Alexander C.N., et al. Treating and preventing alcohol, nicotine, and drug abuse through Transcendental Meditation: A review and statistical meta-analysis. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13-87, 1994.

Aron E.N. and Aron A. The patterns of reduction of drug and alcohol use among Transcendental Meditation participants. Bulletin of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors 2: 28-33, 1983.

Clements G., et al. The use of the Transcendental Meditation programme in the prevention of drug abuse and in the treatment of drug-addicted persons. Bulletin on Narcotics 40(1): 5156, 1988.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Gelderloos P., et al. Effectiveness of the Transcendental Meditation program in preventing and treating substance misuse: A review. International Journal of the Addictions 26: 293325, 1991.

Orme-Johnson D. W. Transcendental Meditation as an epidemiological approach to drug and alcohol abuse: Theory, research, and financial impact evaluation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 11, 119-165, 1994.

Royer A. The role of the Transcendental Meditation technique in promoting smoking cessation: A longitudinal study. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 219-236, 1994.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and marijuana. American Journal of Psychiatry 131: 60-63, 1974.

Shafii M. et al. Meditation and the prevention of alcohol abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry 132: 942-945, 1975.

Wallace R.K. et al. Decreased drug abuse with Transcendental Meditation: A study of 1,862 subjects. In Drug Abuse: Proceedings of the International Conference, ed. Chris J.D. Zarafonetis (Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger): 369-376, 1972.

Walton K. G., and Levitsky, D.A. A neuroendocrine mechanism for the reduction of drug use and addictions by Transcendental Meditation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 89-117, 1994.

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Transcendental Meditation (TM) Technqiue - Silicon Valley

It could get a little toasty for a couple of thousand people expected to turn out Saturday at the recently dedicated Los Angeles State Historic Park for a mass meditation.

Temperatures in the downtown area will reach the mid-80s, said Bonnie Bartling, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. At least 2,200 people are expected to turn out for the Mass Meditation Initiative, presented by DisclosureFest and California State Parks.

The free event, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is to feature internationally renowned speakers, workshop leaders, yoga teachers, sound healers and live music. The mass meditation is set to take place at 2 p.m.

I dont think mid-80s is very hot, but its all relative to the person, Bartling said. People can bring umbrellas.

Forecasters said temperatures will be in the 70s along the coast, while coastal valleys will see the mid- to upper 80s and valleys will hit the upper 80s and 90s. Antelope Valley will see temperatures over 100 and possibly up to 108, Bartling said.

Higher temperatures are anticipated next week. Inland areas will see triple-digit temperatures on Monday, lasting through Wednesday, forecasters said. In some cases, they said, heat records are likely to be broken.

A dry high-pressure system centered over Arizona and the Southwest is to blame for the hot days ahead, forecasters said.

Desert and mountain communities will take most of the hit when it comes to the heat. Temperatures are expected to hover between 120 and 122 degrees early next week in the Coachella Valley and deserts in San Diego County.

Most cities in Los Angeles County will are expected to get 90-degree weather, while the desert communities in the Antelope Valley could see temperatures reach up to 110 degrees.

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

Twitter: @Brittny_Mejia

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From 122 degrees in Death Valley to 100 in Sacramento, heat wave to plague California this week

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As temperatures heat up, some plan to chill out at mass meditation in LA park - Los Angeles Times

Yoga and meditation may do more than just help you feel relaxed in the moment. A new scientific review suggests that these and other mindfulness exercises can actually reverse stress-related changes in genes linked to poor health and depression.

In the new paper, published in Frontiers in Immunology, British researchers analyzed the findings from 18 previously published studiesinvolving a total of 846 peopleon the biological effects of meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, Qi gong and Tai Chi. Together, the authors say, the studies show that these mind-body exercises appear to suppress the expression of genes and genetic pathways that promote inflammation.

Inflammation can temporarily boost the immune system, and can be protective against infection and injury, the authors write in their paper. But in todays society, in which stress is primarily psychological, the bodys inflammatory response can become chronic and can impair both physical and mental health.

Researchers found that people who practiced these activities regularly had fewer signs of inflammation, including a decrease in their production of inflammatory proteins. This signals the reversal of the molecular signature of the effects of chronic stress, they wrote, which may translate to a reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases and conditions.

Environment and lifestyle can both affect which genes are turned on and off , and that can have real effects on disease risk, longevity and even which traits get passed on to future generations . Stressful events, for example, can activate the fight-or-flight response and trigger a chain reaction of stress-related changes in the bodyincluding activating specific genes involved in making proteins that produce inflammation.

