Guest Author - Alegra Bartzat

What happens to our bodies and our brains when we meditate? This questions has only been answered in science in recent years, though spiritual practices around the world have realized the practical effects for millennia.

In fact, Western science only began to give credit to meditation when Richard Davidson t the department of psychology at the University of Wisconsin at Madison began to study meditation in 1992. It began when Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, contacted Davidson to offer up a large number of Buddhists monks willing to participate in psychological studies. Davidson, a Harvard-trained neuroscientist, had then been receiving media attention on his studies of positive emotions.

Before we can understand what happens in our bodies, we must understand what happens in our brains. The result of meditation is a measurable change in brainwaves. So, let's review what the different brainwave patterns are, and when we experience them.

Delta brainwaves are the lowest frequency (or the "Slowest") of all our brainwaves. At less than 3Hz, delta waves typically only occur in infants and while sleeping. They are important for full rest after sleep, and in this way affect our daily processing, but they are not present very much during waking hours.

Theta brainwaves have a frequency of 3.5 to 7.5 Hz, which is classed as "slow" activity. This slow brainwave is associated with activities of creativity, intuition, daydreaming, and fantasizing. Theta waves become more predominant when we meditate, and less predominant when we active focus on a task. It is also very common while sleeping, and in young children. Theta waves are prominent when one is "half asleep" and during other "in between" times, such as when a person is transitioning between emotions or circumstances.

Alpha waves, in the 8-12 Hz range, are the most predominant of all the brainwaves. They signify a person that is alert, but not focusing. These are common, and a lack of them will result in strange mental functioning, such as depression or extreme shyness.

Beta waves, above 12 Hz, are the sign of a focused mind. People who suffer from ADD often show an inability to create brainwaves in this range. Extended periods of Beta waves can lead to exhaustion and are often a sign of stress, but short periods of Beta are a normal part of everyday life.

While all the brain wave frequencies are normal, natural, and serve important function, it is best to predominate with the "slower" brain waves rather than the "fast" brainwaves. Meditation has been proven to increase the relative amount of theta waves, bringing a sense of calm and ease to the person meditating. This will actually allow the person to more fully activate the other brainwave frequencies without burning out or becoming stressed.

Theta waves are essential for physical healing and for integration of mind and body. So, meditation will actually help you become better at yoga, not to mention calmer and happier!