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The
mind is like muscle; the more it is fed and used, the more it
physically grows. The more we use our memory, for example, the
stronger it becomes, and the larger it grows; research indicates
that people who memorize enormous amounts of information over a
prolonged period of time show an enlarged hippocampus, a part of
the brain involved in learning and memorization, as measured by
a brain scanner. It’s now believed that this is due to brain
circuit reorganization, increased brain cell connections or
networking, and possibly the creation of new brain cells from
stem cells found in what researchers at the McKnight Brain
Institute call “brain marrow.” Until very recently, this was
unthinkable. But we now understand that healthy brain cells
exhibit plasticity and can therefore grow and flex like Silly
Putty. The more we learn, the larger our memories become, in
terms of both the amount of information stored and actual
physical size measured by a brain scan. For some people, doing a
crossword puzzle every day is one form of positive spiritual
exercise, which offers a sort of “virtual reality mini-vacation”
into a serene zone.
There are
many other forms of spiritual exercise to fit your personality
style. Regardless of which you choose or already engage in, the
common denominator to all these forms of stress management is
“self-hypnosis,” which is merely a hyper-focused state of mind.
When you engage in a spiritual exercise or close your eyes and
focus your mind on a warm, calm, secluded tropical beach, you
relax because all your troubles and woes are removed from your
psyche. Positive imagery and progressive muscle relaxation, a
self-hypnosis or self-hyper-focusing technique, is one of many
stress-management skills therapists teach, and is the western
equivalent of meditation. Other western equivalents of
stress-managing spiritual exercise include reading, watching TV,
fishing, knitting, drawing, painting, tennis, golf, and nature
or people watching.
But these
are often difficult to incorporate into our typical weekday.
Meditation and prayer can be squeezed into our daily lives, and
make for good immaterial “snacks.” Both are forms of
hyper-focusing because when a dedicated practitioner pays
attention to meditation or prayer, her mind is clear of
distractions, and she develops or maintains inner peace.
Scientific studies have linked these two practices with reduced
aggression, anxiety, depression, pain perception, stress,
suicidal thoughts, and violence. Both are also believed to
strengthen brain networking and plasticity, and therefore,
improve attention, thinking ability, creativity, learning,
longevity, mood, self-awareness, stress tolerance, and an
overall sense of well-being.
Yoga, which
means “join,” is a Hindu series of exercises intended to promote
tranquility and insight, and places a heavier emphasis on the
spiritual component than Pilates. It’s an ancient practice that
begins with a series of warm-up poses called “Sun Salutations.”
Once completed, the practitioner initiates the joining of mind,
body, and soul through a system of controlled breathing,
meditation, specific postures, and sounds. Yoga sessions can
last more than an hour, but the improved body flexibility and
overall sense of well-being that come with regular practice can
be worth the extra time. If you would like to learn this
spiritual exercise, which has been shown to produce a serenity
surge in the left prefrontal cortex, in the privacy of your own
home, visit www.shaktimusic.com; there you can purchase the CD,
booklet, and biodots entitled “Gateway to Inner Peace.”
In addition to two or more immaterial enrichments, adequate
sleep and the Serenity Diet can make for a calmer body and a
brighter mind.
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