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Ordering
The Blissful Brain
The Blissful Brain is published
by Gaia Thinking. For more information on how to order your
copy, please click
here.
Guardian
G2: Mind over matter by Andy Darling
"Neuroscientist Shanida Nataraja has
proven meditation does more than clear your head, it can put
both halves of your brain to work, improving your concentration,
memory, and decision-making...". To read more, please
click
here.
Upcoming
talk: Yoga Ananda, Reigate, Surrey on Friday the 4th of June
Shanida Nataraja will be speaking at a seminar
on The Blissful Brain on Friday, 04th June 2010 at
19:30 at Yoga Ananda Ltd. 46 Albert Road North, Reigate, Surrey,
RH2 9EL. For more information, please click
here.
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The
Blissful Brain Event at
St Marks, Islington: 13th of May 2008
How
important is meditation of our health and well being? Is it
merely a soothing relaxation technique or is it in fact a
vital practice that deserves wider recognition and higher
public regard?
At
this event, Dr Shanida Nataraja presented findings from her
new book. Supporting talks were given by Laurence Freeman
OSB, Director of the World Community for Christian Meditation
and Kim Nataraja, author of "Dancing With Your Shadow",
and a practical session will be led by Dr Sifu Mark Green.
Click here to see the agenda
for this exciting event.
To
hear a recording of the talks by Dr Shanida Nataraja, Laurence
Freeman and Kim Nataraja, please click on the link below:
Shanida
- The Blissful
Brain
Laurence
- Science and
Religion
Kim
- The Psychological
Stages of Meditation
To
hear a recording of this whole event, please click on the
relevant link below:
Part
1: Dr Shanida Nataraja gives an overview of the effects
of meditation on the brain and the effects of long-term practice
on the health and well-being of the practictioner. Laurence
Freeman talks about Science and Religion and the importance
of dialogue between these two discplines, and the role of
meditation as a spiritual discpline. This part ends with a
short guided meditation.
Part
2: Kim Nataraja provides an overview of some of the common
psychological features of meditation, including the prominence
of thoughts, the attempts of the ego to hijack the mind, and
the emergence of suppressed emotions during meditation. This
talk is followed by a short dialogue between Kim and Shanida
and finishes with some gentle chi gung exercises.
To
read the questions and answers covered in the dialogue, please
click here.
To
download a PDF copy of the flyer for this event, please click
here. To see the flyer in this browser, please click
here.
Overview
Our world is a stressful place, and practices such as meditation,
tai chi and yoga appear to go some way towards offering an
antidote to this stress. Whilst, there is an abundance of
information about the psychological and spiritual aspects
of meditation, the layperson has limited access to information
about meditation’s effects on the brain and its benefits in
terms of measurable health outcomes. However, recent research
has revealed specific brain regions and processes involved
in meditation, as well as those involved in generating religious
and mystical experiences. Furthermore, numerous studies have
explored the health benefits of meditation, from its effects
on blood pressure and cardiovascular health to its impact
on mental health disorders and coping mechanisms in disease.
Not only does this research provide a concrete explanation
of how and why meditation works, but it also reveals possible
strategies through which we can facilitate meditation, optimise
brain functioning, and maintain a state of good health and
well-being.
This evening event will be chaired by Dr Shanida Nataraja,
author of The Blissful Brain, a book that provides
the scientific evidence supporting the role of practices such
as meditation, tai chi and yoga in our everyday lives. Talks
by the author will be supported with talks by other popular
speakers, including Laurence Freeman OSB, Director of The
World Community for Christian Meditation (WCCM), and Kim Nataraja,
author of Dancing With Your Shadow, a book on the
stages of meditation and the path towards the integration
of Self. The event event will also include a practical demonstration
of chi gung by Dr Sifu Mark Green, and a discussion forum
encouraging lively interaction and debate.
Venue
St. Mark's, Myddelton Square, London EC1R 1XX, England, UK
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