Thursday, August 21, 2008

Do This to Lower Your Blood Pressure Wouldn't it be great if your mind had a superpower that made your blood pressure behave?

Wouldn't it be great if your mind had a superpower that made your blood pressure behave? It does! A review of nine major studies says your mind could budge your blood pressure in a healthy direction if you give it a meditation break. Regular practice helps lower both systolic (the top number) and diastolic pressure. Breathe In, Breathe OutMeditation -- that ancient art of focusing on a phrase or mantra, letting your breath flow in and out, and allowing your thoughts to gently come and go -- is a proven stress reliever. And research now shows that regularly practicing transcendental meditation may have blood pressure benefits. (Get a head start on meditation basics by popping in the new YOU: Breathing Easy CD. It walks you step by step through several refreshing and relaxing meditation and breathing techniques.) Need more incentive to meditate? Check out these other areas that it helps improve:

Memory: Read how meditation gives you a more organized mind.
Brainpower: Check out how meditation may actually make your brain bigger.
Heart health: Find out how much lower your heart disease risk could be. Try this two-step meditation tool.

No comments: