Meditation and Dreams: The Relationship Between Mind-Exploration Definition and Basic Understanding of Meditation and Dreams Meditation and dreams are both deeply related to states of mind, but there are differences in their definitions and purposes. Meditation refers to mental training or practice that is undertaken to achieve a certain mental state or peace of mind. There are various styles of meditation, and mindfulness meditation, breathing meditation, visualization meditation, etc. are common. These meditations aim to relax the mind, reduce stress, improve concentration, and even promote self-insight and spiritual growth. On the other hand, dreams are a phenomenon that mainly occurs during sleep, and are various images and stories that appear […]

The reality of postpartum anxiety and insomnia: Knowing the symptoms and causes What is postpartum anxiety: Mental changes and their background Postpartum anxiety is a form of mental change and stress experienced by mothers after giving birth. Many mothers have some anxiety due to the responsibility of childcare and the need to adapt to a new life. Specific factors include a sense of responsibility as a mother, changes in hormone balance, lack of sleep, and pressure to balance housework and childcare. In particular, hormones such as estrogen and progesterone increase rapidly during pregnancy and decrease rapidly after giving birth, and these fluctuations are likely to cause anxiety and emotional instability. […]

Basic knowledge of sleep disorders: Understanding the types and causes What is a sleep disorder: Symptoms and definition Sleep disorders are a general term for conditions in which healthy sleep patterns are disrupted, and include various conditions that affect the quality and quantity of sleep. Common symptoms include “difficulty falling asleep,” which makes it difficult to fall asleep, “middle of the night awakening,” which makes it difficult to get to sleep, and “hypersomnia,” which makes it difficult to get rid of sleepiness during the day even though you have had enough sleep. Sleep disorders range from transient to chronic, and the impact on daily life and health varies depending on […]

Music and mental health: Understanding the scientific connection The impact of music on the brain and emotions The impact of music on our brain and emotions is of great neuroscientific interest. Research has shown that listening to music releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that brings about pleasure. Dopamine is involved in pleasure and motivation, and contributes to stress reduction and mood improvement. For example, up-tempo music can energize you during exercise or work, while relaxing music can help relieve anxiety and tension. Music can also increase alpha waves. Alpha waves are generated from the brain during relaxation and meditation, and help stabilize the mind. In particular, listening to classical music or […]

Music and stress: The scientific basis of the relaxation effect What effect does music have on the mind? Numerous psychological studies have revealed that music has the power to have a profound effect on the mind. In particular, it has been found that the tempo and rhythm of music affect the autonomic nervous system and play a role in adjusting the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. For example, music with a slow tempo has the effect of activating the parasympathetic nervous system and lowering the heart rate and blood pressure. This is also related to the phenomenon that brain waves called alpha waves increase when relaxing. On […]

Basic knowledge for understanding the relationship between music and emotional expression Historical background of music and its social role Music has long played an important role in human history as a means of communication and emotional expression. In ancient civilizations, music was used as part of rituals and religious events, and served as a means to strengthen social bonds. For example, in Egyptian civilization, music was used to praise the gods, and in Greek civilization, music was deeply connected to philosophy and medicine. Music was not just entertainment, but played an important role in the development of society and culture. In the 19th century, music began to be used for […]

Basic knowledge of yoga and meditation: its origins and development History of yoga and its influence on the modern world Yoga originated in ancient India, dating back to 3000 BC. The etymology of yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means “union,” and aims to unify the body, mind, and soul. Ancient yoga was centered on meditation and spiritual exploration, and physical poses (asanas) were elements that developed later. The roots of yoga philosophy can be found in Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutras,” which emphasize the importance of mind control and meditation. In the 19th century, yoga was introduced to the West, and especially from the mid-20th century, it became known […]

Postpartum fatigue and the importance of sleep Mechanism of physical and mental fatigue after childbirth In addition to the physical burden of childbirth, mothers after childbirth also suffer from mental fatigue due to caring for the baby and fluctuations in hormone balance. Physical fatigue after childbirth includes damage to muscles and joints due to childbirth, bleeding, and sudden changes in hormones. In particular, increases in oxytocin and prolactin can cause mental instability while also being involved in breastfeeding. In addition, lack of sleep and irregular lifestyle rhythms can make recovery more delayed. In terms of mental fatigue, anxiety and a sense of responsibility about raising a child for the first […]

The relationship between quality sleep and relaxation What is sleep quality? “Sleep quality” refers not simply to the length of time you sleep, but to whether you can get deep rest and recovery. Specifically, important factors include how quickly you fall asleep, whether you can sleep continuously without waking up in the middle, and how refreshed you feel when you wake up. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adults are recommended to sleep 7 to 9 hours a night, but that is not enough. If the quality of your sleep is low, you will often feel tired even if you sleep for a long time, and your concentration and […]

The basic connection between music and psychological health The basic impact of music on emotions Music is a powerful tool that has a direct impact on our emotions. This is because music activates certain neurotransmitters in the brain and is deeply involved in the mechanism that controls emotions. For example, fast-paced and energetic music promotes the release of dopamine, causing feelings of happiness and elation, while slow-paced music promotes the secretion of serotonin, bringing about feelings of relaxation and security. In addition, certain genres of music are often associated with certain emotions, and research has shown that classical and ambient music are effective in relieving tension. These effects play an […]