In again watching the Deepak Chopra segment, Rita, I believe he wants hands on lap, palms open towards sky, as a symbol of being open to change. Feet on the floor, uncrossed, the same—no constriction. Also, just guessing, but since he is a physician, first, feet on the floor uncrossed is always better for circulation, so maybe he really does mix eastern and western medicine to get the best of both–again, I am just “supposing.”
So, we can all try this exercise, which really took probably less than 2 minutes. I will be watching several more times before I the order perfected, but I think it went like this:
Sitting as described above, close eyes, focus in on heart, and first just express gratitude and thanks for all we all have things to be thankful for. Then, silently, without looking for any answers, ask yourself “who am I?” “what do I want?” and “what is my purpose?” Again, don’t look for answers, just ask the questions. Next, focus in on what you are feeling in your body. Just an awareness to what is going on and how you feel, sort of scanning your body for anything…After this, bring your attention back to your heart. See if you can connect with the rhythym of your heart, either as a sound or a sensation. Just allow yourself to either hear it, or feel it. Connect with that for just a few seconds. Finally, while your eyes are still closed, allow yourself to “come around,” by stretching, or yawning (every time I watch, I yawn right as he says it…maybe its all about HIS voice, I don’t know) Slowly open your eyes and see how you feel.
The purpose of this particular meditation is to connect all the parts of the brain. When you practice gratitude you use one part, when you ask yourself the questions, you use another, awareness to your entire body, another and finally finding the rhythm of your heart, still another. Chopra suggests that as we activate each part of the brain (positively) we rewire the neurons to be more positive. He uses an expression that goes “neurons that fire together, wire together.”
Re-firing the neurons this way, he claims, for just a few minutes a day, brings our blood pressure down in the same way that diuretics and beta-blockers do. (Chopra claims this is all scientifically proven by way of MRIs, not that I, personally, would doubt this for a minute, but skeptics might) Having a husband who has been on beta-blockers for just a few months of his life (and now thankfully, off of them again) that I can attest to the fact that we don’t want to be on those IF we have a choice! Again, meditation over medication, if at all possible.
Dr. Chopra also explained a alternate nostril breathing technique that we often use in yoga. It balances out the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Trust me, we all need balance there, as we do in ALL aspects of life. It’s also so simple, its almost hard to believe it can work, but what does anyone have to lose to be open to trying these things. I will explain more about this breathing technique in another entry. Let’s digest a little at a time as we journey toward greater inner peace and health, together.
Speaking of our journey towards peace…and fitness, of course, I will be back at Tamarac Fitness Center this morning for our first Saturday class of the New Year. Expect to work. As George Gershwin once said, “My time is TODAY.” I will see you there, or back here, tomorrow. Wherever you are make sure to get your daily dose of peaceandfitness.