Especially interesting to me is the validation that science has brought to meditation, and the way that meditation has been optimized by following the science.

Whether you are now an adept at some method of meditation or not, you could benefit by learning and teaching Heart Rhythm Meditation with its strong physiological advantages, its tools for relating deeply, and its focus on leading a purposeful life.

Relief from Stress Or Stress Resilience

When you practice meditation, you have a choice between two fundamentally different approaches.  Basically, the choice is between relief from stress or increasing one’s capacity for stress.  Stress is a killer, and meditation can help deal with stress either way.  

There is a part of one’s consciousness that does not experience pain, so one method is to go to that place in oneself where pain does not exist.  This can be done by an intense focus on the present moment in which there is no trauma of the past and no anxiety of the future.  By using mental concentration to impersonally and unemotionally observe yourself and the world, you can get a relief from stress.

Another method, that we use in Heart Rhythm Meditation, is to summon one’s inner resources that are much stronger than the invading stressor.  We embrace the stress, even if it’s painful, and engage with the emotions created.  For this we use the energy of our hearts, which expands our emotional capacity.  With a bigger heart, the problems of life are smaller.

As an analogy, life is like riding in a boat upon the sea. If you’re in a canoe, you rise and fall with each wave, but if you’re in a big ship, you hardly feel the effect of the waves. 

A doctor who was researching stress showed me how he induces stress in his subjects:  he packed my arm in ice.  Normally, the ice causes intense pain as the arm freezes, but I was meditating on my heart and directing its energy into my arm. The consequence was that I felt no pain, not because I suppressed it, but because my arm was hot and it was melting the ice.  

Energize Your Heart – Change Your World

So the question is, can you have a greater effect upon the world than the world has on you?   

You can, if you use the energy of your heart, and that’s what we do in Heart Rhythm Meditation. We do not deny or detach from our emotions; we turn our emotions into powerful allies that inspire the development of our previously hidden qualities and abilities.  

The objective of Heart Rhythm Meditation is to energize your heart. Your heart is the center of your heart-field, a measurable electromagnetic field of energy that penetrates and surrounds your physical body.  It’s the energy of this heart-field that you apply to everything you do in life.  And it’s the activation of this energy that makes Heart Rhythm Meditation so effective for improving  your health, relationships, and accomplishments.  Noble behaviors are not available to us with a cold heart, but with a warm heart we can behave as we wish we could. 

When you teach HRM, you will be helping your students make meaningful changes in their lives, doing things that they didn’t have the inspiration and energy to do before.  Our students are better able to relate to their situations and to others, more engaged in their lives, committed to their responsibilities, and actively pursuing their purpose.

Visible Light from the Heart

Our research has documented the amazing, visible light that our hearts can radiate in Heart Rhythm Meditation.  Your experience of safety and confidence is quite powerful when you can feel the light in your heart. We can also shine the light of the heart on our dark places of fear and anxiety. Every heart has been wounded, and those wounds can be healed with the heart’s own energy.  Furthermore, the light of the heart can be directed towards others by love.  One discovers a natural optimism, courage, and a sense of a great purpose that one can represent. You become as great as the cause you serve. 

Authentic Lineage

To engage in such life-affirming work, such important work that brings one the happiness of fulfillment, one should not experiment with made-up techniques.  Our method, Heart Rhythm Meditation, is thousands of years old, from a long, authentic lineage of extraordinary men and women who lived noble lives with families and responsibilities. It is a reliable method available to people of any tradition or belief. 

You can learn to master Heart Rhythm Meditation, and how to best teach it to others, in our course called “Connecting with Heart.”  You will find a rich and deeply personal experience in this course, and also learn about the variety of experiences that others have, so you’ll know how to resolve the difficulties that your students will encounter. 

Expect a breakthrough from the undeniable experience of the energy and guidance of your heart.  

The post What is Heart Rhythm Meditation, and why should I learn it? appeared first on iamHeart.

Let your heart be illumined by Love in our New Year’s Retreat.  We will receive a direct, Heart-Energy Transmission from the hearts of iamHeart’s founders, Susanna and Puran Bair.  This leads to the resolution of any conflicts you have internally, between yourself and others, and in the world. 

