*Excerpt from the full article

Medical research continually reminds us of the many health benefits of exercise and shows us that physical activity can preserve function and enhance independence. But few of us realize that the wellness activities people choose can produce a host of unexpected benefits.

As millions of mature adults take a positive and active approach to their personal health, the most successful are those who adopt a whole-person wellness model, addressing the needs of the body, mind and spirit. Two practices that offer such multidimensional wellness benefits are meditation and mindfulness. By choosing mindfulness and integrating meditation into their lives, older adults can discover even greater health and vitality, as well as deeper spiritual awareness.

Meditation and happiness
What impact does meditation have beyond stress reduction and health promotion? Researchers are using sophisticated imaging devices to investigate meditation’s role in literally training the mind and allowing it to more frequently access areas of the brain that facilitate happiness. Among these researchers is Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, whose lab is considered one of the world’s most advanced for looking inside a living brain.

Davidson’s research of experienced  meditators has revealed higher levels of activity in the left side of the brain. This area has been previously associated with positive emotional states and enhanced immune system activity.8 In the same meditators, the right side of the brain— which processes negative emotions and has been associated with anxiety, depression and other mood disorders—was suppressed.

“If we train ourselves to become more mindful and slow down our emotional reactions, we can learn to monitor our moods and thoughts before they spiral downward,” Davidson states. “We can, in other words, learn to improve our happiness. This can be done with mindfulness,” he adds, “by attending to the moment and choosing activities that engage rather than numb our minds.”

An empowering activity 
As part of a wellness program, meditation offers aging adults the chance to investigate new ways to promote their health, explore their inner self, and nurture their spiritual wellness. One goal of this practice is to extend a mindfulness state of being, and the subsequent inner peace, into all aspects of daily life. Meditation also offers individuals an opportunity to enhance their self-esteem from a wellness practice they are able to do independently and at times of their discretion. As meditation opens the possibility for self-discovery and true empowerment of older adults, organizations that provide these wellness opportunities can help their clients realize a host of healthy benefits—not only for the body, but also for the mind and spirit.

RELATED ARTICLES
	Becoming More
	The Secret to Your Health May Be Right Next Door
	Mind/Body Practice Techniques
>> more articles...