Over the past two decades, scientific research into meditation has grown exponentially and continues to. It’s known that a regular meditation practice provides a spectrum of mental and physical health benefits.
Here’s what science has discovered so far, plus an evidence-based meditation technique backed by rigorous research.
Studies have shown that meditation serves as a powerful mind-body tool for a diverse range of needs. From anxiety, depression, and stress reduction, to improved sleep and immune function, smoking cessation, reduced blood pressure, enhanced brain health, chronic pain management, and more. However, researchers have concluded that further studies into specific meditation techniques and their subsequent benefits on participants are needed. Currently, many studies view meditation as a generic practice—that all effects are equal—but it’s important to recognize that different techniques produce different results.
There’s mindfulness meditation, breath-based meditation, loving-kindness meditation, transcendental meditation, guided meditation—to name a few! And what’s rare is to find scientific studies that focus on the benefits of specific meditation practice, but they do exist.
What type of meditation is backed by science?
There are a few, and SKY Breath Meditation (SKY), exclusive to the Art of Living organization, is one of them. Over 100 independent studies conducted on four continents, and published in peer-reviewed journals, have demonstrated a comprehensive range of benefits from practicing the techniques taught on the 3-day live online SKY Breath Meditation course. This breath-based meditation is scientifically validated to support practitioners in the following areas:
- Stress reduction: After just two weeks of practicing SKY, meditators had a 56% reduction in the stress hormone cortisol—with results from the very first session.
- Improved sleep: SKY significantly enhances deep sleep. Plus, more time is spent in these deeper stages.
- Anxiety and depression reduction: Research has demonstrated that SKY provides a uniform rapid response. From the very first SKY session, the well-being hormone prolactin begins to notably increase. And research shows within one month, there is a 68-80% remission rate for both depression and anxiety.
- Immune support: The number of Natural Killer cells produced by the immune system is considerably higher in people who practice SKY than the population at large. Additionally, research shows lymphocyte count increases by 33% in SKY practitioners in just six weeks.
- Heart health: SKY lowers cholesterol and blood pressure. And a recent study out of the University of Arizona/Harvard showed SKY practitioners showed fewer cardiac signs of stress before a stressful event.
- Brain health: SKY participants have greater mental focus and an increase in alpha waves—found within the slow, relaxing meditative state. Additionally, SKY has been documented to increase the brain protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), responsible for laying down new neurons, new brain cells.
- Life satisfaction: A recent Yale study supported previous independent studies that showed SKY significantly increased those qualities that make life most worth living—happiness, serenity, optimism, energy levels, social connection, and quality of life.
In conclusion, there are many practices out there, but if you want a specific technique that’s been scientifically validated to positively impact your mental and physical health, then it is worth exploring SKY Breath Meditation. [View all independent research]
To learn more about SKY Breath Meditation, you can join a free live online intro session—click here to reserve your free spot.