1. Meditate to Regenerate Finding peace in a stressful world

2. The World we live in… We live in a world filled with stress… Social Occupational Family Educational….

3. What is Stress? Defined by Hans Selye as: “The non-specific response of the body to any demand of change” Evolutionary Perspective 3-Parts of Stress Stressor Stress Appraisal Stress Response Emotion Physiology Behavior

4. How does Stress Work? The Nervous System Central  Peripheral  Autonomic (vs. Somatic) Parasympathetic Sympathetic  Rest of Body

5. Issues From Stress -Biological: every major system -Psychological: Depression, Anxiety, etc. -Personal: Family, Friends, Work

6. How Do We De-stress? Externally Therapists Psychiatrists Medication Social Support Substance Internally Relaxation Coping MEDITATION

7. Experiment… Get out a Piece of Paper and pen/pencil

8. What is Meditation Release from constant evaluation of past, worrying of future Relief from Thoughts Thoughtless Awareness

9. Shall We Try it?

10. How Does it Work? Balancing of Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Reduction of Mental Activity Control of Attention Balances Nervous Plexuses

11. How Does it Work? Our own inner energy Provides body with energy needed to meet demands of stress Sahaja-Spontaneous (autonomic) Yoga- Union Mental, Physical, Emotional states achieve optimal functioning

12. About the Founder… The founder of Sahaja Yoga Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi 1970

13. It is like a seed…