Heartfulness Meditation as a Wellbeing tool

“A regulated mind brings focus and promotes well-being.” - Daaji

In the last decade, we have witnessed a growing interest across the globe in exploring meditation for various objectives. What was sought as a serious practice for spiritual objectives by a select few, is now explored as a tool by many, to enhance their health and wellbeing, inner resilience and productivity. Research is continuing to shed light on the benefits and effects of meditation on health and wellbeing. Increasingly physicians are recommending meditation as a complementary tool in the context of mental health issues, non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, etc.

Let us explore recent advances in the understanding of health and wellbeing and how meditation has emerged as a complementary approach and a tool to enhance wellbeing and quality of life. W. H. O defined Health as a ‘state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. While this was much appreciated when it was originally framed, and continues to be used even now, it has also attracted a fair share of criticism by medical researchers and health administrators. Many feel that this concept was relevant during the post-world war 2 scenario when acute (short term) and communicable (infective) diseases dominated the picture. However, it is outdated in the current times that is plagued with chronic (long term) and non-communicable (non-infective) diseases where the provision of an ideal ‘state’ of health as defined by W.H.O is virtually impossible. Nowadays the ideas of ‘wellbeing’ and ‘quality of life’ are assuming greater importance and there is a wider appreciation of subjective and psychological dimensions of wellbeing. Everyone agrees that it is not enough to just cure or control the disease, but due importance is to be given to the client’s satisfaction, perceptions and inner wellbeing. In this backdrop, meditation and yoga have emerged as effective tools that complement modern medicine to address deeper and subjective dimensions of health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Studies have shown that meditation positively affects health and wellbeing across physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. Reduction of blood pressure, regulation of heart rate variability and the autonomic nervous system, improvement in cardiovascular health are encouraging the physicians to recommend meditation to their patients. Regulation of stress response, attainment of mental calm and clarity are experienced by patients with stress, anxiety and depression. Meditation has also shown to improve the quality of sleep in patients that had sleep disorders; a study in the U.S reported withdrawal of sedatives (sleep-inducing drugs) on subjects that took to Heartfulness meditation. Positive behaviors and health practices require motivation, self-restraint and inner resilience that has shown to be impacted by meditation in few studies. Lastly in the context of terminally ill conditions such as advanced cancers, meditation has shown to result in inner calm, peace and acceptance both among the clients and their families.

At ANIRASA Integrative Health and Wellbeing Clinic, Meditation is a critical part of its four-pronged approach. We have collaborated with Heartfulness Institute, a global non-profit organization that offers free training and coaching to individuals and institutions in adopting Heartfulness Meditation practices. Here, every client is guided through meditation sessions by a trained Heartfulness meditation trainer. Meditation on the Heart, complemented by cleansing (rejuvenation or detox) techniques and centering oneself on the inner deeper self, have proven to impact health and wellbeing in a profound manner. Heartfulness techniques are adapted as complementary approaches for cancer and specific mental health issues and are being researched widely in India, U.S.A, and Europe. At ANIRASA clinics, the clients are provided free training and coaching in meditation sessions, in alignment with the vision and principles of Heartfulness Institute.

Services:

One to one, and one to group guidance to clients and their families in meditation techniques

Follow up support both, directly and through linkages with the other Heartfulness meditation centers in the region

Referral and integration support with the Heartfulness Meditation retreats and seminars

References:

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