Religious, Spiritual
Practices Good for Your Health 
By Dr Narinder Saini
It is the season to be healthy, especially if
you're giving your religious and spiritual beliefs
a workout. According to new research, reciting rhythmic
formulas such as the Ave Maria prayer or a yoga
mantra has a measurable calming effect on the cardiovascular
system. Our autonomic nervous system responds to
stress, fear, or anxiety with increased breathing,
a pounding heart, and rising blood pressure.
Remarkably, the regularity of breathing seen during
recitation of the Ave Maria or the mantra was similar
to regularity during controlled breathing ... According
to the researchers, these two seemingly unrelated
religious rituals might not be as different as we'd
imagine. "There is historical evidence for
a link," they write. "The rosary was introduced
to Europe by the crusaders, who took it from the
Arabs, who in turn took it from Tibetan monks and
the yoga masters of India." The lesson of
the study? Whatever your personal religious or
spiritual beliefs may be, stopping to take a few
slow, deep breaths during the hectic holiday season
can make a big difference to your health in the
coming year.
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