Lead author Ivana Buric, a PhD student in Coventry Universitys Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab in England, says her team was surprised to see that different types of mind-body techniques had such similar effects at the genetic level. Sitting meditation is quite different than yoga or Tai Chi, she said in an email, yet all of these activitieswhen practiced regularlyseem to decrease the activity of genes involved in inflammation.

This is a relatively new field of research, she adds, and its likely that similar benefits could be obtained from other lifestyle changes like healthy eating and exercise. There arent yet enough studies to know how activities like yoga compare to other types of physical activity in terms of altering gene expression.

Buric says the existing studies suggest that mind-body interventions cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path which improves our well being. She also emphasizes that inherited genes are not static and that DNA activity can depend on things people can control. By choosing healthy habits every day, we can create a gene activity pattern that is more beneficial for our health, she says. Even just 15 minutes of practicing mindfulness seems to do the trick.

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Yoga and Meditation Can Change Your Genes, Study Says - TIME

Youre probably reading this post with a fidget spinner in your hands, arent you? Relieving stress and anxiety is almost a full-time job in itself, which has fueled a host of app services aimed at helping you relax and de-clutter your thoughts.

Aura Premium packs a litany of top-notch credentials and has quickly become one of the rising stars in the app meditation market, scoring a coveted #1 New App designation from Apple last February. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to their in-demand service for over 80 percent off just $69.99 from TNW Deals.

Featured in outlets as varied as Forbes and TeenVogue, Aura has compiled the meditation and brain relaxation techniques of top teachers and therapists into an app that actually learns what works for you.

Whether you attack stress like cancer with lots of activities, or would rather tackle your anxieties in quick short bursts, Auras groundbreaking machine learning abilities craft science-backed meditation exercises for your particular approach. In 3- to 10-minute sessions, youll work through guided meditations thatll break up your mental gridlock.

Aura tracks your mood, gauges your patterns, offers daily reminders and even displays your stress relief progress visually so you can track your improvement.

Also available on one-year ($29.99) and two-year ($49.99) subscription plans, you can take advantage of Auras critically hailed service forever for under $70 with this limited time deal.

Get this deal

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Live a stress-free life with a lifetime of Aura's premium meditation service for over 80 percent off - TNW

Meditation is supposed to be one of those practices that brings you immediate relief.

However, for some reason, the thought of it tends to feel like just another task on the to-do list.

But the truth is, it really doesnt have to be.

Yes, its an allotted time of peace and quiet, but instead of feeling like you have tohalt all of your responsibilities to sit in unbearable silence, there are actually ways you can make meditation work so that its a normal, more natural part of your day.

If you take public transportation on your way to work, then this just might be the best time for you to plug in those headphones, turn on some ambient sounds, and zone out.

By the time you reach your destination (especially if youre commuting for more than 10 minutes), youll feel renewed and ready to go with a totally clear mind.

Yaaas, inner Buddha.

If youre lucky enough to enjoy an hour-long lunch break, take 10 out of those 60 minutes to simply walk around the block.

Walking can put you in a complete meditative space. Breathe in the sights and sounds around you. Actually take the time to notice how the leaves sway ever so slightly in the breeze. Watch the people pass you by.

It really makes you feel in control when youre at peace while you watch everyone else scramble by. Take this moment to simply be alive.

You werent alive this morning; you were rushing through the motions. Now, you owe it to yourself to just be alive.

Yes, right there, right at your desk. There are apps and videos out there that feature short one, three, and five-minute guided meditations.

A quick closing of the eyes and solemn retreat to your inner peace may be all you need to bang out another couple of hours on that Excel spreadsheet.

You are a human being, so no matter how much time you think you dont have, you are absolutely entitled to three to five minutes for a bathroom break.

Allow two, or even three, of your bathroom breaks to be meditation breaks if you absolutely have to step away.

Its only natural to settle into your comfortable routine when you get home. You change into your comfy clothes, lounge on the couch with your loved ones, watch pointless television. Believe me, I get it.

Overall, your after-work goal shouldbe tounwind from the tension and stress of the past several hours.

Unwinding is nice, yes, butmindful unwinding is even more powerful. So before you race to your car or the train, perhaps take just a few minutesbefore heading home to simply sit with yourself.

Trust me, by the time you get home and lounge on that couch, youll feel so much better.

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Imani Brammer is a writer, on-air talent and YouTuber, where she produces videos on how to navigate the nuances of adulthood. Subscribe to her channel at YouTube.com/ImaniBrammer.

