At Yoke Wellness in Pasadena, Dr. Herzog teaches meditation practice. He received training in meditation in his continuing education as a licensed Clinical Psychologist as well as during his study for the White Lotus Foundation Yoga Instructor Certification. Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, spiritual and religious groups have cultivated a wide range of meditation techniques and practices over the years. Often times, meditation is seen as belonging more to Eastern civilization and less to the West though meditation can be found within Western cultural and religious practice as well. Meditation does seem to have more of a preponderance in the overall life practice of Eastern cultures as it has not only been embraced as a religious and/or spiritual tradition, it has also been used and valued for its physiological healing aspects. Not until recently have Western culture and medicine started to appreciate the physical and psychological benefits of meditation. Recent studies have shown the enormous impact that regular meditation can have in improving overall physical health by reducing stress and enhancing immune functioning. Brain scans have shown significant increased brain activity in those who meditate regularly (Brefcyznski-Lewis, 2006). It has been incorporated into stress management and chronic pain management treatment and has helped patients heal faster after surgery (Kabat-Zinn, 1990). Other studies have shown psychological benefits of meditation in increasing attention and concentration, regulating mood, managing anxiety, being less reactive and easily upset, and improving impersonal connections with others. Research suggests that meditation can enhance your intuition as well as potentially alter brain functioning for the better by laying down more functional neural networks that alter how you respond to life experience (Siegel, 2007). Meditation can enhance your overall physical, mental and emotional well-being giving you a deeper connection to your true self and a richer life experience. So given all this, you might see the benefit of cultivating a meditation practice, but where do you start? There are many different types of meditation, with some being more rigid and less accessible to some. Many believe that to meditate means to completely quiet or still the mind and doing anything less than that is failure which often leads to frustration and disappointment. Many feel that they must dedicate hours to a daily practice thus complain of not having enough time in the day to meditate. I help clients cultivate a meditation practice that fits their unique identity and lifestyle. I have a flexible non-dogmatic teaching style that makes meditation accessible and adaptable for each individual I work with. Even practicing meditation 5 minutes a day can yield great benefits and improve your life significantly. Siegel, D. (2007). The mindful brain: Reflection and attunement in the cultivation of well-being. New York: Norton & Company, Inc. Brefczynski-Lewis, J. (2006). Results of the fMRI study on concentration meditation: Attentional expertise in long-time Buddhist practitioners. Poster presentation at the Mind and Life Summer Research Institute. New York: Garrison. Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living: Using the wisdom of your body and mind to face stress, pain and illness. New York: Dell.