Improve Cognitive Function in Minutes Meditation has often been touted by New Age gurus as a way to find inner peace and stillness. But what if meditating could reduce the effects of aging on your brain? According to research, taking a fewminutes out of your day tomeditate may improve cognitive function. How Meditation Helps You Maintain Brain Health
THE HIPPOCAMPUS Your hippocampus helps you process and formnewmemories, and it’s very sensitive to stress. In fact, research shows that your hippocampus will shrink in response to stressful situations and chronic stress. The remedy? Meditation. Dr. Lazar’s study showed a positive correlation betweenmeditation and a higher concentration of gray matter in the left hippocampus. THE AMYGDALA Often called the fear center of the brain, the amygdala is triggered by stressful situations. But unlike the hippocampus, which shrinks in response to stress, the amygdala has been shown to become denser. In one study, people who attendedmindfulness meditation classes showed a smaller stress response in brain scans compared to those who did not attend the classes. Meditationmay help to decrease the density of the amygdala and therefore increase your ability to handle stress. Of course, in addition to these benefits, there’s a good chance that five minutes of meditation each day will simply make you feel better. People whomeditate report an increase in overall well-being.
Clinic/ Workshop Upcoming Workshops Your prefrontal cortex thins with age, which is associated with decreased cognitive function in your later years. However, meditationmay reduce this age-related thinning. Dr. Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist specializing in the effects of yoga andmeditation on cognitive and behavioral function, reports that long-time meditators don’t show a decline in the thickness of the prefrontal cortex. As meditation’s popularity has spread, so have studies of the practice. The results of 100 studies examining the cognitive effects of meditation all show evidence of improvements in psychological and cognitive functions. Some of the results are intuitive, such as howmeditation helps us deal with stress. But other results are incontrovertible, such as scans showing that meditation causes structural changes in the brain. For people facing age-related changes like memory loss, the results of these tests are especially relevant. The studies point to evidence that meditation can strengthen certain areas of the brain— the prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala— that weaken as we age. THE PREFRONTAL CORTEX
Why not give it a try?
FATHER’S DAY CHILI LIME CHICKEN WINGS
MARK YOUR CALENDAR We have a summer full of workshops and
This Father’s Day, spice up your wings with this zesty recipe that’s sure to please the whole family.
Ingredients
clinics that are open to you! *Note: All clinics/workshops are from 5:30–7 p.m.
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1/4 cup soy sauce
4 pounds chicken wings 1 stick unsalted butter, softened 1 1/4 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
1 lime, halved
Extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
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PT
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1/4 cup honey
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Chopped cilantro for garnish
Directions
Knee Pain
June 19
Randy Thomas, PT
1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse wings under cold water and pat dry. Season liberally with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on a baking sheet for 25 minutes or until skin becomes crisp and brown. 3. Blend butter, red curry paste, honey, and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. 4. Toss wings in butter mixture. Squeeze lime juice on top, transfer to serving plate, and garnish with cilantro.
10 Most Important Exercises You Can Ever Do
June 21
Cheryl Wynn, DPT
Recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com
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