There are times when we feel, “the world is having a greater effect on me than I am having on the world.”  This happens to everyone, no matter our experience, our capacity or our realization.  These are the times when we need to be renewed and re-energized.  Receiving a transmission of energy from a teacher is a very effective method of restoring your natural condition of physical vitality, mental clarity, emotional confidence and optimism, and spiritual realization. 

The transmission of energy from a teacher is an advanced practice found in every spiritual tradition.  This retreat at New Year’s is an opportunity to experience transmission in the path of the heart, called Heart-Energy Transmission.  Our teachers will direct their heart energy to each of our hearts one-at-a-time and all-at-once, to create a safe, in-the-body experience of radiance.  

The source of heart-energy passes through the teachers’ hearts as Light, transforming into the energy of Love, and Life Itself.  You’ll feel the transmission as waves of heart-energy, coming in time with the teachers’ heartbeats.  As the energy is received, you’ll find it calming and inspiring, and then empowering and regenerating.  It builds within us and awakens the source of heart-energy in ourselves. 

In our preparation, we use Heart Rhythm Meditation to tune our nervous systems so that we can each perceive our heart’s electromagnetic field.  The opportunity to meditate in a group while conscious of the field of heart energy is a rare and profound experience.  Research has shown that our heartbeats are synchronized as we are aware of the magnetic fields of the hearts surrounding us.

The leader of the Heart Rhythm Meditation sessions, either Susanna, Puran, or both, coordinates and harmonizes our individual magnetic fields so they begin to converge.  Then Susanna and Puran shift their energies from guidance to transmission, using Heart Rhythm Meditation to create streams of light from their hearts.  The light is not visible because of the ambient light, but it is felt in our hearts.  The energy absorbed by each of us triggers and empowers us to radiate light ourselves.  

The result of receiving a Heart-Energy Transmission is a tangible sensation in your chest of pressure that expands your heart as if to fill the room.  You’ll feel a Certainty of Self and an inner Light that cannot be hidden or diminished.  The light of your heart creates joy and optimism as you can now see your way forward through tests and challenges.  

Heart-Energy Transmission will be a daily practice during the retreat.

The post Heart-Energy Transmission appeared first on iamHeart.

Hypocapnia, also called over-breathing and hyperventilation, is a common, chronic condition that causes a wide variety of illnesses by decreasing the oxygen delivered to tissues. It is a symptom of long-term stress and anxiety and is so common that it is seldom diagnosed. Rapid, shallow breathing becomes habitual and can even persist through breathing exercises. Most meditators don’t realize that the lights and sounds they experience in meditation, and the feelings of calm and detachment, are being caused not by higher consciousness but by oxygen starvation in the brain. Thus meditation is not conducive to better health unless the meditation method is specially designed to overcome Hypocapnia.

Hypocapnia causes deficits of oxygen (hypoxia) and glucose (hypoglycemia) as well as of other required nutrients for the optimal functioning of a wide variety of tissues and physiological systems. By creating a carbon dioxide deficit, over-breathing (hyperventilation) causes cerebral vasoconstriction, coronary constriction, and constriction of other smooth muscles, e.g., in the bronchioles and the gut, thus exacerbating both asthma and arthritis.

Rapid, shallow breathing delivers large amounts of oxygen to the blood stream, and also depletes the blood stream of carbon dioxide. While that might seem to be an optimum formula for high energy and alertness, it actually creates the opposite. There are two parts to the respiration process, called external respiration and internal respiration. In external respiration, oxygen is delivered to the blood stream; in internal respiration, that oxygen is passed from the blood stream to the tissues. If internal respiration is inhibited, the oxygen in the hemoglobin in the Red Blood Cells (RBC) cannot be released and circulates without being used. Internal respiration depends on the presence of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. During over-breathing, the CO2 level is greatly reduced, resulting in oxygen deficits in the brain, heart, muscles, gut and other organs, which causes reduced functioning, cramping, constriction, and pain.

