HeartMath

HeartMath: When Heart & Brain Entrain

by Mary Grace McCord

When life requires us to make a difficult decision, all of us know instinctively to “use our head.” Those of us who are spiritual and/or altruistic also strive to “listen to our heart.” But if we truly seek a solid mind / body connection — a synchronicity of thoughtful, purposeful reflection - we must of course entrain both the mind and the soul. AIHT staff members recently studied HeartMath with two instructors from Santa Cruz, California, who successfully reacquainted us with the scientific term, entrainment, “to pull, draw, or carry along in a current.” And so it is with HeartMath, a biochemical bridging of science and spirit. As vividly demonstrated via electronic monitoring of EEG (brain waves) and EKG (heart beats), humans can learn to consciously “entrain” the two so that the wave-forms’ peaks and valleys are both smoother (less frenetic, more relaxed) and also more similar to each other (harmoniously in tune).

In a nutshell, HeartMath teaches students to “freeze-frame” in times of stress. HeartMath can help with stressors that range from the very specific (such as arguments with loved ones) to dangerous random anger (road rage). Whether you’re dealing with unfair expectations from a boss, or grief from a personal loss, HeartMath techniques help with those major life-events as well as the minor irritations.

We first learned how to freeze-frame, which basically means to take a time-out. To do so, we concentrate all available energy on connecting with our own heart beat, to realize and appreciate the soothing warmth and security that can emanate from the chest even in times of stress. With refocused energy, we then actively concentrate on a moment of pure joy. In the classroom exercise, one person’s memory was the gratitude of being bathed in his grandmother’s unconditional love. Another person thought of a recent vacation, happily feeding seagulls from a ferry boat while feeling sunshine on her face.

Whatever memory one chooses, the key is to feel sincere appreciation and gratitude. In doing so, you transform ill will to goodwill. For example: just as the unreasonable child who willfully misbehaves is sometimes crying out for attention, try to think of that mean-spirited coworker as someone who perhaps feels vulnerable herself, or who maybe just doesn’t know how to trust others. HeartMath means that when your brain asks your heart for “co-guidance” the sum far outweighs both parts. Obviously, HeartMath is not a solitary activity. By accepting our instructors’ homework assignment, AIHT co-workers now benefit from ongoing “Heart Lock-ins,” a follow-up series of brainstorming and problem-solving sessions that magnify each person’s entrainment as the group also reaches to learn, to some extent, how to entrain together for a common good.

Heart Lock-ins both refresh our individual skills and also help us relate better as a team — more from the heart. Well, I really could go on all day. I’m so happy to say that HeartMath is changing my life, and maybe you’ll want to look into it too. If so, you can visit the Institute for HeartMath via the Internet: www.heartmath.com.

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