Parkinson’s: Kirtan Kriya Meditation

  Snarky Parky & me

A Journey Into Parkinson's with Nancy Mellon

Coordinated by Corrine Bayraktaroglu

Oh Where, OH Where Has My Brain Gone?

Last night I had the perfect way to begin this post.....today, I don't have a smidgen of an idea what that was. Oh ya, I remember, it was about a gift, I got through my email swamp. (And  Swamp is the perfect word. Do you sink into your email swamp and don't coming up for air until hours have gone by?)

The Extraordinary gift- It was a video of a minimally animated woman seated in the lotus position and chanting a mantra. Both of her simply drawn hands and fingers move rhythmically in a familiar (to people with Parkinson's-neurologists always ask us to do it!) repeated pattern. At the same time, she sings, repeatedly four syllables, “ Saa, Taa, Naa, Maa” and then she whispers the same four syllables over and over for 2 minutes and then she goes silent... but the music and her fingers keep doing the same pattern for another 4 minutes, then she goes back into doing the whispering chant and then back into the singing chant, finally she raises her arms for a stretch and she is done. It's a 12 minute guided video.

So why was this v.e.r.y simple video a gift? Because of it's promise. It said, (and research backs it, and if you cant trust RESEARCH, what can you trust?) ) that if you chant this mantra for just 12 minutes a day you will reep many benefits for your brain. Memory, sleep, mood etc. 

And “oh my gosh!” It's another form of meditation and I can do it. It is very peaceful and easy to do. (Steven pointed out to me that it is a children's video, but who cares!)

I have been chanting it each night. I find myself humming it sometimes during the day. I cant promise you that it helps me remember words or even gets me to sleep -so far- but it does make me smile. And it lifts my mood often. It also, for me, generates a more hopeful attitude.

Ah, you say, so now we have why Nancy hasn't been writing her blog lately. She no longer accepts the Snark and so has lost her hope for a better day. Weeeel, you are sort of right. I have had some stinky days and nights cuddled up with the Snark. But I have also had some golden moments and even some golden parts of the night. On thinking it through, I have told the creative spirit of the world that I wanted 10 more years of time. At least. It inched up, every time, I figured out how old the girls would be by then. I feel like the spirit/ soul of the world, still has a reason for me to be here. I don' t know what it is, besides loving people, but, I think I may have a mission to complete. 

And that dear friends, gives me the strength to carry on. (Please write and tell me what gives you the strength to carry on.) For up until this point, acceptance of my Parkinson's diagnosis meant to me, that I assumed I wouldn't be here much longer. I felt that it wasn't such a bad idea that I had a heart problem too. Boom, I hoped, you are gone. Being a drama queen in my heart. I was even planning my funeral. It was a doozy with an Irish wake and I asked my younger son to hand out Marx Brothers Glasses. I also planned the music with singing from Monty Python's Flying Circus of the lovely dirge called “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.” 

OK, so what brought this change in thought? I think it was the Kirtan Kriya Meditation. Indeed I do. So for those that are interested, read on, there is the video and the research and how to do the Kirtan Kriya Meditation attached.

Cheers,

Nancy and the Snark