When I arrive, 11 others are already sitting quietly in folding chairs, ready to begin the Buddhist-inspired meditation session.
For the next hour, we all sit, eyes closed, listening to our leader’s suggestions to focus on our breathing and relax, noticing thoughts as they come to mind, but not judging them.
I’m new to this. Although I’ve tried at-home short meditation sessions, I’ve never been able to stick to them, despite my good intentions. And this evening, as much as I try to focus only on my breathing, a zillion thoughts float in and out.
Meditation and Health
This time, I swear, I’m sticking with this meditation thing. My newfound resolve is fueled by an overwhelming amount of research that meditation is really, really good for you. The list of benefits for those 50-plus is getting much too long to ignore.
The benefits are both physical and mental, says Jeffrey Greeson, PhD, a clinical health psychologist at Duke University who researches meditation and practices it. “And of course mental and physical health are intertwined.”
“As people age, even if they age with attitude and great aspirations, the system wears down,” Greeson says. “The body can experience inflammation,” and that’s linked to a host of ills, including heart disease, depression and asthma.
So, following instruction, I try not to judge my thoughts. With effort, I make it through the entire hour without talking – a feat that would have amazed the good sisters at Catholic school, who long ago booted me out of the annual silent retreats pretty much every year for lack of focus.
What Can Meditation Do for You?
Inflammation Meditation can fix your inflammation, it seems. People between the ages of 55 and 85 who participated in an eight-week meditation program had a reduction in inflammation, as measured by their C-reactive protein levels.
Carnegie Mellon University researcher J. David Creswell, Ph.D., who was running the study, taught them mindfulness-based stress reduction. These exercises emphasize being aware and attentive of the present moment – observing but not judging thoughts and gaining insight and awareness from them by detaching.
Insomnia Meditation can also improve insomnia, a bug-a-boo of many older adults. University of Minnesota researchers found that meditation improved sleep just as well as prescription medicines do, reducing the time it took insomniacs to fall asleep by 20 minutes and boosting total sleep time by more than 30 minutes.
Infections Meditation can also reduce the number of respiratory infections in adults 50-plus and ease chronic symptoms such as back and neck pain, other studies suggest.
How to Pick a Style
For those bewildered by the different meditation approaches, Greeson offers a crash course.
- Mindfulness encourages practitioners to ”become aware of what is already there,” observing thoughts but not judging them. Mindful breathing, he says, teaches you to focus on the breath while you notice it, but let go of thoughts and other ”stuff” in an accepting way. If you want to become more tuned in to your mind and body, mindfulness may be a good choice, Greeson says.
- Buddhist style meditation is in the mindfulness camp and has the same benefits.
- Transcendental meditation, or TM, encourages practitioners to transcend their normal state of consciousness, to use a prayer-like mantra to block out distracting thoughts and gain pure awareness or ”transcendental consciousness.” Greeson says, ”Many people are drawn to TM for its elegant simplicity and its effectiveness, in both cultivating mental focus and eliciting a deep relaxation response.” If you want to relax deeply and clear your mind of distractions, TM may be your thing.
Whatever approach you choose, “it’s amazing the insight you can get,” Greeson says. “When we’re meditating, we’re not reacting to all the ‘stuff.’ It’s the non-doing that is the key.”
How to Find Meditation Instruction Off- or Online
Instruction ranges from free to pricey, and online or in person. When you’re looking into a class or course, Greeson suggests asking the leader two questions: “Do you have training in teaching meditation?” And, “Can you tell me about your personal meditation practice?”
Offline
- To find a local meditation class or instruction focusing on mindfulness, click here.
- The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research center offers in-person classes; click here.
- Meetup.com lists more than 6,500 meditation groups worldwide; to find one local to you, click here.
Online
- The UCLA Mindful Awareness Research center also offers online classes and also links to free guided meditations you can play or download; click here.
Learn more about TM by clicking here.
COMMENTS
One response to “Meditate – For the Health Of It”
What made it click for me was HackSelf.org and TM for my friend. It’s a life-changer.