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5 Ways To Sneak Some Meditation Into Your Hectic Work Day - Elite Daily

A labyrinth is often confused with a maze. So what is the difference? A maze is designed to confuse anyone who enters, while a labyrinth has only a single path. Instead of being designed to lose the user, wandering through a labyrinth is thought ofas a way to find answers or to meditate.

The history of labyrinths dates back to ancient times. Famous ones include the cathedral of Chartres, France, and the cathedral of Duomo di Siena in Tuscany.

Labyrinthshave been used by a wide variety of cultures too, with evidence of them in Egypt, Italy, Scandinavia, North America and Crete. While they are sometimes pagan, used as part ofritualistic dances, they have also been used by Christian religions for centuries.

There has been a resurgence of labyrinths in the last decade, something Ecobotanica owner Linda Brennan knows all too well. After all, she has one in her own back yard.

Brennan sayssome people chant while walking the labyrinth, others dance. She likes to stand at the beginning and think of a question she needs an answer to, before slowly walking the path through the labyrinth. As you walk the circle you will find the best way to answer, she says. By the time you get to the middle, your mind has worked through it.

Patterns for a labyrinth can easily be downloaded from online and there are lots of different styles to choose from.

Brennans Seven Circuit Classical Labyrinthstarted as a sketch on paper, which she thenapplied to a flat area in her yard. The base is decomposed granite, while rocks marking out the labyrinth path were hand-selected from a landscape yard. The actual construction was done during a workshop, where a team of volunteers formed a chain gang, passing rocks along the line.

When making a labyrinth, there are several ways to form it. The design can be made with rope, chalk, paint on tiles or even a grass marking line. Some have created the pattern on canvas and then roll that out. Elaborate ones use hedges or mosaic tiles.

The entry should face east, for the rising sun. By the time you are in the middle you should be back facing east.

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Make your own mystical garden meditation labyrinth - Starts at 60

Jun.16.2017 / 10:12 AM ET

Mindfulness has become a trendy buzzword among the wellness community. Yoga studios and meditation centers continue to pop up as people seek refuge from being constantly on the go (and feeling the draining effects).

But it turns out these practices are doing more than simply providing us a much-needed time out from our jam-packed schedules. In fact, according to a new study, they may actually be changing how our DNA responds to stress.

New research published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology looked at over a decade of studies, analyzing how our genes are affected by different mind-body interventions including mindfulness, yoga, meditation and Tai Chi. What they found is that these activities dont simply relax us they may actually have the ability to reverse molecular reactions to stress in our DNA that can lead to poor health and depression.

When we encounter a stressful situation (or prolonged periods of stress) our sympathetic nervous system is triggered. In reaction, our genes produce proteins called cytokines that cause inflammation at a cellular level which, over time, increases our risk of health issues like cancer, accelerated aging and psychiatric disorders like depression.

But there is some good news for those of us who find ourselves wrapped up in the chronic cycle of stress and anxiety: Researchers found that people who engage in mind-body interventions actually exhibit the opposite effect. That means that doing yoga or meditating may lead to a decrease in cyctokine production, and a reversal of the inflammatory gene, which ultimately lowers the risk of inflammation-related diseases and conditions.

"Millions of people around the world already enjoy the health benefits of mind-body interventions like yoga or meditation, but what they perhaps don't realize is that these benefits begin at a molecular level and can change the way our genetic code goes about its business, says Ivana Buric, Lead investigator from the Brain, Belief and Behaviour Lab in Coventry University's Centre for Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement. These activities are leaving what we call a molecular signature in our cells, which reverses the effect that stress or anxiety would have on the body by changing how our genes are expressed. Put simply, mind-body interventions cause the brain to steer our DNA processes along a path which improves our wellbeing.

Finally convinced you need to drop onto the mat? Here are three yoga moves to help combat those sky-high stress levels: Upward-Facing Dog in Yoga, Downward Facing Dog, Pigeon Pose.

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Meditation and Yoga May Change How Stress Affects Our DNA, Study Finds - NBCNews.com

POCATELLO On Sunday, the Portneuf Sangha and Meditation Center will view the next portion of a video of a retreat led by Pema Chodron, titled "Living With Vulnerability."

In this section, she continues to teach us to become aware of our true limitless potential. Chodron is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition who is highly regarded for her teaching on compassion and fearlessness.

The morning begins at 10 a.m. with a 30-minute silent meditation period with guidance offered for those who would like it. After the meditation, the filmed teaching will be shown, and a brief discussion will follow. Light refreshments will be served.

