Meditation for Memory & Brain Functioning

SAN MARINO, Calif. - Sept. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Thursday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.

In this workshop, a meditation technique from the Kundalini Yoga tradition called Kirtan Kriya will be explored. Practicing this technique just twelve minutes a day has been shown to not only improve health and well-being: studies suggest that it can also lead to a reduction in cellular aging ⁽¹⁾ and that it increases brain activity in areas central to memory and improves cognition and well-being in patients with memory loss ⁽²⁾. This meditation technique increases activity in areas of the brain which are central to memory and which are the first to decrease in function when a person develops Alzheimer's disease. The studies also suggest that it could be "possible, therefore, that if everyone did Kirtan Kriya...on a regular basis, the number of people who develop Alzheimer's would diminish." ⁽³

This technique can be done seated in a chair, lying down, or seated on a mat or cushion. No prior meditation or yoga experience or any level of flexibility or fitness is needed. Attendees will do a few gentle stretches, discuss the technique and its origins, and then practice together. Yogi tea will be offered after practice.

This workshop will last an hour and thirty minutes and will be facilitated by CECILIA REARDON, Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher, who is certified by the Kundalini Research Institute.  Participants will be seated in chairs, but if they wish to sit on mats on the floor, they are welcome to and should bring their own mat or cushion.

You won't want to miss this free workshop at Crowell Library Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m.

(1) January 2011. "A pilot study of yogic meditation for family dementia caregivers with depressive symptoms: Effects on mental health, cognition, and telomerase activity." published in International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.

Lavretsky H, Epel ES, Siddarth P, Nazarian N, Cyr NS, Khalsa DS, Lin J, Blackburn E, Irwin MR. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2013 Jan;28(1):57-65. doi: 10.1002/gps.3790. Epub 2012 Mar 11.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22407663

(2) 2010. "Meditation Effects on Cognitive Function and Cerebral Blood Flow In Subjects with Memory Loss: A Preliminary Study" published in Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.

Newberg AB, Wintering N, Khalsa DS, Roggenkamp H, Waldman MR. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20(2):517-26. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1391.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20164557

(3) 2009. "Cerebral blood flow changes during chanting meditation" published in Nuclear Medicine Communications.

Khalsa DS, Amen D, Hanks C, Money N, Newberg A. Nucl Med Commun. 2009 Dec;30(12):956-61. doi: 10.1097/MNM.0b013e32832fa26c.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19773673

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