Meditation
Work stress
In one of the most thoroughly designed studies of meditation ever published, full-time workers who used Sahaja Yoga meditation became much less stressed compared with more conventional approaches to relaxation or placebo, according to a paper published in the online journal, Evidence Based Complementary Medicine, a leading publication in its field.
A team of researchers at Sydney University’s Meditation Research Programme monitored stress levels of full-time Australian workers in Sydney’s Central Business District to determine the effectiveness of meditation in combating this widespread and expensive problem.
The 8-week clinical trial provides strong evidence that there are measurable, practical and clinically relevant effects that appear to be specific to Sahaja Yoga meditation.
The study divided volunteers into three groups. Those who used Sahaja Yoga meditation showed significant reduction in their stress levels compared with those who used other methods of meditation that didn’t involve thoughtless awareness.
This is one of only a few meditation studies in the world that clearly demonstrate an effect that is much greater than just placebo. Hence, it has broad and important implications for all levels of society.
Work stress is described by many experts as a modern epidemic. It costs the Australian economy $15 billion per year and the US economy more than $300 billion. It is a leading cause of work absenteeism, causing both mental health problems such as anxiety and physical problems such as heart disease. Sahaja Yoga is a simple, low-cost intervention that can help prevent these problems.
The strategies currently available to tackle work stress often have limited effectiveness. This is where this study is remarkably relevant. It shows that a simple, mental silence orientated meditation skill reduces stress significantly more than other, often more expensive, approaches to stress management.
Stress is not just limited to the workplace. In western countries, studies estimate that more than 70% of medical consultations feature stress as a major issue.
Read the original research publication here:
www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2011/960583/
Visit the Australian Meditation Research Programme’s website:
www.researchingmeditation.org <http://www.researchingmeditation.org>
(Photograph: englisharticles.info)
Sahaja Yoga Meditation workshops will be held throughout Australia in July 2011. Come along and experience the mental silence and peace that Sahaja Yoga Meditation can offer.
Topics include collective meditations, easy techniques for reducing stress, balancing and clearing sessions and tips on how to meditate at home.
Here are the workshop venues and details.
ACT – Scullin
Sunday 31st July,10.30am to 3.00pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre
77 Chewings Street, Scullin
No booking required.
Enquiries: (02) 6254 4986
Lunch provided. No cost.
NSW – Sydney (Note: new location)
Sunday 31st July, 12 noon to 4.00pm
(Doors open 11am for registration & live music)
Burwood Function Centre, 7-9 Burleigh St, Burwood Sydney
(2 mins from Burwood Station, off Belmore St.)
Free Council car park is opposite venue.
This venue includes a presentation, “Meditation for children and young people”, by Dr Ramesh Manocha.
Lunch NOT provided. Afternoon tea provided
$10 donation per person (see below under Costs**)
To book for Sydney go to www.sahajayoga.com.au/booking
NT – Darwin
Saturday 30th July, 1.00pm to 5.00pm
Community Room (near Target entrance)
Palmerston Shopping Centre
Temple Terrace, Palmerston
To book for Darwin, contact [email protected]
Refreshments provided. No cost.
QLD – Bundaberg and Hervey Bay
Sunday 31st July, 1.00pm to 4:00pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre
160 Mahoney-Dexters Road
Alloway, Bundaberg
To book for Bundaberg, contact [email protected] or call 07 4159 7887.
Lunch provided. Donations welcomed.
QLD – Cairns
Sunday 31st July, 2.30pm to 5.30pm
Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre
2 Reed Road, Trinity Park
To book for Cairns, contact 07 4032 1860.
Afternoon tea provided. No cost.
QLD – Wamuran
Saturday 30th July, 2.00pm to 5.00pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre
95 McClintock Road
Wamuran (60mins north of Brisbane)
To book for Wamuran, contact [email protected] or call 07 5496 6716.
Refreshments provided. No cost.
