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Meditation and Sleep
Meditation for deep rest, stress reduction and energy enhancement. Since the late 60’s thousands of studies have shown the multiple benefits of meditation. Every thing from reduction in high blood pressure, immune enhancement, relief from anxiety and depression, overcoming chronic illnesses, improved athletic performance and numerous other positive changes in the body/mind/spirit. Techniques of meditation should include 20-30 minutes per day for everyone to de-stress and confirm its multiple benefits on body/mind functioning. Active and passive techniques are easily taught and learned.
Good health and overcoming disease is very dependent on how well we rest and recharge. All bodily systems function through the cycles of activity and rest. Every active heart beat is followed by a period of rest. Our lungs perform respiration by inhaling oxygen, pausing or resting and exhaling carbon dioxide then pausing or resting again. All of life moves in cycle of activity and rest. Dynamic rest gives rise to dynamic activity. In order for the arrow to fly fast, true and hit its target the bow must be pulled back to the maximum, pause or rest in a state of dynamic potential and then be released. Like that, the body/mind must also have deep periods of rest so it can recharge, heal, rejuvenate and gather all of the forces necessary to engage in activity. Modern man does not rest deeply and hence the need for constant stimulation in the form of caffeine, sugar, constant stimulation or distraction. Constant bright lights, noise, eating and drinking at all hours of the day and night deplete cellular energy and inhibit the ability of our body cells to repair and renew themselves. The National Sleep Foundation estimates that 65% of us do not get enough sleep to function safely and efficiently. It is well know that chronic sleep deprivation lowers our immune function, energy levels, cognitive abilities, upsets hormone balance, negatively effects our moods and ultimately contributes to cellular malfunction and disease. The question is how much sleep or rest do we actually need? Best estimate vary from 6-8 hours of sleep per night and down time of rest or meditation of 20-30 minutes per day, but the truth is that it is so individual that no reliable method exists to generalize. Many people get by perfectly on 3-5 hours sleep while others absolutely must have 8-9 hours. It not the amount, but the quality that counts. If we can enter deep REM sleep easily for even a short period, then we can recharge and restore faster than sleeping many hours in a light non-rejeuvenative sleep.
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