With his fervent desire to infuse his life with greater creativity, I learned Prem was an avid guitar player whose passion was often sidelined due to a persistent lack of time for personal pursuits.
“Life is tough. You have to apply yourself.. There’s just no time for play,” he would often lament, reflecting a core belief that overshadowed—and silenced—his inner musician.
As the day’s session commenced, a revealing EEG reading showcased the presence of high-frequency beta waves in both hemispheres of Prem’s brain—an indicative pattern of stress. Conversely, alpha waves, known for their association with relaxed alertness, were scant in amplitude. The limited presence of alpha waves acted as a bottleneck, impeding access to Prem’s wellspring of creativity. Furthermore, his pronounced beta wave amplitude echoed the chronic anxiety, stress, and burnout that had taken root in him (Fehmi & Robbins, 2007).
As Prem embraced the soothing rhythms of EcoMeditation, a shift occurred. His brain’s alpha waves surged forth, with significant flares observed in both the left and right hemispheres—particularly prominent in the latter. The waves of anxious stress receded, making way for the emergence of gamma waves, a phenomenon previously absent in Prem’s cerebral landscape.
It is crucial to note that Prem had not been an avid meditator prior to the workshop, despite having attended meditation classes in the past—but without establishing a consistent practice. Yet the EcoMeditation swiftly ushered him into a deep state of tranquility. His brain waves stabilized into the coveted Awakened Mind pattern, characterized by sustained alpha waves, a key hallmark of the “flow” state.
Now, in the absence of stress, blood surged back into Prem’s prefrontal cortex, sharpening his cognitive faculties and granting him access to the biological and intellectual resources in the executive centers of his brain.
During the workshop, we meticulously gauged the biological responses and psychological states of all participants before and after the sessions. The impact on Prem’s well-being proved striking. His set point for cortisol, the primary stress hormone, experienced a significant decline. As stress levels diminished, biological resources were liberated, nurturing cellular repair, bolstering immunity, and facilitating other beneficial functions.
This transformation was evident in the surge of salivary immunoglobulin A (SigA), a vital immune marker, between the workshop’s commencement and conclusion. Additionally, Prem’s resting heart rate decreased from 79 to 64 beats per minute (BPM), while his blood pressure dropped from 118/80 to 108/70. These indicators served as tangible reflections of the newfound equilibrium in his brain (Groesbeck et al., 2018).
The entire group of participants exhibited similar positive effects. Average cortisol levels declined, while SigA levels rose. Resting heart rates experienced a collective drop from 70 to 66 (Groesbeck et al., 2018).
As the stress response underwent a reversal through EcoMeditation, Prem began perceiving the lighter facets of his life. Blood surged back into his forebrain, rekindling the vibrant potential residing in his suppressed creativity.
Empowerment surged as he recognized the abundant resources now at his disposal. Playfulness regained its rightful place, and this was accompanied by a newfound sense of control over his life. The narrative that had defined him for so long underwent a metamorphosis.
To test the depths of this transformation, I prompted Prem to repeat his initial assertion that “Life is tough…There’s just no time for play.” He laughed. Observing the humorous parallels to his father’s stern admonishments, he playfully scowled and wagged his finger, mimicking a parent chastising an errant child.
Prem dedicated himself to the practice of EcoMeditation throughout the workshop, swiftly cultivating an ability to induce that blissful state of serenity. Inspired by this newfound balance, he eagerly began carving out time to reconnect with his beloved guitar, honoring the musical depths residing in him.
Prem’s identity as a musician was liberated from the confines of his workhorse programmer’s existence, unleashing a personal symphony of self-discovery and revitalization.
References
Fehmi, L. G., & Robbins, J. (2007). The Open-Focus brain: Harnessing the power of attention to heal mind and body. Trumpeter Books.
Groesbeck, G., Bach, D., Stapleton, P., Blickheuser, K., Church, D., & Sims, R. (2018). The interrelated physiological and psychological effects of EcoMeditation. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 23.
