Did you know that a regular meditative practice can dramatically influence blood pressure, blood sugar, anxiety and so much more … without the side effects that accompany our more common pharmacological remedies?
Research is validating that our bodies possess an amazing self-healing capacity that to a large degree is based on how we use our awareness and our breath. This same self-healing capacity is inhibited by the stress response.
The good news is that we all have ‘awareness’ and ‘breath’ which are the raw materials for activating our self-healing capacity. The not so good news is that our established habits of mind and body will make this a difficult, or impossible, journey without an experienced guide. We tend to get in our own way.
An effective meditation process that’s capable of transforming our biology … often beginning with a positive influence on gene expression … is something that can be learned by anyone with the desire to learn.
A common misconception is that in order to meditate (I usually use the tern ‘self-regulate’) we need to be able to clear our minds. This is not the case … and attempts to ‘clear the mind’ will exacerbate the stress response as reflected in the heart rate variability measurements that I do routinely.
We’re often willing to train for an athletic event, or to practice regularly to learn a new skill like playing a musical instrument. New neuroscience is telling us that we can also learn to train our brains and glands to help us produce better health and a greater sense of well-being. But it does require learning and practice.
As our self-regulating capacity improves (our ability to turn on our own self-healing mechanisms … glands and brain) all of the more external efforts to help ourselves … like diet, supplementation, and exercise … will be significantly more valuable.
It’s a common experience that as external interventions alone … like drugs, diet, vitamins, and herbs …. fail to produce the results that we desire … that we’re more motivated to explore our own inner healing potential.
And the good news is that that inner potential for self-healing is being scientifically validated. Now we know that with proper training and practice we can learn to reprogram the expression of our genes and ultimately positively influence our health and well-being.
Steven Templin, D.O.M., Dipl. Ac., is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and nationally certified acupuncturist, specializing in Energy Medicine, Mind-Body Medicine, Diet and Nutrition to repair the Gut-Immune-Brain Axis, and Self-Regulation training.
In his Self-Regulation training program he shares the science and most importantly the effective practices for transforming physical health and emotional well-being.
He teaches and consults online, and sees patients at the Natural Medicine Center in Lakeland, Florida at 315 Doris Drive.
You can learn more about Dr. Templin and his healing program by visiting www.newmedicalmodel.com.
Steve is a retired Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Acupuncture Physician, and HeartMath Trauma-Sensitive Certified Practitioner with over 35 years of clinical experience in the fields of Energy Medicine, Energy Psychology, and Biofeedback. 