Q: What’s the connection between Vedic Meditation and serotonin?

A: When you’re happy and relaxed the body produces a particular cocktail of neuro-hormones. These ‘happy chemicals’ are the opposite of what your body produces when it’s stressed.

One of the best-known of these neurotransmitters is serotonin. Low levels of serotonin link to feelings of sadness, depression as well as aggressive and self-harming behaviours.

Over the last 40 years there has been an upsurge in prescriptions for Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRI’s are a class of drugs used in the treatment of depression and anxiety. They work by binding with a receptor in brain cells to block the absorption (or re-uptake) of serotonin. This leads to a general increase in the balance of serotonin levels.

Research shows those who practise a style of meditation like Vedic Meditation have a higher baseline of serotonin. This correlates with more upbeat emotions, personal satisfaction and general feelings of happiness. These levels occur naturally without the unwanted side-effects of SSRI’s. These include poor digestion, disturbed sleep and mood changes.

Meditators are not simply pretending to feel good. We can see a measurable difference in their biochemistry as a result of meditation.

Have you noticed positive changes in your mood since you began to meditate?

And if this has sparked another question, send it my way and I’ll answer it on another Meditation Monday.

~ Jillian

I recently joined @how.to.academy podcast for a conversation about Vedic Meditation and how we find greater clarity in our lives.

With so much competing for our attention, it’s easy to lose touch with our own sense of what’s important.

We talked about how taking time to rest deeply changes that. How we become clearer in our thinking, more confident in our decisions and better able to enjoy the things that matter to us.

I really enjoyed the conversation. You can listen to the full interview via the link in my bio.

One of our dear students in Copenhagen sent me this message this morning ♥️

Q: How does stress (and meditation) affect weight gain?

A: When you’re stressed, your body reacts by increasing the level of sugar in the blood. This is so that you have the energy to fight-or-flee.

The signal that drives this is originates in the hypothalamus. This is a region in the brain at the base of the skull connected to the pituitary gland.

The stress response triggers the hypothalamus to produce a neurotransmitter that stimulates the pituitary gland. This then produces the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH).

ACTH is carried by the blood to the adrenal glands. This leads to the secretion of stress neurochemicals called corticoids. The most common, and the one many people have heard of, is cortisol.

A short term, genuine fight-or-flight response can be easily recovered from. However the body is not designed to handle the low-level ongoing release of these stress hormones. If you experience chronic stress, it has a negative effect across many of the body’s systems.

One of these is blood sugar levels. When your body is continually prepped for stress reactivity, it’s always on the hunt for energy.

This means insulin levels go up. This leads to:
- increased appetite
- weight gain (particularly visceral fat in the abdominal area)
- emotional imbalances

If this continues, it can lead to diabetes.

This is where Vedic Meditation helps.

Deep rest -> calmer mind -> less stress -> less variations in blood sugar -> more stable weight.

What are your experiences with weight gain and stress? Let me know.

~ Jillian