President’s Message: How to Feel Fantastic this Holiday Season
It’s hard to believe that the Holidays are upon us once again. For many people, while joyous, it can also be a time of stress, which dampens our pleasure. Beyond that, when we feel stress, it really does affect us deep inside our cells; all the way to our DNA tips called telomeres. When that happens, we may feel depressed, anxious, and age faster.
Recent research, however, reveals that it is entirely possible to put the brakes on stress this Holiday Season and thrive– instead of being bummed out.
A very fast way is to do our Kirtan Kriya or KK meditation every day. After all, it only takes 12 minutes.
Practicing KK makes you feel great. It increases your brain’s blood flow, elevates important brain chemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine, to boost your mood and enhance your memory.
Practicing KK also activates your body’s own marijuana system called the endocannabinoids, so you really feel high and it enhances your own natural morphine-like chemicals, endorphins, so pain leaves your body.
Moreover, our research at prestigious medical schools reveals that KK makes you younger by reducing stress, which makes your telomeres longer. Being able to step back from stress also helps you appreciate the present instead of continually worrying about the past or planning for the future.
What so many regular practitioners of KK share with us is that by doing KK their spirit soars, which is tremendously healing. That’s one of the reasons we are so happy to offer the weeklong Meditate for Your Memory Challenge, starting next week.
Finally, it’s also clear that part of spirituality is giving to others without thought of any reward for yourself. This improves your well-being, which takes us full circle because well-being also makes your telomeres longer, you feel great and look younger.
As we enter this beautiful time of the year of reflection, gatherings and coziness, please remember ARPF in your yearly giving. Your contribution makes a difference! Here’s what one person recently told us:
“I thought the program was excellent with scientific evidence supporting the modalities discussed that are so complementary and essential to my work as a geriatric psychologist.” – Catherine J.
Can you please find it in your heart to donate today and support our continuing quest to prevent Alzheimer’s for you and your family? We are grateful for your generosity.
Prevention Editor, Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease
