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It’s Official: Mindfulness & Meditation Can Improve Your Mind & Body

Adrienne Breaux
Adrienne BreauxHouse Tour Director
Adrienne loves architecture, design, cats, science fiction, and watching "Star Trek." In the past 10 years she's called home: a van, a former downtown store in small town Texas, and a studio apartment rumored to have once been owned by Willie Nelson. She currently lives in her colorful, maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
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updated Mar 11, 2020
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As a fan of mindfulness (and a wannabe fan of meditation — I’m still working on cementing a practice) it was both surprising and delightful to hear the news that while meditation didn’t have a ton of scientific proof to support all the healthy-living claims its fans have made for years, it does now. A recent study delivered some strong evidence that meditation is scientifically a brain game changer.

According to a blog post from The New York Times, How Meditation Changes the Brain and Body, a recently published study in the official journal of the Society of Biological Psychiatry (Biological Psychiatry) produced some hopeful results and had the brain scans to prove it. It’s not just about making you feel more relaxed; it sounds like there might be a medical benefit for your body, as well.

The blog post by Gretchen Reynolds does a great and succinct job of explaining the study, so head over to The New York Times to read more. Or, if you like reading through complex scientific journal articles, you can read the original study titled “Alterations in resting state functional connectivity link mindfulness meditation with reduced interleukin-6: a randomized controlled trial.”

And, whether you are aiming for a regular meditation practice or simply trying to be more mindful, we have some advice on how to up the positive effects of your efforts:

Mindfulness:

  • Tips for Creating a Mindful Home
  • The Mindfulness Coloring Book
  • Mindfulness at Home: Schedule a Slow-Down Day
  • 10 Mindful Habits for a Lighter Life
  • Be Mindful and Do Your Best: Design Advice From Folks With Real Spaces
  • Need a Mindful Minute? Wash the Dishes (Really!)

Meditation:

  • Mental Escape: A Place to Meditate
  • Meditation Room at Home
  • Take a 10 Minute Time Out: Do a Mini Meditation to Improve Your Home
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