Sitting with the Light

Learn how to just sit and be. I will instruct you on breathing techniques and how to quiet the mind.

Benefits of Meditation

Physical Benefits

	Deep rest- measured by decreased metabolic rate, lower heart rate, and reduced work load of the heart.
	Lowered levels of cortisol and lactate-two chemicals associated with stress.
	Reduction of free radicals- unstable oxygen molecules that can cause tissue damage. They are now thought to be a major factor in aging and in many diseases.
	Decreased high blood pressure.
	Higher skin resistance. Low skin resistance is correlated with higher stress and anxiety levels.
	Drop in cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease.
	Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing. This has been very helpful to asthma patients.
	Younger biological age. On standard measures of aging, long-term Transcendental Meditation (TM) practitioners (more than five years) measured 12 years younger than their chronological age.
	Higher levels of DHEAS in the elderly; lower levels of DHEAS are associated with aging.

Psychological Benefits

	Increased brain wave coherence. Harmony of brain wave activity in different parts of the brain is associated with greater creativity, improved moral reasoning, and higher IQ.
	Decreased anxiety.
	Decreased depression.
	Decreased irritability and moodiness.
	Improved learning ability and memory.
	Increased self-actualization.
	Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.
	Increased happiness.
	Increased emotional stability.

Yoga

Sharon will teach you some basic principles and an individual yoga plan that fits your personal needs.

Pain Prevention: Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent the causes of some types of back pain. Many people who suffer from back pain spend a lot of time sitting at a computer or driving a car. That can cause tightness and spinal compression, which you can begin to address with yoga. Yoga also improves your alignment, both in and out of class, which helps prevent many other types of pain.

Better Breathing: Most of us breathe very shallowly into the lungs and don't give much thought to how we breathe. Yoga breathing exercises, called Pranayama, focus the attention on the breath and teach us how to better use our lungs, which benefits the entire body. Certain types of breath can also help clear the nasal passages and even calm the central nervous system, which has both physical and mental benefits.

Mental Calmness: Yoga asana practice is intensely physical. Concentrating so intently on what your body is doing has the effect of bringing a calmness to the mind. Yoga also introduces you to meditation techniques, such as watching how you breathe and disengagement from your thoughts, which help calm the mind.

Stress Reduction: Physical activity is good for relieving stress, and this is particularly true of yoga. Because of the concentration required, your daily troubles, both large and small, seem to melt away during the time you are doing yoga. This provides a much-needed break from your stressors, as well as helping put things into perspective. The emphasis yoga places on being in the moment can also help relieve stress, as you learn not to dwell on past events or anticipate the future. You will leave a yoga class feeling less stressed than when you started. Read more about yoga for stress management here

Body Awareness: Doing yoga will give you an increased awareness of your own body. You are often called upon to make small, subtle movements to improve your alignment. Over time, this will increase your level of comfort in your own body. This can lead to improved posture and greater self-confidence.

Sharon offers private yoga sessions in her office for up to 3 people and is also available to come to your establishment to teach a group class. She also offers a form of Christian-based yoga called Day Star.