Tej Rae
Switching off the mind sounds simple, but it's easier said than done. In his best-selling book 10% Happier, American news anchor Dan Harris makes a case for the benefits of meditation.
Harris credits modern new-age gurus such as Eckhart Tolle for teaching us how to tame the voice in our head, even silencing it momentarily. Our minds fall into certain grooves, he suggests, and these grooves can be reset, because our minds are plastic, not fixed.
This can only be done in connection with the breath, a practice validated by hundreds of studies that show meditation positively impacts blood pressure, stress levels, the immune system and heart rates, as well as mood, focus, creativity and even longevity.
But until 2011 it was not clear whether these benefits came more from relaxing, sitting still and breathing rather than meditation itself. An experiment by Harvard neuroscientists showed that grey matter concentration increased in the parts of the brain regulating emotions, learning, memory and sense of self, after eight weeks of meditation.
This central principle of mindfulness, breathing and slowing down has led to the increased availability of therapies across the UAE. In fact, many are not called therapies anymore, but “modalities”. Here are four to consider.
Emotional freedom technique
This is a self-administered therapy that you can do at home: emotional freedom technique, or tapping, is similar to acupuncture, but without the needles. It combines Chinese acupuncture with modern psychology and starts with the phrase: “Even though I have this [insert emotional or physical problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” Founded by Gary Craig in the 1990s, the underlying philosophy of EFT is that by clearing out our body’s energy system, we can get rid of negative emotions that hold us back.
The technique is self-administered. While speaking, you make quick, percussive taps on 10 meridian points. We have 12 meridian points, according to ancient Chinese medicine, but some of them cross, leaving only 10 places to tap, such as the top of the head, outside of the palm and the inner eyebrow.
EFT appeals to people who want to treat physical or emotional problems, stop addictions, lose weight, or make other significant changes to their lives. A gentle therapy with no side effects, EFT practitioners cite evidence from physics and ancient wisdom to validate their methods, but this is inconclusive.
Where: Various locations in Dubai.
AlphaSphere
A more physical and less psychological way to attain a state of deep relaxation is by spending 30 minutes in the AlphaSphere, a vibrating pod that stimulates your senses with sound, light, colour, touch, temperature and smell. It was developed by Viennese artist Sha, whose pursuits include design and technology, sculpture, writing and all things musical. Sha developed the AlphaSphere as a holistic therapeutic experience, and claims it reduces stress, lowers the heart rate and blood pressure, while stimulating creativity. Users can choose their surrounding light, inspired by chromotherapy, from four different colours: blue for calm and balance; pink for gentle energy; red for intense energy; and orange for revitalisation.
Where: Talise Spa, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai. Prices start from Dh225 per person.
Inversion therapy
Yogis have long known the benefits of inversions. Shoulder stands and headstands in a yoga class are known as the kings and queens of poses, because of the way they improve circulation and “reset” the pituitary and hypothalamus glands, which regulate other glandular systems in the body.
Taking this one step further, inversion therapy puts you on a table that tips to varying angles, from a few degrees to a straight vertical line. Held upside down, with your ankles secured by cushioned clamps, pressure on spinal discs is relieved and more space is created between vertebrae. Some chiropractors also use this as a drug-free alternative to relieving chronic back pain in the lower and middle back, as well as for sciatica – compression of a spinal nerve.
Beginners stay on the table for one to two minutes, eventually working up to 15 minutes per session, and hang upside down regularly, sometimes twice a day. Practitioners note changes in mental alertness, mood, circulation, the immune system and posture. The inversion table can be used for strengthening as well, with sets of upside down squats, crunches and twists.
Of all the therapies in this article, this one has the most physical risk. It is not advised for people with any of the following conditions: eye problems such as glaucoma; overweight or obesity; a history of strokes or high blood pressure; women who are menstruating or pregnant; and those with osteoporosis.
Where: Life'n One in Dubai runs regular inversion-therapy workshops with Paul Terrell, founder of the School of Inversion Therapy. For more information, visit www.lifenone.com.
Sound therapy
Working on the principle that all matter vibrates, sound therapy attempts to correct any imbalances in the body and mind through sound resonance. Tools such as Himalayan singing bowls, tuning forks, gongs, drums and even the voice, are used at different frequencies to help relax or recharge. The sound is often used in conjunction with guided meditation and many have found it to be a effective method of relaxation and stress release. Although it is a relatively new therapy in many parts of the world, sound therapy has been practised in Asia for thousands of years, mostly in meditation and prayer. It is not recommended for pregnant women.
Where: Miracles Centre, Dubai, www.miraclesworldwide.com; Life'n One, Dubai, www.lifenone.com.
