At The Institute for Meditation and Inner Harmony (IMIH), however, we like to look at things in a different way. We believe that this peace and harmony so many seek isn’t something one can simply stumble upon.
Instead, we believe that inner harmony — and the happiness it brings —
is an outgrowth of how we live and how we face the challenges of life.
To that end, IMIH seeks to profile tools and techniques that researchers have shown make a positive difference in individuals’ lives. As we track this data and research, IMIH is committed to sharing these proven practices across key aspects of life that are known to support peace, harmony, and human flourishing.
Those areas include meditation, nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, relationship management, and community service and volunteering — each of which is an essential step in our journey towards a happier, healthier, more harmonious life.
There are many forms of meditation. What they all have in common is that the practitioner spends some time during the day in a state of relative quiet. The focus is removed from the external world and applied within. The various forms of meditation practiced today impact the brain, the mind, the parasympathetic response, and even the immune system. A regular meditation practice allows one to face life with greater serenity and composure.
There is a growing awareness of the critical importance of diet in our physical and emotional health. Whether it is from studying areas of the world known for human longevity or from research studies or from the field of athletic performance, the evidence is clear: diets based on whole foods derived from plants are unparalleled in promoting health and wellness.
It is no longer just the province of children and athletes – exercise is for everyone throughout the life cycle. Many challenges that we accept as part of aging are, in reality, the result of decades of reduced activity. Barring medical conditions, everyone should engage in exercises that promote bone, muscle, and cardiovascular health. Exercise has been called the cheapest, the most effective, and the most accessible medicine available.
Science is proving what we all intuitively know: restorative sleep is fundamental to our health. Sleep is critical for learning and memory, as well as the regulation of our emotions, judgment, decision-making, and even our immune system. Despite that, the pressures of modern life and our own entertainment habits often negatively impact our sleep. Yet, there are many things under our control that can lead us back to nights of healthy sleep.
The sense of belonging and purpose that being part of a community confers is fundamental to true human flourishing — and to greater inner harmony as well. Research is underlining the wisdom of the comment that no person is an island. The social and emotional tapestries to which we belong are a vital element of true health. When we combine that with contributing back to those communities through volunteerism, we multiply the benefits to ourselves and others.