SA – Adelaide
Saturday 30th July, 2.00pm to 5.00pm
Klemzig Primary School,
2 Hay Street
Klemzig, Adelaide
To book for Adelaide, contact: [email protected] or call 0417 806 336.
Refreshments provided. No cost.
TAS – Hobart
Sunday 31st July, 10.00am to 2.00pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre
85 Tanundal Street
Howrah, Hobart
To book for Hobart, contact: [email protected] or call 03 6245 1476.
Lunch provided. No cost.
VIC – Melbourne
Saturday 30th July, 11.00am to 4.00pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre
229 Warrigal Road,
Cheltenham, Melbourne
To book for Melbourne, contact [email protected] or call (03) 9585 1208.
Lunch provided. $10 donation per person (see below under Costs**).
WA – Gidgegannup
Sunday 30th July, 3.00pm to 5.00pm Sahaja Yoga Meditation Gidgegannup Centre
1216 O’Brien Rd, Gidgegannup (40kms NE of Perth)
To book for Gidgegannup, contact: 1300 724 252
Lunch provided. No cost.
**Costs: Our workshops are provided free by experienced volunteers, as a non-profit community service. The larger Melbourne and Sydney venues accept a $10 donation at the door towards venue hire, refreshments, workshop materials, equipment hire and upkeep.
For more information about the workshops go to www.sahajayoga.com.au/workshops.
Can’t make our workshop? Free weekly meditation classes are also available around Australia. To find a class near you go to www.sahajayoga.com.au/meetings.
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Queensland would like to invite you to our next meditation workshop to be held on Saturday 28 May 2011.
For those of you who have already been attending our weekly programs, this workshop will teach you new techniques to enhance your meditations, helping you to find a new depth of peace and clarity, as well as improving your general state of well-being.
For the beginner, this is an opportunity to discover the peace which lies within and experience a new awareness that you probably never knew existed.
Here’s some feedback from our previous workshops:
“Incredibly informative!”
“Well presented, relaxed with practical exercises to demonstrate the techniques.”
“Everyone presenting the lessons was open and genuine and shared from the heart”
“Showed generosity of spirit without asking anything in return”
“The welcoming and friendly people made me feel like I belonged.”
“A very uplifting experience.”
Event details:
Saturday 28 May, 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Sahaja Yoga Meditation Centre,
95 McClintock Road, Wamuran Queensland
(60 minutes north of Brisbane)
Program:
2:00 – 2:30pm: Arrival and refreshments
2:30 – 3:00pm: Meditation – How to achieve the state of mental silence
3:00 – 4:00pm: Clearing techniques to improve your meditation
4:00 – 4:20pm: Video lecture from Shri Mataji (founder)
4:20 – 5:15pm: Meditation and live music
5.30pm: Dinner
Cost: There are no costs or payments required for your attendance.
Seating: Chairs provided.
Directions to Workshop venue in Wamuran:
The address is: 95 McClintock Road, Wamuran. From the M1 motorway, take the Kilcoy exit and proceed along D’aguilar Highway until you reach Wamuran. Opposite the IGA store, turn right and then right again into Station Rd. Turn left at the small roundabout into Newlands Rd for approx 3km, then left into Patane Rd which leads to McClintock Rd. Number 95 is just over the top of the hill on the left.
View Google map here.
If you are planning to attend, to assist us in our preparations for the day, please email us at [email protected].
Sahaja Yoga Workshop in Burwood, Sydney
Four-week Sahaja Yoga meditation courses start in March 2011 at over 80 locations around Australia.
The courses are designed to teach you simple techniques for developing the mental silence of true meditation. They are comprised of one 90-minute class per week for 4 weeks.
At the completion of the 4-week course, one-day practical workshops will be held to help you further establish your meditation learnings.
• Suitable for complete beginners and regulars
• One 90-minute class per week for 4 weeks
• Join in at anytime, even if you miss a class
• No physical exercises, postures or special clothing required
• Chairs provided
• Daytime or evening classes available
• Ongoing weekly classes at most venues
• All courses and classes are free
Further details: Go to www.sahajayoga.com.au/events