Why Business Professionals Meditate
Are you always busy? Do you have so much to do in a day that you can’t afford to waste any time? Do you have a lot of people who rely on you? Do you feel that you can’t afford time for yourself?
If only there was a way to refresh our minds, something quick we could do to help us focus on what is important and maintain the energy we need to get everything done. Actually there is a way.
Meditation is one of the most effective treatments for stress, and is practiced all over the world – not just by monks in mountains, but also by modern business professionals in offices.
Why meditate?
- Keeps you stress-free
- Increases your attention span, concentration, creativity and productivity
- Adds more hours to your day
- Increases immunity and helps fight disease
- Improves metabolism and helps you lose weight
- Helps you sleep better
- Reduces ageing
- Decreases any tension-related pain, such as headaches, ulcers, muscle aches
- Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
If you feel like there is not enough time in the day, meditate. It will not only clear any stress and anxiety that is slowing your productivity, this new-found clarity will help you get things done in half the time, giving you more time in the day to use however you like.
Does it really work?
- Meditation soothes the nervous system and activates a ‘relaxation response’ – slowing the heart and respiration rate and lowering blood pressure. This balances out the “fight or flight” response activated by stress and therefore reverses the negative impacts of stress on the body and mind.
- Neuroscientists observed physical changes in the brain with meditation over a period of time. Brain imaging techniques have shown changes in the threat system, or the ‘amygdala’, which is responsible for triggering fear. People with a reactive amygdala feel threatened more often. Meditation reduces the reactivity of the amygdala and increases activity in the prefrontal cortex that helps regulate emotions, therefore reducing stress.
- Case studies from researchers at Stanford and Harvard University have produced evidence that meditation serves as a realistic and maintainable stress management technique. People who meditate often are able to face challenges with more peace of mind.
Who meditates?
Meditation is practiced all over the world, from the slums of India to the skyscrapers of New York.
“I enjoy meditation, which I’ve been doing for over a decade — probably to help relieve the stress I was going through when I was working at Oracle,” Salesforce.com’s Marc Benioff
Panda Express Founder Andrew Cherng regularly practices meditation himself. He encourages his staff to meditate when they are stressed, once pausing a business meeting to allow a store manager to do so.”I want to fix my people from the inside,” Cherng says.
”The very best time to meditate is on a plane,” says Bill George, Former CEO of Medtronic. ”I have to go to Europe a lot. If I land at 8 a.m., meditation gives me an opportunity to get deep rest and refocus before my board meeting at 10.” Bill George now teaches at Harvard Business School.
Meditation at Alive Wellness
You can benefit from guided group meditation and will give you the structure to be able to continue on your own during the week. We are conveniently located in Central, so just pop by after work and clear your mind so you are able to focus on what is important to you.
Meditation for Professionals
Are you really busy? Do you have so much to do in a day that you can’t afford to waste any time? Do you have a lot of people who rely on you and you feel you can’t afford time for yourself?
If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may like to try meditation. It is not just for monks in mountains. It is most effective for business professionals
Why meditate?
- Keeps you stress-free
- Increases your attention span, concentration and productivity
- Adds more hours to your day
- Increases immunity and helps fight disease
- Improves metabolism and helps you lose weight
- Helps you sleep better
- Reduces ageing
- Decreases any tension-related pain, such as headaches, ulcers, muscle aches
- Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
How do I meditate?
- Be comfortable. Sit on a chair or a cushion – no lotus position necessary.
- Breathe. As easy as that – just focus on your breath.
- Smile. A gentle smile naturally relaxes your whole body.
- Follow. You will be guided on what to focus on and think about.
How much time does it need?
To experience the benefits of meditation, regular practice is necessary. A weekly class is helpful to set up a routine and soon you’ll find only a few minutes every day will do the trick.
Quote from Alice (EG): “Whenever I feel myself getting stressed, anxious or upset, I simply close my eyes and focus on my breathing for a few seconds. When I open my eyes it is like a new beginning: I am calm, focused and ready to deal with whatever situation I am facing. One meditative breath can be just as powerful as a day-long retreat.”
Is meditation difficult?
You do not need to wear special clothes or sit in a certain position. It is not religious. You do not have to talk or chant. It is not about concentrating or controlling your thoughts, it is just about letting go and relaxing your mind.
Meditation at Alive Wellness:
Every Tuesday evening 7-8pm, you can benefit from guided meditation that will give you the practice and structure to be able to continue on your own during the week. We are conveniently located in Central, so just pop by after work and give yourself a mini-holiday!
http://www.artofliving.org/meditation/meditation-for-you/benefits-of-meditation
