxious.”
“I can see what’s really important.”
“People don’t get on my nerves.”
“I find myself cooking something new — I feel creative again.”
Deep within all of us is a secret place of solace and rebirth, and, with a little guidance and an effective technique, any woman can tap effortlessly into that and gain the strength, energy and wisdom to be who she wants to be.
Call today for a free Herbin Hour to try out the different meditation modalities in the Healing Playground – 619-564-8308! (Give Code: Meditation Offer Good until: November 15th)
Foot Baths & Reflexology starting this Wednesday at Herbin! Wednesday & Friday afternoons you can drop by the Healing Playground and get a relaxing organic Jadience slimming or detox Foot Bath with or without reflexology and aromatherapy. Come meet our newest practitioner, Dove Love!
On September 23, 24, & 25, (10am-5pm, each day) Alexis Rose Davis will be conducting a ThetaHealing DNA 1 & 2 Certification Workshop!!!
Over the course of this workshop, you will learn how to:
-Manifest With Power & Ease!
-Release Issues Around Money, Love & Relationships!
-Gracefully Let Go of Negative Thought Patterns!
-Learn How to Manage Your Energy Field!
-Do Intuitive Readings for Yourself & Others!
The cost of this workshop is $350. Class space is limited, so please contact Alexis at CoreVisions@gmail.com if you have any questions and/ or you would like to attend.
For more information on ThetaHealing or to see what it’s all about, please go to: www.CoreVisions.net
Currently, our personal trainers are offering bootcamps every Saturday during the summer, from 9-10am at Bonita Cove in Mission Beach. The location provides grass, sand, water, and trees for shade and the ability to do TRX training. The workout will focus on strength, agility, balance, cardiovascular and pulmonary endurance, core training, and most importantly, FUN! All the equipment and instruction is taken care of; just bring water, a towel or mat, your friends, and a lot of energy! All levels of fitness welcome. First class is FREE with the purchase of any package!!!
*August Special* 5-class Package for $50!!!
Costs: $15 for Single Class Drop-in, $70 for a 5-class Package, $120 for a 10-class Package, $180 for a 20-class Package
Bring: friends, water, beach towel and shoes (optional)
On August 5, 6, & 7, (10am-5pm, each day) Alexis Rose Davis will be conducting a ThetaHealing DNA 1 & 2 Certification Workshop!!!
Over the course of this workshop, you will learn how to:
-Manifest With Power & Ease!
-Release Issues Around Money, Love & Relationships!
-Gracefully Let Go of Negative Thought Patterns!
-Learn How to Manage Your Energy Field!
-Do Intuitive Readings for Yourself & Others!
The cost of this workshop is $350. Class space is limited, so please contact Alexis at CoreVisions@gmail.com if you have any questions and/ or you would like to attend.
For more information on ThetaHealing or to see what it’s all about, please go to: www.CoreVisions.net
Are you tired of feeling run down?
Do you have mood swings?
Have you noticed a decrease in memory?
Could your sleep use improvement?
Need help with weight loss goals?
YOU MIGHT NEED A B-VITAMIN BOOST!!!
B-12 helps restore balance to your life and allows your body to feel energized throughout the day. Our adrenal glands are the powerhouse of our body allowing us to stay alert and focused during our active lifestyles. The adrenals use B-12 as fuel to keep functioning at this high-energy state. After a lifetime of daily stress and activity, we can become depleted in B-12 causing those symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, memory loss, sleep problems and weight gain.
In a perfect world we should get B-12 mainly through nutrition however this can be a tricky vitamin to fully absorb. B-12 is highest in poultry, red meat, fish, dairy, eggs and fortified nutritional yeast and these can be limited items in our diets.
Conditions that may cause B-12 deficiency…
Eating on the run – Vegan or vegetarian diet – Alcohol consumption – Chronic stress – Digestive complaints – Oral birth control pills – Pregnancy – Certain Medications (Antacids, Metformin, Antibiotics, and Nicotine)
On Saturday, July 30, from 12pm-3pm, Dr. Bridget O’Connell will be onsite administering these vitamin boosts!! Please give us a call to schedule your appointment!!!
Bio: Dr. O’Connell is a California board-licensed naturopathic doctor practicing natural medicine at Robek Chiropractic in San Diego, CA. Dr. O’Connell blends the best of conventional medicine with holistic principles and therapies to discover and treat the cause of your health concerns.