Conscious breath is the key to energy medicine, for breath directs the energy stream wherever attention is placed. By controlling one’s breathing pattern in terms of volume, rate, and inhale-exhale ratio, one can control or directly affect heart rate, heart rate variability, vasodilation, the pH of the blood, oxygenation, blood pressure, metabolic rate, production of stress and anti-stress hormones, immune system triggering and hemisphere dominance. Thus controlling one’s breath pattern is the most effective method for self-regulation.

The breathing pattern taught in Heart Rhythm Meditation is optimized for proper blood chemistry and cardiac health. When one follows the instructions for Heart Rhythm Meditation, proper CO2 levels are guaranteed.

The Details

How does the oxygen carried in the blood stream get delivered to the cells that need it most, and not dumped on cells that are inactive? It’s all controlled by CO2. Any cell that is active, like a muscle cell when you tense it, or a brain cell when you’re alert, gives off CO2: the cell “burns” oxygen, and CO2 is the “smoke”. The CO2 passes out of the cell and into the blood stream where it triggers a series of chemical reactions that affect the passing Red Blood Cells (RBC) to release the oxygen they carry.

Hypocapnia (over-breathing) can cause or aggravate heart palpitations, arrhythmias, mitral valve prolapse, chest pains, weakness and listlessness, muscular stiffness and aching, myalgia, cramps, fibromyostis, muscle spasm, headaches, hyperactivity, seizures, asthma, irritable cough, and shortness of breath.

The pH of the blood must be maintained in a narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45, which is accomplished by keeping the concentration of CO2 in the tidal breath above 35 mmHg, and preferably at 40 mmHg. That depends entirely on the rate and depth of one’s breath.

bove is a computer plot of the CO2 concentration measured in a person’s exhalation. During inhalation, the instrument shows no CO2 because there is no exhalation; the valleys in the plot show inhalation periods. During exhalation, the instrument measures the CO2 and records it; those are the peaks in the graph. For the right pH in the blood stream, the CO2 level must reach 35 mmHg, which this person demonstrates with approx. 7 breaths per minute.

This graph shows the breath slowing to approx. 2 1/2 breaths per minute, while maintaining the ideal CO2 level.

Most people are surprised that the instrument shows they are over-breathing. Unless the CO2 level in one’s breath is measured during breath training, the common fault of over-breathing will not be noticed; only its effects will be noticed, without realizing the cause.

The post Prevent Hypocapnia with Heart Rhythm Meditation appeared first on iamHeart.

Below are two graphs of the heart rate of a person who is not meditating. (Ignore the very beginning and end of the graph when the software is adjusting.)

In the following graph the heart rate is shown versus time. Notice four peaks where the heart rate shoots up to 95 or more than 100 beats/minute. These indicate short moments of emotional distress when the subject was asked about his finances. The subject has had no physical movement during this time.

Note also that there is no pattern to the heart rate. There is no Heart Rhythm. If you thought of this graph as music, with the different frequencies as notes, it would not be beautiful to listen to.

In the graph below, the same heart rate waveform has been analyzed according to the fundamental frequencies within it (by an FFT analysis). Then the amount of time spent in each fundamental frequency has been graphed along the frequency spectrum. This shows that the heart rate comprises all the frequencies up to 0.40 Hz. and some above that. Frequencies above 0.15 Hz (in the purple area) have been found to be harmful to cardiac health and indicative of emotional distress.

The Solution to Heart Rhythm

The breath can control the heartrate. In the graph below, the heart rate rises and falls as the meditator breathes in and out. This gives us a way to control Heart Rate Variability.

The two graphs below show a person doing Heart Rhythm Meditation, with a rhythmic breath coordinated with the heart rate. Note the regularity in the first graph, like a picture of music. The regularity of this heart rate will cause transmission to occur, broadcasting this slow and peaceful rhythm through the magnetic field into other people and creating the same waves in them. These are waves of peace from the heart.

Note also that the average heart rate is decreased.

The breath rate is also shown in this graph, as it’s the breath that causes the heart rate to increase (exhalation) and decrease (inhalation). In 2 minutes indicated by the lines, the heart rate goes through six cycles of smooth decreases and increases. These cycles correspond to the breathing rate of the subject, approx. 20 seconds per breath, on average.

