For over 50 years, advances in western science have been validating the wisdom of eastern mysticism.  Today, vibrant interest and research in the neuroscience community is demonstrating that the practices of meditation and yoga are profoundly transforming our bodies and minds.  A recent Scientific American article (2014) entitled “The Neuroscience of Meditation: How it Changes the Brain, Boosting Focus and Easing Stress” explains how changes in the amount of brain tissue in key areas of the brain are associated with focused attention, emotional calm, compassion and overall stress reduction.  These results are achieved by a variety of meditative approaches including focused attention on the breath, repetition of mantra, and mindfulness.

This wedding of ancient spiritual practices and modern science will be highlighted in our upcoming Science and Practice of Meditation and Yoga seminar (August 26-28). We will review the recent neuroscience and neurohormonal research for the two fold purpose of deepening our knowledge of our body-mind-spirit connections and of the practices of meditation and yoga postures that transform them.

For example, we’ll look at Candace Pert’s groundbreaking research outlined in her book, Molecules of Emotions.   Her ideas help us to understand the role of endorphins as natural pain killers in our brain as well as “bliss hormones”.  We’ll discuss how endorphins help us balance of our emotional and mental life and experience higher states of consciousness.

This seminar will explore the science of yoga postures in connection with the endocrine glands, our emotional states, and the subtle chakra system. Participants will also be introduced to the system of Ayurveda and learn about their own constitutional makeup and its importance in selecting the most suitable practices.