Exploring Meditation Through The Lens Of Science: A 10-Day Journey

Are you intrigued by the incredible power of meditation but also looking to understand the science behind it?

This 10-day course on meditation and science has been designed to explore the fascinating intersection between the practice of meditation and the latest scientific research.

Throughout the course, we will delve deep into the workings of our nervous system, exploring the intricacies of our stress response and how meditation can help us activate our relaxation response.

We will take a closer look at the ways in which meditation can have a profound impact on our physical health, from improving our immune system to improving sleep to managing chronic pain.

Whether you're completely new to meditation or simply interested in learning more about the mind-body connection, this course has everything you need to get started. It provides an overview of the science and biology of meditation.

You'll gain a deeper understanding of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of meditation, including stress reduction, increased concentration, and enhanced well-being.

This course contains references to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health components. Please use discretion.

Lección 1: Understanding Meditation Through a Scientific Lens: An Overview of Levels of Evidence

In this lesson, our focus is on the scientific process and how it is applied to studying meditation. You will learn the scientific definition of meditation as used by researchers. We will break down the scientific process and how it applies to studying meditation. We explain the different levels of evidence that can be used to support its effects on health. We discuss the importance of both science and personal experience when it comes to exploring the effects of meditation.

Lección 2: The Stress Response: How it Impacts your Body and Mind

We take an in-depth look at how different types of stress can affect our bodies, examining the biological infrastructure of our nervous system and how acute, chronic, and emotional stress can lead to long-term physical and mental health problems. We explore how meditation brings our bodies and minds back into balance.

Lección 3: Top-Down Processing: Strengthening the Connection Between Mind and Body

The vagus nerve, often referred to as the "superhighway" of our parasympathetic nervous system, is responsible for regulating our relaxation response and ability to heal. We introduce you to your relaxation response and explain how your body regulates stress and relaxation. You will learn how meditation can increase vagal tone and improve our resilience to stress.

Lección 4: Unlocking the Power of Neuroplasticity: How Meditation Re-Wires Our Brain

We explore how meditation can strengthen the connections between different parts of our brain, including the pre-frontal cortex. Our brains adapt to our external environment and the way we use it. We investigate the parts of our brains that work when we meditate and how we can gain greater control over our minds and emotions.

Lección 5: Finding Peace and Emotional Regulation Through Mindful Meditation

Understanding and regulating our emotions can be challenging. We explore how mindfulness meditation can develop better emotional intelligence, remain focused under pressure, and act with greater authenticity. Mindfulness meditation helps us to recognize and regulate our emotions and learn to respond with greater compassion and connection to our core values.

Lección 6: Meditation as Medicine: Nourishing Your Body and Mind

We build on our knowledge about how our body responds to meditation and take a deep dive into how it can improve our physical health - from lowering blood pressure to improving digestion. We expand our practice to include pranayama—breath work to help improve vagal tone—and unlock the mental and physical benefits that come with it.

Lección 7: Taking Control of Your Health: How Mediation Enhances Immunity and Slows Aging Processes

We will explore the connection between your stress, meditation, and your immune system. We investigate the basics of the complex immune system and aging while explaining the science of how meditation supports your health and improves markers of aging. Discover simple lifestyle changes that will help support your immune system and keep it functioning optimally.

Lección 8: Transforming Our Relationship with Sleep Through Meditation

We learn how meditation can lead to more restful sleep. We dive into the circadian rhythm and the aspects of modern life that can alter our natural cycles and affect our sleep. Explore the physiology of what happens to our brains and bodies when we sleep and discover how meditation helps improve our health by supporting our natural sleep cycles. Walk through the best meditations for sleep.

Lección 9: Harnessing the Power of Mindfulness to Manage Chronic Pain

We discuss what happens when we are in pain and how our body responds differently to acute and chronic pain. We explore the dynamic interplay between stress and pain and they affect our brains. We will learn the science behind how meditation and other mind-body practices such as yoga, tai chi, qi gong, and can help manage chronic pain.

Lección 10: Uniting Mind, Body and Spirit with Mediation and Yoga Practice

We are only just scratching the surface of what meditation can do for us and what its many forms can teach us. In this lesson, we will summarize what we have learned so far and we will look to the future to explore the prospect of science unlocking the true power of yoga. We walk through different types of meditation and the potential ways that they can help us to be healthier and happier.

Reviews

I have been a member of Insight Timer for about two years, and this has been the most informative and engaging course I have experienced. I am especially interested in the intersection of the physical and spiritual realns, and this course acknowledges that connection fully. Thank you!

A great evidence-based course of the benefits of meditation.

Great, informative and practical course. Plenty of takeaways! Thank you so much!

As a scientist, I really appreciated Dr Moore's approach to this topic.

Extremely important information. A lot to absorb. A second go through will be helpful for me.

The science to compliment or replace belief. Awesome!

Enjoyed every single lesson although there could have been a bit more practice within (every!) session, the overwhelming effect for me was the scientific explanation, showing clearly the benefit of practicing (mindful) meditation & Yoga.
Loved it❤️

Good summary of the main findings of meditation research for health.

Quite interesting. Thank you for the information. 🙏

Wonderful course. Thank you for providing. Looking forward to additional courses and guided meditation. 🌱🧘🏼‍♀️