The lower graph shows that almost all of the fundamental frequencies within the heart rate are below 0.1 Hz. and most are below 0.066 Hz. The strongest single frequency by far is 0.05 Hz, which means 0.05 cycles per second, times 60 seconds/minute is 3 cycles per minute, or 6 cycles in two minutes, — the same as the breath rate.

This means that, in a state of coherence, the breath rate dominates the frequency of the heart beats, which then create electromagnetic waves of the same frequency. These energetic waves are broadcast to others and reproduce the same coherent rhythm in their hearts, causing the same emotions of peace and love in them.

While this subject is in a coherent state, he was repeatedly asked again about his financial condition, but now no physical stress was exhibited. Even through the same thoughts that caused emotional distress before, the subject now experiences no emotional distress, and this peaceful emotion is shown in the heart rate.

With Heart Rhythm Meditation, the vertical amplitude of the Heart Rate Variability graph can be increased. Our objective is to not only attain coherence, but to energize the heart to produce a stronger magnetic field. The graph above shows a person doing Heart Rhythm Meditation and producing a swing in HRV of more than 30 Beats Per Minute (BPM). The greater the change in heart rate, the stronger is the electromagnetic wave generated by the heart.

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In italics: from Wikipedia.  Additional comments by Puran Bair 

“Vagal tone is an internal biological process referring to the activity of the vagus nerve, the tenth cranial nerve located in the medulla oblongata of the brainstem. The vagus nerve serves as the key component of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, regulating the homeostasis (or “resting state”) of the majority of the body’s internal organ systems that operate on a largely subconscious level, such as the heart, lungs, eyes, adrenal glands, and digestive tract.”

Vagal Tone represents an index for the functional state of the entire parasympathetic nervous system. High Vagal Tone is an indication that the nervous system is able to harmonize the various systems of the body so that they can function together for the benefit of the whole organism.

Signals in the vagus nerve cause the relaxation of heart rate, digestion, adrenal output, the gut, salivation, pupillary diameter, etc. This is indicative of a state of calmness, rest or relaxation, in which the body can repair itself.

The ability to regulate one’s emotions, the ability to feel calm and peaceful, depends on Vagal Tone because it is the vagus nerve that gives the signal to “slow down.” One’s emotions cannot be calm if one’s body is not calm.

To experience higher energy and consciousness, the nervous system must be capable of handling the coordinating signals that will be created. Without a healthy, well-functioning nervous system, our spiritual experience is muted.

“Cardiac Vagal Tone has been treated as a physiologic substrate of regulation of emotion and arousal.”

Relation to Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia

“Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) is a naturally occurring variation in heart rate that occurs during a breathing cycle. RSA is also a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activity – which denotes “rest and digest” behaviors.

Vagal Tone cannot be directly measured. Instead, other biological processes are measured that represent the level of Vagal Tone. An increase in Vagal Tone both slows the heart and makes heart rate more variable (i.e. there is more beat-to-beat change between heart beats). Thus, Vagal Tone is indirectly observed by measuring periodic changes in the heart rate during a resting state of cardiovascular activity, a process known as Heart Rate Variability (HRV).”

Vagal Tone is indicated by the amount of change in the heart rate caused by the breath. Inhalation and exhalation cause the heart rate to rise and fall by a mechanism called RSA. The change in heart rate is called Heart Rate Variability (HRV). For example, during the in-breath the heart rate might be 75 beats per minute, while during the out-breath the heart rate might fall to 65. That would
be an HRV of 10, showing good Vagal Tone. An HRV of less than 5 shows poor Vagal Tone.

Relation to Age and Fitness

“HRV is very pronounced in children, but without sufficient cardiovascular exercise it gradually disappears as a person approaches their teenage years. Typically, expression of HRV decreases with age; however, adults in excellent cardiovascular health, such as endurance runners, swimmers, and cyclists, are likely to have a more pronounced HRV. Professional athletes typically maintain
very high vagal tone and HRV levels. HRV also becomes less prominent in individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”

Vagal Tone, as measured by HRV, decreases with age but increases with cardio fitness.

