This document discusses how spiritual practices like visualization, prayer, and meditation can positively impact brain function and physical health. It explains that certain practices like prayer stimulate the temporal-parietal region of the brain to improve language skills, while visualization activates the frontal lobe to boost focus and concentration. Practices with physical components also have distinct neurological effects. The key is engaging in spiritual activities in a concentrated, focused way to reap rich physiological benefits regardless of theological beliefs.

1. V: Visualization
E: Eating
E: Exercise
P: Prayer
There comesa time whena movementcomesthatisinspiredforeternitytoaddresscurrentissues.
RubyL. Alexanderwasgiventhe keytoall preventive illnessthatpledgeshumanitysuchas,obesity,high
bloodpressure,diabetes’sandall addictionsratherphysical andpsychological.Thismindbody
connectionincludesaspiritual componentusedby12 stepprogramsthat awakensthe spirittothe
holistichealthandwellnesssociety. Thisisnota religiousproclamationthattriestopreachor convince
people of acertainideal but,ratheran inwardawakeningof the spiritinall humans,some maycall it
subconscious,thoughts,intents,ego,the intangible untouchable elementof humanitythatseemstobe
overlookedandoutof balance.Inthe empirical scientificevolutionof fieldof medicine therehasbeena
failure toidentifyone of the mostimportantpartof healing- the spirit;the innercore of a personthat is
livesforever,itisthe life force the heartbeat,the brainwavesandthe emotions.Itiswhatis
underneathall feelings,itisthe foundationof personalityandthe cause of behaviorthatmakestruth
relative andperceptionsdiverse-thespiritof humanitytranscendsculture,religion,creed,coloror
national origin.
There are thousandsof religious and spiritual beliefs and practices. Each one has differences that
are meaningful and important to its practitioners.
But from a purely neurological perspective, it's not the form the spiritual engagement takes that
affects brain function. It's the act of engagement itself - and more specifically, the nature of that
engagement.
Practicesthat are primarilyverbal,forexample - prayers said either aloud or internally - are going
to stimulate the temporal-parietal region of the brain, regardless of their religious or spiritual
provenance. This kind of stimulation can improve a person's language receptors.
Likewise, visualization practices - focusing the mind on an image or concept - are shown to
stimulate the frontal lobe,whichleads to sharper focus and greater powers of concentration. And
practices that incorporate physicality - touching the beads of a rosary, or repeating certain
movements, have a whole different set of effects.
Hypnotismisanimportantcomponentof visualizationsincebrainwaves have arhythmof electrical
impulses that effect the bodies movements and ultimately thoughts/perceptions these relative
impulses can me altered with a change in the frequency of the brain waves. I was listening to a

2. woundedwarveteran who lost both his legs from an IED who had the experience of phantom leg
syndrome.Thisis when the brain sends signals to the missing leg as if the leg was still there. One
technique istoputa mirrordownby the missingleg,anothertechnique istopicture the missingleg
spinning360 degrees.The pointisthe braincontinuestosendsignalseventoanamputatedlimb.If
there wassome way to effect, alter or change the brain frequency you can re-direct the electrical
impulseswitha tapping sound that is constaint- 1 2 3 4 5 6, 1 2 3 4 5 6, ina seriesof repetition that
issteadywhile yourexperience ahabitor thoughtyoucan ultimatelyre-direct the brain frequency
and thus the reaction
However, reciting a prayer, repeating the steps of a ritual, or sitting in a meditative pose are not
necessarily going to bring a person the kinds of rich physiological benefits Dr. Newberg has
observed, even if they're done consistently. Nor will simply "being" Catholic, Buddhist, Jewish,
Muslim, or anything else.
But if the right elements are present during these practices (Dr. Newberg explores these in his
program SpiritualPractices fora More PowerfulBrain),spiritualpracticesthatseemworlds apart in
terms of theological foundations can have amazingly similar affects on the brain and body.
What's more, these same transformative elements can be applied to activities that are not
specifically "spiritual" or "God-oriented", with the same brain-enhancing results.
So,whetheryou're a seekeror a doubter, a believer or a skeptic, you can benefit in amazing ways
from a concentrated, focused spiritual practice.
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