Just Breathe: The Benefits of Meditation
There’s a reason many people try meditation and few stick with it: mastering meditation is challenging. It demands your full attention for an extended period, which is no small feat in a world full of distractions. Yet, despite the difficulty, the benefits of meditation make it worth the effort. Meditation can reduce stress, combat disease, boost creativity, fight depression, and offer numerous other significant advantages.
Meditation: A Blend of Spiritual and Scientific Aspects
Meditation has been integral to culture and religion since ancient times. In the 1920s, archaeologist Sir John Marshall discovered a carved seal from the Indus Valley civilization (2500 to 1700 BCE) depicting a person in a meditative pose. This ancient practice is seen worldwide as essential for spiritual development and mental and emotional health.
From a scientific perspective, meditation has been shown to promote neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change its structure or function over time. Mindful meditation, which involves observing thoughts and feelings without judgment, can improve emotional resilience by strengthening the left prefrontal cortex. Recent studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine suggest that meditation can be as effective as antidepressants in reducing anxiety, depression, and pain.
How to Practice Meditation
There are many ways to meditate. Mindful meditation, for instance, involves finding a comfortable position and focusing on your breath. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Practice in a quiet space at the same time each day.
- Use counting to focus (count your breaths up to five and start over) or concentrate on your intent (balance, calm, etc.).
- Acknowledge when your mind wanders, accept the frustration, and refocus.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker shared her experience with meditation: “At one point I learned transcendental meditation. This was 30-something years ago. It took me back to the way that I naturally was as a child growing up way in the country, rarely seeing people. I was in that state of oneness with creation, and it was as if I didn’t exist except as a part of everything.”
Top Secret Chocolate Mousse
National Public Radio’s show, All Things Considered, has a series called ‘Found Recipes,’ featuring surprising and delightful dishes. Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for Chocolate Mousse that serves four:
Ingredients:
- 3½ ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 3 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
- Pinch of salt
- 1½ teaspoons sugar
- Whipped cream or crème fraiche (optional)
Instructions:
- Gently melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water or in a microwave on medium power.
- Whisk the egg yolks into the chocolate one at a time.
- In a mixer bowl, beat the egg whites with the salt until they start forming peaks. Gradually add the sugar while beating until the whites are shiny and hold medium-firm peaks.
- Fold a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture until almost smooth. Carefully fold in the rest of the whites until well mixed but still slightly streaky.
- Spoon the mousse into a serving bowl or individual bowls. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. The mousse will keep overnight but will become denser.
What Do You Know About French Cooking?
France has a rich culinary tradition. Test your knowledge of French cuisine with this quiz:
- In America, we call them zucchini. What do the French call them?
- a. La courgettes
- b. Le fromage
- c. Le carotte
- d. Le céleri
- At what stage of the meal would you eat a charlotte?
- a. Appetizer
- b. Salad
- c. Main course
- d. Dessert
- What is Coquille St. Jacques a fancy name for?
- a. Chicken
- b. Scallops
- c. Beef medallions
- d. Pork chops
- What name is given to a ham and cheese sandwich dipped in beaten egg and deep-fried?
- a. Croque Monsieur
- b. Alsacienne
- c. Jambon et fromage
- d. Des amuse-bouche
Quiz Answers:
- A – La courgettes
- D – Dessert
- B – Scallops
- A – Croque Monsieur