Emotional Self-Regulation

“In general, young children with a high vagal tone level present more positive psychophysiological, behavioral, and social performance, as well as predictive outcomes in mental, motor, and social skills. Heart rate variability has been linked to a wide array of variables, including: behavioral inhibition, sympathy, instrumental coping, attention, and temperament.

A higher vagal tone is typically indicative of more adaptive functioning. By the age of five to six months, vagal tone was found to be positively related to interest and positive expressiveness, while negatively related to repressing stress. This buffering effect continues well into adolescence; studies have found that high vagal tone in eight to twelve years olds buffers against intense verbal marital conflict. It is a very strong effect which has been shown to protect the child against some of the negative effects of parental alcoholism.”

In Heart Rhythm Meditation, we experience a very strong change in heart rate due to breathing, where the inhalation decreases the heart rate. This is a stronger breath-to-heart-rate effect than what is created unconsciously by RSA. This is documented in our book, Energize Your Heart. Because of this feature, HRM produces a higher Vagal Tone than any other method, including exercise, yoga or other meditation techniques.

There is no pharmaceutical that increases Vagal Tone; to the contrary, drugs decrease Vagal Tone.

The post Vagal Tone appeared first on iamHeart.

Low VC is correlated with disability in chronic respiratory disease, and with obesity. Low TV is correlated with depression, chronic fatigue and reduced longevity. By definition, one’s Tidal Volume can only be increased up to one’s Vital Capacity. Both VC and TV can be increased by breathing exercises.

Heart Rhythm Meditation increases both Vital Capacity and one’s typical Tidal Volume by practicing a full breath of several liters. This picture shows a Heart Rhythm Meditator easily topping the Vital Capacity instrument at 5 liters.

This chart shows the relative volumes of the Tidal Volume (typical unconscious breath), compared to the volume of the breath used in Heart Rhythm Meditation, which is roughly half of the Vital Capacity.

We are interested in increasing the volume of breath because breath is spirit and we want more spirit in our life. Exchanging breath is our main interaction with the world. The more we breathe, the more engaged we are with the life around us.

We are especially interested in reaching toward the bottom of our breath because this is analogous to an exploration of the unconscious, like going underwater. We can easily expand the volume of our breath by just breathing out more than usual. When we do that, we will also breathe in more than usual.

Therefore, in Heart Rhythm Meditation, we increase our breath volume by trying to complete the exhalation.

The post Vital Capacity appeared first on iamHeart.

This graph of the least-squares average of blood pressure readings over an almost two-month period shows a reduction from 141 to 123 in systolic blood pressure of one student in the University of the Heart, Class of 2012, who practiced Heart Rhythm Meditation daily.

 Slowing the breathing rate has been shown to reduce blood pressure. Within a few minutes, the muscles surrounding the small blood vessels dilate [relax], allowing blood to flow more freely, resulting in lower blood pressure.

The research cited below shows that with a breath rate of 10 breaths per minute, blood pressure is reduced up to 36 points systolic and 20 points diastolic. Average reductions in seven clinical tests were 14/9 points.

Heart Rhythm Meditation lowers the breathing rate even farther to 5 breaths per minute. Advanced practitioners reach 3 breaths per minute. We have found that the average person can easily learn to reduce their breath rate to 5 breaths per minute, without the use of any monitors or instruments, through Heart Rhythm Meditation. Five breaths per minute is accomplished with a six-second inhale and a six-second exhale.

“Normal” Blood Pressure May Still Be Too High

A new study of heart disease patients finds that “normal” blood pressure may not be low enough. By reducing their pressure well below the levels suggested by national guidelines, patients had fewer heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests, hospitalizations for chest pain, and procedures to open blocked coronary arteries. The study showed that the risk of heart attacks increased continuously as systolic blood pressure climbed above 115. (Reported in the NY Times, Nov. 10, 2004)