Sign Up for Newsletters
There’s always a lot going on in the Senior Planet universe. Get our newsletters to make sure you never miss a thing!
Sign Up Now
Join Senior Planet Community
Senior Planet Community is our social media platform designed specifically for older adult users. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, make new friends, and share resources all on a safe and ad-free platform.
Join the Conversation Today
Upcoming Online Classes
Calendar of Events
S Sun
M Mon
T Tue
W Wed
T Thu
F Fri
S Sat
0 events,
12 events,
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Intro to Translation Tools
Intro to Translation Tools
This lecture will introduce digital translation tools and apps, such as Google Translate.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
15 events,
29
Stronger Bones
Stronger Bones
Activate the joints and muscles and increase mental focus during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Internet of Things: Entertainment
Internet of Things: Entertainment
This lecture will explore the many ways we interact with IoT on a day-to-day basis and take a look at how it’s revolutionizing entire industries.
13 events,
30
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Discover Live: Krakow, Poland
Discover Live: Krakow, Poland
Join Senior Planet and our tour guides from Discover Live for a virtual visit to Krakow, Poland!
線上購物
線上購物
本講座將提供有關使用流行網站 Amazon.com 在線購買從洗碗精到日用雜貨等所有商品的一般介紹。
15 events,
31
Balance/Strength
Balance/Strength
Activate the joints and muscles to become limber and increase balance during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Money Matters
Money Matters
This lecture introduces online banking and goes over how to keep your financial information safe.
8 events,
1
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
P2P Payment Services
P2P Payment Services
In this lecture, you’ll learn about some of today’s most popular P2P payment services, including PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi
Relax your mind and strengthen your body with this gentle exercise class
0 events,
2
0 events,
3
0 events,
4
15 events,
5
Stronger Bones
Stronger Bones
Activate the joints and muscles and increase mental focus during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Affordable Home Internet
Affordable Home Internet
This lecture goes over basic information you need to know when signing up for home internet service.
13 events,
6
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Discover Live: Seville, Spain
Discover Live: Seville, Spain
Join Senior Planet and our tour guides from Discover Live for a virtual visit to Seville, Spain!
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
14 events,
7
Balance/Strength
Balance/Strength
Activate the joints and muscles to become limber and increase balance during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Intro to Translation Tools
Intro to Translation Tools
This lecture will introduce digital translation tools and apps, such as Google Translate.
8 events,
8
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Protecting Your Personal Info Online
Protecting Your Personal Info Online
This presentation will cover the ins and outs of how to protect your personal information online.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi
Relax your mind and strengthen your body with this gentle exercise class
0 events,
9
0 events,
10
12 events,
11
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Mobile Health Apps
Mobile Health Apps
This lecture introduces common health apps, like the iPhone's built-in app and the Google Fit app.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
16 events,
12
Stronger Bones
Stronger Bones
Activate the joints and muscles and increase mental focus during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Smartphones at a Glance
Smartphones at a Glance
In this lecture you’ll learn about popular smartphones on the market and some of their pros and cons.
12 events,
13
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Online Shopping
Online Shopping
This lecture will provide a general introduction to shopping online using the popular website Amazon.com.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
14 events,
14
Balance/Strength
Balance/Strength
Activate the joints and muscles to become limber and increase balance during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
eBay & PayPal
eBay & PayPal
This lecture provides an overview of the popular auction website eBay and the pioneer online payment service PayPal.
8 events,
15
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Introduction to Learning Apps – Languages & The Arts
Introduction to Learning Apps – Languages & The Arts
This presentation will introduce you to apps that help you learn different languages, explore the arts and art history, and even show you how to play instruments.
Tai Chi – CANCELED
Tai Chi – CANCELED
Today's session has been canceled. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please join us next week.
0 events,
16
0 events,
17
12 events,
18
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Telemedicine
Telemedicine
This lecture provides an overview of telemedicine options and focuses on exploring virtual medical appointments with your doctor in real-time.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
16 events,
19
Stronger Bones
Stronger Bones
Activate the joints and muscles and increase mental focus during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
All Things Zoom
All Things Zoom
This lecture will go over how to use Zoom to chat with friends & family, and take virtual classes with Senior Planet!
