Meditation
There are many types of meditation. While the goals of each method depends primarily on the religious and cultural context, such as Taoist, Buddhist, and Hindu, which developed the oldest and the most elaborate methods, specific techniques have more to do with human nature than with the goal of a particular meditation practice. Many researchers appear to misunderstand meditation, because many experts compare it to relaxation. Some techniques may resemble relaxation, but usually such techniques are either used for beginners or for transitions, that is to regain composure between exercises, in other words to relax. A technique in classical meditation in the sitting position in Zen Buddhism, for example, requires its practitioners to stay still while focusing on a point on the floor. While beginners may move a little or close their eyes, which may seem like relaxation, when practitioners meditate for longer than 20 minutes, their eyes must be slightly open while focusing on the same point without interruption, and any fidgeting is strongly discouraged, which is anything but relaxing. Since the Advanced Holistic Center, in Downtown Miami meditation and Miami Beach meditation branches, are not a Buddhist temple but a clinic, our goal is to make you feel better, so strict meditation rules do not apply.
Traditional Taoist meditation may appear similar to Zen meditation, but in reality they are different. Taoist philosophy is the origin of traditional Chinese medicine, and the solid (zang) and hollow (fu) organs contain their own corresponding spirits or souls. The optimal balance among internal organs goes beyond mere physical well-being, traditionally should become harmonized with heaven and earth, and whenever persons suffer from mental disorders, for example, from traditional Chinese medical standpoint, the origin of the problem is within individual or, more often, in imbalances among corresponding organs’ functions. For this reason, Taoist meditation is often conducted in various positions, depending on which organs are affected, rather than in the same sitting position. In fact, Taoist meditation is closely connected with qigong and tai chi practices, and therefore, as strange as it may seem to a novice, traditional Chinese medicine is closely connected with Taoist philosophy, meditation, and exercises—all at once! Such unity within the system allows much flexibility, and the therapists at the Advanced Holistic Center, in Downtown Miami meditation and Miami Beach meditation branches, help our patients to take advantage of such large arsenal of therapeutic methods and techniques to achieve their best well-being that may be possible.
How does it work?
When people study meditation in Zen Buddhism, they typically learn how to concentrate their attention on one point or object and gradually increase how long they can concentrate without interruption. Then using various techniques, they are taught to identify and release attachments. In Taoism, practitioners use specific techniques to improve circulation of qi and improve the functions of individual organs through influencing qi circulation. These techniques and exercises can become increasingly more complex and difficult to do as the practitioner’s level rises. Again, though, we are not a religious organization, and our goal is to help our patients improve their quality of life and general as well as specific issues in their well-being, so we do not have our patients train for purposes other than to improve their health. While we at the Advanced Holistic Center, in Downtown Miami meditation and Miami Beach meditation branches, are considering conducting meditation classes in the future, right now our therapists use meditation as part of treatment, using specific techniques and exercises as the circumstances arise. After all, we are a holistic center, and we do our best to treat the whole individual person rather than each condition that our patients may exhibit, so the relief would be longer.
Something Else
Advanced Holistic Center is a NYC based acupuncture and holistic healthcare clinic. Advanced Holistic Center has more locations and longer open hours than almost any complementary and alternative healthcare facility in all of NYC. With four offices manned by our fully licensed and board certified acupuncturists and herbalists, a team of highly-qualified: assistants, meditation teachers.
Benefits of Meditation
Research in meditation and its effects on human health began in the United States in the early 1970s. The findings were that during meditation, heartbeat, sympathetic activities, and oxygen consumption decreased. Later research studies demonstrated that meditation activates the areas of the brain associated with emotional regulation, concentration abilities, and feeling of well-being. Research has also shown that regular practice of meditation can strengthen the immune system, increase cardiovascular efficiency, and regulate blood pressure. Consistent research findings in the area of the connection between the body and mind led to the formation of a somewhat new branch of science called psychoneuroimmunology, which has established that thoughts and attitudes can produce negative effects on various aspects of health and well-being and facilitate appearance or progression of real diseases, and meditation, with its purpose of developing better self-regulation over the body and mind, can improve many aspects of psychophysiological processes. While the therapists at the Advanced Holistic Center, in Downtown Miami meditation and Miami Beach meditation branches focus more on some classical meditation methods, but they also keep up with the current findings in the field of meditation research, so our patients can benefit the most from the sessions.
Does it hurt?
Advanced Holistic Center is a NYC based acupuncture and holistic healthcare clinic. Advanced Holistic Center has more locations and longer open hours than almost any complementary and alternative healthcare facility in all of NYC. With four offices manned by our fully licensed and board certified acupuncturists and herbalists, a team of highly-qualified: assistants, meditation teachers.