Research Studies in Peer-Reviewed Publications

These studies are cited by the makers of “Resperate”, an electronic device that guides one into rhythmic breathing. Heart Rhythm Meditation also creates rhythmic breathing, at an even slower rate, without an instrument, by feeling the pulse or heartbeat.Respiration and Blood PressureParati G, Izzo JL Jr, Gavish B., in Hypertension Primer, Third Edition. JL Izzo and HR Black, Eds. Baltimore, Lippincott, Williams, and Wilkins, 2003; Ch. A40, p117-120.Treating hypertension with a device that slows and regularizes breathing: a randomised, double-blind controlled study.Schein M., Gavish B., Herz M., Rosner-Kahana D., Naveh P., Knishkowy B., Zlotnikov E., Ben-Zvi N., Melmed R.N., Journal of Human Hypertension 2001; 15:271-278.Breathing-control lowers blood pressure.Grossman E., Grossman A., Schein M.H., Zimlichman R., Gavish B. Journal of Human Hypertension 2001; 15:263-269.Device-Guided Breathing Exercises Reduce Blood Pressure – Ambulatory and Home MeasurementsRosenthal T., Alter A., Peleg E., Gavish B., American Journal of Hypertension 2001; 14:74-76.Non-Pharmacological Treatment of Resistant Hypertensives by Device-Guided Slow Breathing ExercisesReuven Viskoper , Irena Shapira, Rita Priluck, Rina Mindlin, Larissa Chornia, Anny Laszt, Dror Dicker, Benjamin Gavish, Ariela Alter, American Journal of Hypertension 2003; Vol 16:484-487.Are breathing exercises an active component in reducing high blood pressure? A retrospective view.Gavish B. Journal of Hypertension 2001, Supplement 2, S79-S80. (Abstract and poster session presented at Annual Meeting of European Society of Hypertension, ESH 2001)Repeated blood pressure measurements may probe directly an arterial property.Gavish B., American Journal of Hypertension 2000; 13:190A (Abstract and poster presented at ASH 2001)The pressure dependence of arterial compliance: a model interpretation.Gavish B., American Journal of Hypertension 2001; 14:121A (Abstract and poster presented at ASH 2001)Self-monitored home blood pressure using automated data-logging devices and a web-based reporting system: A clinically valuable tool.T. Rosenthal, A. Alter, E. Peleg, B. Gavish (Oral presentation at the 7th International Symposium on Hypertension in the Community: Screening, Investigation and Therapy, December 2001, Limasol, Cyprus)

Peer-Reviewed Abstracts

Hypertension reduction by device-guided breathing shows a dose response relationship.

William Elliot, J.L. Izzo Jr., D. Rosing, C. Snyder, W. White, A. Alter, B. Gavish. H, Black (Abstract and poster presented at ASH 2002)

Efficacy of self treatment of hypertension at home with device-guided breathing

C. Giannattasio, M. Failla, E. Meles, G. Gentile, A. Grappiolo and G. Mancia (Abstract and poster accepted at ASH 2002)

Acute effects of device guided-breathing on cardiovascular parameters and baroflex sensitivity in normal subjects.

G. Parati, F. Glavina, G. Ongaro, A. Maronati, B. Gavish, P. Castiglioni, M Di Rienzo, G. MAncia (Abstract and poster presented at ASH 2002)

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Seeing a film about Mother Teresa raised S-IgA, immunoglobin A in saliva, a marker of the immune system, in 132 Harvard students. She was walking; she was not speaking in English. (Study by Dr. David McClelland of Harvard University)

This is the effect of being moved in one’s heart. Heart Rhythm Meditation focuses on the heart and produces strong emotions of compassion and love.

Heart Rhythm Meditation produces entrainment, and entrainment has been shown in a research study to produce the Mother Teresa Effect.

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Using a high-resolution photo-microscope attached to a digital video camera and computer, Dr. Angelov is able to examine the clumping of red blood cells, an indication of stress.Red blood cells normally repel each other because the membrane of each cell has a slight electrical charge of the same polarity. When the cells lose that charge under stress, the red blood cells stick together instead of floating separately.

