Research: Meditation Makes Your Brain Physically Thicker

Published by Bronwen Logan

Meditation and Brain Thickness — Reiki with Bronwen

瞑想

In Usui Reiki Ryoho, meditation is one of the five core elements of the system. Both convergent meditation — focused awareness — and the movement toward divergent open awareness are part of the practice. Whether or not meditation is part of your current Reiki practice, this research reveals what is at the heart of Usui Reiki Ryoho: sitting still changes everything.

Study One — The Brain

Meditation Makes Your Brain Physically Thicker

Sara Lazar et al. — Harvard Medical School — NeuroReport, 2005

Thickercortex in attention areas

MRImeasurable physical change

Slowerage-related brain thinning

Using MRI brain scans, Harvard researchers found that meditators had measurably thicker brain tissue in regions responsible for attention, body awareness, and sensory processing. The effect was greater in older meditators, suggesting regular practice protects the brain from age-related thinning.

Cortical Thickness — Meditators vs Non-Meditators (3 Key Brain Regions)

Usui Reiki Ryoho Connection

In Usui Reiki Ryoho, convergent meditation practices — Gassho, Joshin Kokyu Ho, and focused breath work — train precisely the attention and body-awareness centres shown to grow with practice. The practitioner who sits daily is building the brain capacity that underpins the system.

Lazar SW et al. NeuroReport, 2005; 16(17):1893-1897 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16272874

If you would like to learn more about what meditation can do for you PLUS learn three supportive meditations begin now with Bronwen’s Meditate NOW on-demand 100 minute webclass.

Bronwen Logan

With over two decades of expertise, Bronwen Logan is one of the leading voices in the system of Reiki. A key founder in both the International House and Shibumi International Reiki Association, she's also penned multiple books on the system including The Reiki Sourcebook; The Japanese Art of Reiki, Beginning Reiki, Beginning Healing, The Art of Gratitude, The A-Z of Reiki, and Your Reiki Treatment as well developing many meditations to support students and teachers in this work. Apart from studying the Japanese aspects of the system, writing and working with animals is a core passion. Bronwen is also a co-founder of Reiki Women Podcast, a blog all about Reiki by women! You can find Bronwen teaching privately online or around the globe!

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Have you tried Bronwen's new "Waka Wisdom: Imperial Reiki Meditations" yet?

Research: Reiki Training for Caregivers of Hospitalised Children

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Research: Reiki Training for Caregivers of Hospitalised Children

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