13 events,
20
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Introduction to Hosting on Zoom
Introduction to Hosting on Zoom
In this introductory lecture, we'll go over what you need to start your first meeting, as well as some hosting tips to make it a success.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
15 events,
21
Balance/Strength
Balance/Strength
Activate the joints and muscles to become limber and increase balance during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
eBay & PayPal
eBay & PayPal
This lecture provides an overview of the popular auction website eBay and the pioneer online payment service PayPal.
10 events,
22
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Podcasts
Podcasts
In this lecture, you'll learn more about these audio programs available on the internet: why people listen to them, where you can find them, and what the most popular ones are.
Mobile Health Apps
Mobile Health Apps
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED*
This lecture introduces common health apps, like the iPhone's built-in app and the Google Fit app.
0 events,
23
0 events,
24
13 events,
25
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Online Health Resources
Online Health Resources
Learn how to evaluate health-related information online.
Fit Fusion Workout
Fit Fusion Workout
Get your heart pumping during this fun, high-energy workout!
16 events,
26
Stronger Bones
Stronger Bones
Activate the joints and muscles and increase mental focus during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
MyChart
MyChart
Learn how MyChart can help you keep all your health information in one place, communicate with your providers, and have a virtual visit.
12 events,
27
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Discover Live: Tunis, Tunisia
Discover Live: Tunis, Tunisia
Join Senior Planet and our tour guides from Discover Live for a virtual visit to Tunis, Tunisia!
關於 Zoom 的一切
關於 Zoom 的一切
了解如何使用 Zoom 與家人朋友聊天以及參與 Senior Planet 線上學習!
15 events,
28
Balance/Strength
Balance/Strength
Activate the joints and muscles to become limber and increase balance during this exercise class.
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Intro to Managing Your Privacy
Intro to Managing Your Privacy
Concerned about privacy? Unsure about accepting cookies? Come learn about some essential privacy tips!
9 events,
29
Morning Stretch
Morning Stretch
Start your day with a short morning stretch!
Online Travel Sites
Online Travel Sites
Learn the basics of using online travel sites to find the best fares and rates for just about any destination.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi
Relax your mind and strengthen your body with this gentle exercise class
0 events,
30
Morning Stretch
Intro to Translation Tools
Fit Fusion Workout
Stronger Bones
Morning Stretch
Internet of Things: Entertainment
Morning Stretch
Discover Live: Krakow, Poland
線上購物
Balance/Strength
Morning Stretch
Money Matters
Morning Stretch
P2P Payment Services
Tai Chi
Stronger Bones
Morning Stretch
Affordable Home Internet
Morning Stretch
Discover Live: Seville, Spain
Fit Fusion Workout
Balance/Strength
Morning Stretch
Intro to Translation Tools
Morning Stretch
Protecting Your Personal Info Online
Tai Chi
Morning Stretch
Mobile Health Apps
Fit Fusion Workout
Stronger Bones
Morning Stretch
Smartphones at a Glance
Morning Stretch
Online Shopping
Fit Fusion Workout
Balance/Strength
Morning Stretch
eBay & PayPal
Morning Stretch
Introduction to Learning Apps – Languages & The Arts
Tai Chi – CANCELED
Morning Stretch
Telemedicine
Fit Fusion Workout
Stronger Bones
Morning Stretch
All Things Zoom
Morning Stretch
Introduction to Hosting on Zoom
Fit Fusion Workout
Balance/Strength
Morning Stretch
eBay & PayPal
Morning Stretch
Podcasts
Mobile Health Apps
Morning Stretch
Online Health Resources
Fit Fusion Workout
Stronger Bones
Morning Stretch
MyChart
Morning Stretch
Discover Live: Tunis, Tunisia
關於 Zoom 的一切
Balance/Strength
Morning Stretch
Intro to Managing Your Privacy
Morning Stretch
Online Travel Sites
Tai Chi
Recent Articles
Recent Comments