Stressed condition

After 10 minutes of HRM

Under stress, when energy is needed most, the blood goes into a condition, agglutination, which causes an anemia that actually reduces energy in the body. This is not a “fight or flight” response; it does not provide the energy to flee. Instead it is an energy strike that attempts to stop one from creating more of their own stress. With Heart Rhythm Meditation (HRM), one can endure stress and still operate in a healthy condition.

The post Hemagglutination: A Symptom of Stress appeared first on iamHeart.

“A scientifically controlled study conducted by German researchers at the University of Kassel has shown that while the chest area of an average person emits only 20 photons of light per second, someone who meditates on their heart center and sends love and light to others emits an amazing 100,000 photons per second. That is 5000 times more than the average human being. Numerous studies have also shown that when these photons are infused with a loving and healing intent, their frequency and vibration increases to the point where they can literally change matter, heal disease, and transform negative events.”

From “The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World” 

by The Dalai Lama & Desmond Tutu

The meditator described in the above study was Puran Bair, Co-Founder of iamHeart, lifelong meditator and, along with his partner Susanna Bair, formulator of Heart Rhythm Meditation, based on practices described by Hazrat Inayat Khan and taught to him by his meditation teacher and spiritual guide, Pir Vilayat Khan. Pir Vilayat asked Puran and Susanna to pursue the science of the spiritual modality he taught, which was based on Sufi meditations. In doing so, Puran and Susanna formulated Heart Rhythm Meditation as an approachable, step-by-step process, and began working with researchers in the USA and Europe. 

The study, titled “Visible Light Radiated from the Heart with Heart Rhythm Meditation,” which can be found here, has been widely reproduced around the internet in the past year, and those of us at iamHeart are surprised and heartened to see it! We all devote our lives to the promotion and expansion of this method and the ways it can help many of the pervasive problems the world is facing. Our work is to understand the powerful effects of breath-with-heartbeat on the energy and consciousness of the human being. Our research and research by HeartMath and others shows breath-with-heartbeat creates strong improvements over time in Heart Rate Variability and Vagal Tone. 

When Puran completed the study of the light emission of the heart years ago, he was sure it would gain lots of attention and serious inquiry. Instead, people didn’t know what to make of it. It seemed impossible, and remained a footnote. Throughout that time, Puran focused on building The Institute for Applied Meditation on the Heart, which we call iamHeart for short. Through this organization, he has focused on the method described in his first book Living From the Heart, which described the practice he used in this study. 

What his study shows in tangible terms is that the heart literally “lights up.” It’s not just a metaphor, it’s reality. When we practice Heart Rhythm Meditation to bring love and positivity into our hearts, our hearts light up.  The light within, when fanned by breath, can burn bright enough to be visible, and the skill is transferable. It can be learned by anyone, starting with control of your breath and heartbeat. 

Though meditation can have miraculous effects on one’s physical state, it is the deeper truth of one’s self that it reveals which has been the driving force for Bair. For Puran, Heart Rhythm Meditation has been his connection to the divine, mystical experience of unity. He and his partner Susanna continue to write books on the power of the heart to “literally change matter, heal disease, and transform negative events.”

Practice For Connecting with Heart 

Sit upright, with your feet on the floor in a comfortable chair.

Notice your everyday breath.

Do you notice any differences between the inhale and the exhale? How does your breath feel in your body? Where do you feel your breath?

Notice your physical sensations, and feel your emotions.

Put your hand on your heart.. Getting a sense of the rhythm at your body’s core.

Even if you can’t feel a pulse or your heartbeat, you can be absolutely certain your heart is throbbing in your chest. It’s there, always.

Be patient. Sit, feel, and connect with yourself. It is the emotion we are looking for. How does your heart feel in your body?

Continue to breathe full, conscious breaths.

Once you have contact with your pulse or heartbeat, you can begin to count 6 heartbeats on the inhale and 6 heartbeats on the exhale.

 6 Heartbeats INHALE and 6 Heartbeats EXHALE

Find the warmth here. Continue to breathe rhythmically in and out, deeply and fully. 

When your thoughts wander, gently invite them back to your breath, heartbeat, and body.

You can repeat this 10 times or as many as you feel good with.

The post The Man and the Method behind a Surprising Meditation Study appeared first on iamHeart.