All articles tagged with #meditation
British actress Hannah Murray (Gilly) says she spent years in a wellness cult after embracing meditation, suffered a psychotic break and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, leading to hospitalization. Now out of acting and the wellness scene, she warns about the seductive lure of quick-fix wellness and its pervasiveness in society.
A new study suggests that just two to three minutes of meditation can trigger a relaxation response and positively affect brain function across experience levels, implying that even short daily practice may yield brain benefits sooner than previously thought.
Jemima Kelly visits the Harmonic Egg, a pricey energy-therapy chamber that uses sound, light and vibration for a claimed physical, mental and emotional detox. After a 40-minute London session guided by guardian Bea Badinska, she emerges relaxed but unconvinced of any measurable “energetic shift,” while noting the procedure rests on testimonials rather than medical evidence. The device, about £120 per session (with bundles), has roughly 250 units worldwide; skeptics like David Grimes warn against treating it as medical treatment. It’s a pricey, curiosity-driven wellness experiment for those nearby, not a guaranteed cure.
A magnetoencephalography study of twelve highly trained Buddhist monks comparing Samatha (focused attention) and Vipassana (open monitoring) shows meditation reshapes brain dynamics beyond simple gamma increases: after removing non-rhythmic background noise, rhythmic gamma activity declines during both styles and brain signals become more complex and less tied to recent activity. Vipassana nudges the brain toward a critical state and flexible awareness, while Samatha remains more ordered. Hours of practice may align meditative states with resting patterns; a machine-learning classifier could distinguish meditating from resting states. Limitations include small sample size and no control group.
A 2022 US study found that more than 10% of regular meditators report significant adverse effects—such as anxiety, depersonalization, or psychosis—that can disrupt daily functioning for a month or more. The findings echo long-standing warnings in Buddhist texts and contrast with the mindfulness industry’s promotion of benefits, as some research shows no mental-health gains or even harm for vulnerable groups.
New research shows mindfulness and meditation can trigger adverse effects such as anxiety, depression, psychotic symptoms, and dissociation, even in people without prior mental-health issues, with a major UK study finding no mental-wellbeing benefit for at‑risk youths. The piece calls for ethical warnings, safer practice guidelines, and greater awareness of potential harm in the mindfulness industry.
A small MEG study of 12 Theravada monk meditators finds two meditation methods shape brain activity differently: Samatha yields a stable, focused state, while Vipassana nudges the brain toward 'criticality'—an optimal balance between chaos and order that may enhance information processing and learning. Experienced meditators show brain activity closer to resting patterns, gamma oscillations can decrease (suggesting less external processing), and some practitioners report anxiety or other drawbacks. The findings contribute to understanding how meditation reshapes neural dynamics and were published in Neuroscience of Consciousness (2025).
UC San Diego researchers report that a seven-day intensive mind-body retreat, combining meditation with reconceptualization and open-label placebo, produced rapid, multi-system brain and blood changes in 20 healthy adults—lowered default-mode activity, signs of enhanced neuroplasticity, metabolic shifts toward flexible energy use, increased endogenous opioids, and a balanced immune response—patterns that resemble psychedelic brain states and could inform non-drug approaches to pain and stress, though clinical trials are still needed.
The article highlights seven top third-party apps for Apple Watch that enhance its functionality beyond built-in features, including fitness tracking with Strava and Nike Run Club, outdoor navigation with AllTrails, mindfulness with Calm, music with Spotify, and navigation with Google Maps, offering users a versatile smartwatch experience.
Pope Leo XIV highlights the teachings of Brother Lawrence on practicing the presence of God, emphasizing that daily, simple acts of mindfulness and love for God can lead to joy, spiritual growth, and a sense of divine companionship, accessible to all regardless of circumstances.
A 7-day immersive retreat combining meditation, reconceptualization, and open-label placebo techniques led to measurable changes in brain activity and blood markers, suggesting rapid and profound effects of mental practices on physical health, neuroplasticity, and molecular pathways.
A week-long meditation retreat combining various mind-body techniques led to significant rapid changes in brain activity, immune response, metabolism, and gene expression, demonstrating how consciousness-based practices can positively influence physical health and neuroplasticity, with effects similar to psychedelics, though further clinical research is needed.
A 7-day intensive meditation retreat combining various mind-body techniques led to rapid, measurable changes in brain function, blood chemistry, and immune response, suggesting these practices can significantly impact physical and mental health by enhancing neuroplasticity, pain relief, and immune activity.
This study explores the neural and molecular effects of a 7-day mind-body retreat combining meditation, reconceptualization, and healing rituals, revealing significant changes in brain connectivity, neuroplasticity markers, metabolic pathways, immune responses, and exosomal RNAs, suggesting systemic physiological and psychological benefits beyond placebo effects.
A study found that nearly 60% of U.S. meditators experience at least one side effect, with 30% facing challenging or distressing effects, highlighting the need for better informed consent and awareness of potential risks in meditation practices.