Gibbons 1

Natalea-Rae Gibbons
DeBock
English 4 Honors
21 September 2015
Essential Question: How does yoga and meditation benefit the mind and body?
Working Thesis Statement: Yoga and meditation benefit the body mentally and physically.
Refined Thesis Statement: Regular practice of yoga and meditation is beneficial physically,
mentally, and spiritually.
Annotated Bibliography
Chu, Li-Chuan. "The Benefits Of Meditation Vis--Vis Emotional Intelligence, Perceived Stress
And Negative Mental Health." Stress & Health: Journal of the International Society for
the Investigation of Stress 26.2 (2010): 169-180. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17
Sept. 2015.
Meditation methods are beneficial to mental health along with physical. Regular practice
can improve cognitive and emotional function along with decreasing anger, anxiety,
hostility, and depression; ultimately leading to well-being and emotional balance.
Meditation attention strategies could be concentrative, mindfulness, and integrated
meditation. Concentrative meditation fixes the mind on a specific object and leads to a
path of peace. Mindfulness meditation cultivates a new relationship with internal
experiences by regulating attention, awareness, and emotions. Integrated meditation is a

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combination of both. It is recommended to incorporate meditation into a daily routine.

This article is beneficial because it uses two studies to determine how meditation effects
people; it gives results to each and includes charts creating a visual of the data.
Diamond, Lisa. "The Benefits Of Yoga In Improving Health: Lisa Diamond Recommends The
Prescription Of Yoga To Improve Patients' Physical And Mental Wellbeing With Little
Cost To The Health Service." Primary Health Care 2 (2012): 16. Academic OneFile.
Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Yoga is derived from Hindu culture and translates to union of the body. Not only does
yoga provide physical effects but also immediate psychological effects by decreasing anxiety
with an increase in emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. Many health practitioners are
turning to yoga as an alternative form of treatment calling it yoga therapy. Yoga therapy aims
at the holistic treatment of psychological or somatic functions. Yoga encompasses an experience
of the mind, body, and spirit which has numerous positive benefits to the body. Practicing yoga
on a regular basis can increase happiness, enhance meaning in life, and cause stronger
connections with others. This article will be helpful because it talks about how doctors are
starting to prescribe yoga as a form of treatment and the numerous positive benefits.
Holmes, Melissa Galea. "There's a Yoga For That." Alive: Canada's Natural Health & Wellness
Magazine 375 (2014): 59-62. Alt HealthWatch. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Traditionally yoga was viewed as a way to personal transcendence or enlightenment, but
studies have determined it provides a wide range of benefits for physical ailments, mental illness,
and emotional distress. Yoga is linked to less frequent or intense pain. Prenatal yoga can help
with swelling, mood swings, discomfort and weight gain. In the birthing process its believed to

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be linked to a shorter labor and fewer complications. Anxiety is a condition linked to a hyperactivated nervous system response; yoga reduces cortisol, a hormone linked to stress, which in
turn boosts peace of mind. Hatha yoga is believed to aid with depress by promoting positive
thoughts and self-acceptance. Good sleep can be achieved through yoga by increasing total sleep
time and reducing awakenings through the night. This article gives information on different types
of yoga and the benefits they can provide.
Ireland, Michael. "Meditation And Psychological Health And Functioning: A Descriptive And
Critical Review." Scientific Review Of Mental Health Practice 9.1 (2012): 4-19.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Sept. 2015
Meditation dates back the the third millennium BC; the original focus was to promote
religious and spiritual development. Early on it earned a reputation as self-help and
psychotherapeutic technology. Meditation requires the application of regulatory behaviors by
manipulation of posture, breathing and state of consciousness. The aim is to cultivate greater
understanding and control over mental states which inevitably improve psychological health and
functioning. Meditation has many forms and backgrounds such as Hindu and Buddhist; each of
these can be divided into smaller categories such as Transcendental and Zen. This article poses
points focusing mainly on the spirituality aspect of meditation and the ways it has affected and
developed the culture.
Mcgonigal, Kelly. "Your Brain On Meditation." Yoga Journal (2015): 10-15. Alt HealthWatch.
Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Meditation can benefit the brain in a visual and mindful way. Studies use a magnetic
resonance imaging machine (MRI) which shows scans of the brain to create a visual aid of the

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response, along with psychological tests to demonstrate positive effect on the brain in a realistic
setting. These studies show an increase in compassion, focus and concentration, and aid in the
relief of anxiety and various mental illnesses. Meditation can also increase an individuals
control over limited brain resources causing a feeling of awareness and togetherness. This article
contains scientific research that allows the reader to have confirmation and awareness of the
positive benefits of meditation on the mind.
Shaw, Beth. "Living In Balance. Meditation + Yoga = Balance." Massage Magazine 229 (2015):
68-70. Alt HealthWatch. Web. 17 Sept. 2015.
Yoga, along with meditation, is an ancient practice dating around 5,000 years old. Broken
down into simplest form, yoga can be defined as breathing and feeling. Yoga benefits the body in
a physical way by reducing high blood pressure and stress in the cardiovascular system.
Meditation goes along with yoga through structural changes in the brain. Meditation should be
practiced anywhere from 10-90 minutes a day for full physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits.
Breathing correlates with both by affecting the nervous system and linking to the stress response.
Short and shallow breaths increase the stress hormones leading to spikes in blood sugar and
increased weight gain. This article contains facts about yoga and meditation, and the benefits that
follow for the mind and body.