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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 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].
Music of Joy world music group
Music of Joy have now launched their official website, www.musicofjoy.com.au.
Here you will be able to keep track of all their concerts around Australia and tours around the world.
The Realise Asia Tour 2010 included thirteen concerts in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Combodia, Laos and Malaysia, with plans under way for the 2011 Realise Asia Tour.
“Music of Joy” is a unique, multicultural group of musicians in Australia who believe the purpose of music is to create and share joy. Exceptional joy – jubilant, relaxing, profound. Joy that reverberates with audiences, offering elation, bliss, solace.
Much of the group’s repertoire stems from Bhajans – songs of the spirit, songs of praise and adoration. To these ancient songs, “Music of Joy” has added Indian traditional village songs, music from Pakistan, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, England, Israel, Russia and Africa, as well as a number of home-grown compositions by members of the group.
The experience that can result from sharing this unique world music is thoughtless awareness, a relaxed meditative state which can be understood and developed through the Sahaja Yoga Meditation practised by these musicians. It’s an experience the musicians love to share.
Find out more at: www.musicofjoy.com.au.
(Photograph: www.musicofjoy.com.au)
Grades 4 to 12 children
On 21 February 2011, Sahaja Yoga in South Africa held the first school realisation program for the year at Mount Edgecombe Private School in Phoenix, a suburb of Durban. Two programs were held: one for Grades 4 to 12 children and one for Grades R to 3 children.
The realisation session for Grade 4 to Grade 12 (200 children) was conducted in a cool enclosed area on the lawn. The Deputy Principal and teachers were most accommodating and made the Sahaja yogis feel very welcome. A student led the assembly with “Our Father” (The Lord’s Prayer).
At first, Lincoln spoke about the current problems students are exposed to, such as drugs, alcohol and peer pressure. He also spoke about the benefits of Sahaja Yoga meditation. Kasthurie conducted the realization session, after which everyone felt the Cool Breeze.
Sahaja Yoga realisation session
The children and teachers enjoyed the session and were very grateful for getting this information.
The second session was for Grade R to Grade 3 (300 children). Because they were little ones Lincoln decided not to do his introduction bit. So after being introduced by the head of this section, the Self-realisation session was conducted by Kasthurie. Rina did the concluding session.
This was done under a huge beautiful old tree – a setting that made one feel like being in a village in India, where the saints gathered to share their knowledge with all who were interested in learning about God.
Grades R to 3 children
This was a wonderful start for the Sahaja Yoga School Programs in South Africa in 2011. These programs are being carried out by a dedicated band of Sahaja yogis who give freely of their time to help children and teachers in schools understand about Sahaja Yoga meditation.
Kasthurie, Rina and Lincoln