Everyone is welcome, regardless of meditation experience, and chairs are available, or you may bring your own cushion. There is no charge, but donations are welcome.

For more information, contact Paula and Tony Seikel at 775-3183 or seikel@ida.net or visit the website at portneufsangha.org to learn about all of the programs offered at the Sangha.

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Portneuf Sangha and Meditation Center to view film on Sunday - Idaho State Journal

It was one of those mornings. Crushed on to a bus, then a delayed train, battling with the thousands of other commuters making their way into the capital. I finally managed to slide into a seat on the Tube, only to engage in a passive-aggressive war of knees with the besuited manspreader next to me.

Finally, sweaty and stressed, I made it to my next destination. I slid into another seat, next to another man-in-suit, who was, thankfully, keeping his knees to himself. The lights changed and I closed my eyes

No, I didnt wake up in Zone 5. Instead, I was in a meditation studio, along with some other City types sitting quietly around me. There was nothing in the way of patchouli or beaded curtains here, though the furnishings were sleek and everyone was still in their business attire, although they had all removed their shoes. Chairs were blinkered so your neighbour couldnt distract you from the mood lighting and ambient music.

Inhere is the brainchild of Adiba Osmani, who worked at a senior level in large corporations for several years before deciding to launch her own venture. She discovered meditation on retreat in Thailand and was keen to implement its scientific benefits in modern society. So she opened a drop-in meditation centre in the financial heart of London.

I wanted a much broader audience, she says. I didnt want the same associations people generally have with meditation, whether its from the East, candles and the rest of it. This opens it up to a different market where people that wouldnt normally do it can do it.

City life inevitably means standing nose to nose with fellow commuters, dodging tourists on crowded pavements, and scrambling to claim a square foot of grass where you can eat your lunch-hour sandwich. Inhere has minimised the human interaction the meditation sessions feature audio guidance and soundscapes but no teachers to make small talk with, the website reassures us. For socially awkward types such as me, this is a relief.

Meditation is fast becoming big business. In 2015, MNDFL landed in New York, branding itself as the SoulCycle of meditation. The boutique drop-in studio, all Scandified exposed brick and natural light, was hailed by Vogue as the only quiet room in New York City.

Guests can use the online booking engine to reserve a cushion, for 30 or 45-minute sessions of Vedic, Kundalini or Theravada meditation, as well as specialist classes such as Sleep to help you unwind and Emotions to help you through a difficult time.

But how much would you pay for even five minutes of sanctuary? Well, at Inhere, the going rate is 2, or 20 for a half hour. Apparently even just a few minutes make a big difference a recent Canadian study found that just 10 minutes can help quell anxiety and turn off your internal dialogue. Previous studies have shown that it can alleviate stress and even improve brain function within just four days of practising.

Osmani says that businesspeople often come to meditation not just to relax but to enhance their cognitive ability. It starts from a productivity slant people talk about being able to focus and concentrate more. They latch on to that at the beginning, because they dont particularly want to admit that theyre really stressed. But more and more people are just being more connected to how they can have more influence over their own life.

And perhaps City workers need meditation even more than the rest of us. A study published earlier this year suggested that more than half of City workers are more stressed at home than they are in the office, as the culture of bringing work home becomes the norm.

More men appear to be warming to the idea of meditation. Digital consultant Dan Keegan is a newcomer. Before, working in the City, youd get laughed at if you talked about doing something like this. So I think the attitude has really changed. I can see particularly people in sales roles liking it they just want a little bit of peace and quiet, to switch off for a bit.

Erin Lumley works in marketing and says the drop-in nature of the studio appealed to her. It feels like a cold shower for the mind, she says.

I feel really refreshed and ready to focus on my work after it. I like that it caters for everyone, even if youve only got five minutes, or 30 minutes. This is almost like the equivalent of signing up for a gym membership, but for your mind.

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Stressed in the City: the drop-in meditation studio attracting a new kind of clientele - iNews

TechCrunch

Headspace's revamped app helps busy people turn meditation into a habit TechCrunch After years of struggling to make it part of my daily routine, I've started to suspect that if I were mindful enough to remember to meditate, then I probably wouldn't need to meditate in the first place. To get the attention of people who, like me ... Headspace evolves into the app you need to find zen in 2017CNET Headspace's Paid Version Just Got a Lot NicerLifehacker Australia all 3 news articles »

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Headspace's revamped app helps busy people turn meditation into a habit - TechCrunch