Efficacy of Heartfulness Meditation in Moderating Vital Parameters-A Comparison Study of Experienced and New meditators

To analyse and compare the effect of a 30-minute Heartfulness meditation session on vital parameters of experienced and new meditators.

The study conducted on a mixed group of participants include both experienced and new meditators of various age groups, Body Mass Index (BMI); patients with known illness as well as healthy volunteers. Variations in heart rate, respiratory rate and systolic blood pressure is recorded before and after a 30-minute heartfulness meditation session and analysed statistically.

At baseline, average heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) is significantly lower in experienced meditators compared to new meditators. Heartfulness meditation is highly significant in moderating HR, RR and SBP.

A 30-minute session of Heartfulness meditation produces significant relaxation of the autonomic nervous system and favourably moderates basic vital parameters across all groups. This influence is higher in New meditators particularly the younger group probably because stress is more amplified due to greater responsibilities in life and meditation is an effective tool in reducing stress. The enthusiasm and open mindedness of youth to try new things is also contributing factor for getting better benefits from the heartfulness meditation session. In the case of experienced meditators, the elderly group showed greater changes, probably because they put in the time and effort to pursue the practice of meditation seriously, and thus able to derive a greater benefit.