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Meditation for Brain Function
Studies have linked meditation practice to improved learning ability, better short and long-term memory, increased psychological stability, greater emotional maturity, and other advantages.
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The Problem
Our brains contain a staggering 100 billion neurons, each connected to between 100 and 1000 others. The quality of the networks they form, and the levels of communication between them, is what defines how well we can use this incredibly powerful organ.
Neuroscientists estimate that we are using only 2 – 10% of our potential brain power. That is a lot of latent potential waiting to be unlocked!
The reason why our brains are operating so far below capacity isn’t clear.
It may be that parts of the brain deactivated during stress are not reactivated.
It may also be that when we were younger, we did not have the more developed nervous system required to make this brain connectivity functional. And, it is the combination of a highly connected brain and a well developed nervous system that allows us to achieve peak performance in everything we do.
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How it affects you
Only about a third of our brain works together. Mostly, the different regions of the brain are operating independently of each other. It’s like an orchestra warming up; lots of constituent parts all doing their thing, but the overall result is a lot of discordant noise.
Our brain wave readings (EEG) are low, and the different brain regions are invariably cycling at a high (beta) frequency which is not so conducive to higher level functioning.
There are also imbalances between the hemispheres of the brain; within the frontal cortex (leading to irrationally negative thinking) and between regions of the brain, such as the cortex, the limbic system and the hippocampus.
Establishing coherence is like wheeling in the conductor. All of a sudden all of the musicians fall into line and the integrated functioning of all those different parts produces something beautiful.
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How can Beeja help?
Beeja meditation enables all the areas of the brain to sync and the noise calms down. Our brainwaves increase, yet crucially the cycling of the brain slows down from 30-40 cycles per second (cps) when we’re working, to a much more beneficial and productive range of alpha functioning in the 6-7 cps range.
Normally when we stop concentrating and relax, the brain tends to cycle around 8-12 cps, which is restful but still de-synchronised. And this activity is measured mostly in the back of the brain.
During Beeja meditation, a profound alpha effect spreads from the rear of the head to cover the whole scalp, allowing all regions to connect. We build new neuronal patterns as we go, letting go of older, less useful patterns and keeping the useful but under-utilised neuronal muscle groups exercised with some daily stimulation.
The stem that joins the hemispheres of the brain strengthens. As the regions synchronise we experience higher cognitive functioning and greater levels of awareness. It’s access all areas as we start using our brain in a much more integrated and global fashion!
The prefrontal cortex is the most evolved part of the brain and is the home of our rationality, creativity and lateral thinking. Through meditation it becomes more active and increases its capacity by growing thicker.
This then calms down the excitable and emotional limbic system; the driver of so much of our reckless behaviour. The frontal cortex doesn’t fully mature until we’re well into our 20s, which explains a lot!
In addition, our amygdala - the engine of the stress response - begins to quieten and we respond more appropriately to people and situations. This then leads to far less stress-induced cerebral shutdown.
Blood flow around the brain also increases, allowing the tissues and cells to be nourished with oxygen and nutrients, keeping our grey matter in tip-top shape. And the hippocampus, the seat of our memory formation and recall also grows larger as a result of meditation.
Having the whole brain functioning in concert like this correlates to increased intelligence, improved learning ability and academic performance, better short and long-term memory, enhanced moral reasoning, increased psychological stability, greater emotional maturity, greater alertness and faster reaction times.
Interestingly, it doesn’t stop there. The more we practise meditation, the more we develop the ability to move into the even more highly functional theta range of 4 – 7 cps, which, when operating in a synchronised fashion is exceptional.
Meditation with personalised mantras is the only technique we know of that delivers this type of functioning. We are talking weeks, not years, which is why people find themselves experiencing such clarity so quickly. And with time, we can unlock more and more of our latent potential.
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Upcoming courses
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Reviews
“Imagine sitting in an office and receiving 100,000 phone calls every second - and you must evaluate the incoming information and decide upon and make the appropriate response to each one. That's what each single neuron is doing - with billions of them doing it.”
"I learnt how to meditate with Will in February 2014, and it’s made a significant difference to my life. I’m calmer, less stressed and find this new relaxed state enhances my ability to work effectively and retain information. I’ve also noticed a significant enhancement in my ability to problem solve situations.”
Find out how Beeja meditation can help improve brain function
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“Meditation research, particularly in the last 10 years or so, has shown to be very promising because it points to an ability of the brain to change and optimize in a way we didn't know previously was possible.”
BBC News (Apr 2011)
"..I managed to switch off for long enough to get that floaty feeling people from Brighton swear by."
"I have a lifelong tool that has brought me calm, clarity and increased creativity"
"I've noticed that I’m no longer ruled by emotions – I can see when I’m angry or frustrated without being in that feeling.”
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