Cynthia Busuttil
Meditation could prevent disease, instructor believes
Meditation helps boost the immune system, making the body less susceptible to disease, Canadian Joseph Takuski believes.
"I have not been sick for many years," the meditation instructor said during a visit to the island.
Although there are bugs everywhere, Mr Takuski's immune system is strong enough to beat them. And he attributes this to meditation, which he started practising when he was very young.
"My father introduced me to it when I was about seven or eight years and I did not realise it was meditation back then. He taught me ways to prepare myself for a race or a hockey game through visualisation so that I could perform better. And I was very successful in sports," he says.
In fact, he was the city champion in Edmonton, where he lived, and there was a period when he did not lose a race for four years.
"I trained and had the skills but what gave me the edge was the meditation," he adds.
Meditation revolves around being centred and in control, he points out: "I learnt over the years that, when you focus on your centre, you're accessing your internal power."
Mr Takuski, co-founder of personal development training company One Spirit Incorporated, refers to a study carried out in 2003 showing meditation even increased the effectiveness of the flu vaccine. The group who meditated produced more flu virus antibodies than those who did not. In the same way, meditation could help prevent people from falling ill with swine flu, which is still a global pandemic.
"Western medication is very good at treating diseases but it is rarely preventative. On the other hand, meditation can help prevent disease. The two can work together," he says.
He said research had shown that meditation could help reduce cholesterol, improve circulation and even affected areas of the brain that controlled the immune system.
Mr Takuski, who was recently in Malta to give seminars to help people tap into their core through meditation, says he also uses meditation to turn things he hates doing, like housework, into something more enjoyable. "I look out for opportunities to meditate. If I have a business meeting, I will take five minutes in the car beforehand to centre myself and will feel better afterwards."
He says it is very easy to get into a meditative state: "Try to imagine your next thought. But you don't know what you're going to think next so this allows you to clear your mind."
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J Oatmon
Dec 20th 2009, 04:59
@ Nick Borg
I am entitled to my beliefs (backed by medical evidence), just they same as you are entitled to believe the medical evidence is all wrong.
The facts are that your genetic make up is often the reason for disease and illness (and you have no choice in what this is), and this is a fully proven scientific fact. However you may choose to disbelieve this, and put it down to meditation if you wish, or your birth sign or eating lots of vegetables or whatever.
Nick Borg
Dec 19th 2009, 14:30
Dear Mr Oatmon
When you don't know what you are talking about, it is generally considered a wise idea to keep your mouth shut...
Maybe you should meditate on that thought... ; )
J Oatmon
Dec 19th 2009, 12:44
What a load of old cobblers!
Disease is known to be caused by viruses and bacteria, and these are other life forms which invade our bodies, and are not affected by meditation in any way.
Other diseases and illnesses are caused by carcinogens and pollutants like tobacco and many of the bus exhausts here in Malta.
Some people have natural immunity and others do not - its that simple.
For instance my father never had to go to the dentist for his whole life, his full set of teeth were perfect when he died in his mid seventies (no cavities) - and he never meditated, and he had a bad diet (he didn't eat hardly any fruit and vegetables for 7 years during the second world war etc); I am not so lucky, even though I exercise, eat good food, etc - I have lost many teeth, over the years.