Spirituality Good For Your Health

Whatever your individual religious beliefs, prayer can be good for your heart according to research published in the Christmas issue of the British Medical Journal.

A team of researchers from Italy studied the heart rates of 23 healthy men and women whilst reciting the Ave Maria prayer, or a yoga mantra (rhythmic chant similar to a prayer).

In both cases, breathing was consistently slowed and the heart rate brought down. "Remarkably, the regularity of breathing seen during recitation of the Ave Maria or the Mantra was similar to regularity during controlled breathing...indicating that these methods could stabilise the respiratory rate as effectively as precisely-timed control," commented the researchers.

Controlled breathing methods are often taught to recovering heart attack victims as a proven way to increase the odds of survival. In healthy people, controlled breathing is also known to be beneficial for the heart, lungs, circulation and general well-being.

Paul O'Keeffe of Bromley Health Management commented, "Controlled breathing in any form, through prayer, meditation or exercise is a great way to improve your health and well-being. Remember, at a basic level meditation just means relaxing and taking some time with your own thoughts. If you can't control your breathing, how are you going to control the rest of your life?!"

Saturday, 2 February 2002