Open Heart Meditations and Your Brain

Open Heart meditations involve activating positive feelings and focusing those feelings towards others. These types of meditative practices are distinct from Focus meditations in that they involve the intentional generation of caring, love, and compassion. Examples include lovingkindness and other compassion-based meditation practices. 

Open Heart meditations are good for:

• Improving mood

• Increasing empathy

• Increasing gratitude and appreciation

• Taking the perspective of others

• Increasing generosity

Open Heart practices engage regions of the brain involved in sustained attention and emotional processing. Studies examining brainwave patterns during Open Heart meditation show large increases in gamma brainwave activity in several areas of the brain, including the left prefrontal cortex. Gamma waves are between 35-45 hz and are associated with sharp focus, like feelings of creativity, insight, and integrating information. 

In a short period time, Open Heart meditations produce clinically significant results, and long-term Open Heart meditators tend to be happier, less anxious, and report strong coping self-efficacy. 

Open Heart meditations can help those who are experiencing:

• Grief

• Depression

• Personality disorders

Want to deepen your knowledge of meditation styles and their effects on mental health?

Join our Foundations in NeuroMeditation Workshop!

The Level 1 Foundations in NeuroMeditation Workshop meets February 5, 12, and 19. In this intensive online workshop, you will explore the four styles of NeuroMeditation (Focus, Mindfulness, Open Heart, and Quiet Mind). You'll learn the neuroscience behind each meditation style and how to connect each style to specific goals for you, your clients, or your students.