Brianna Suggs

Dr. Jizi
UWRT 1102
11 April 2016
Title (Unknown thus far)
Meditation, a technique thought to induce a clearer mindset, is a practice that has
been around for centuries. Originating in India, meditation has spread itself across many
cultures as the newest adaptions have brought awareness to the benefits of the techniques
involved in meditation. Mindfulness, a state reached through the focusing techniques of
meditation, even has doctors questioning the powers of mental health in the improvement
of patients suffering from mental and even physical ailments. With such abilities, it came
to light that meditation, now touching the minds of doctors, could stretch beyond an
examination room and into athletic training. To take it even further, what are the
possibilities of breathing exercises, mindfulness, etc. being incorporated in the strength and
conditioning process of the armed forces?
For years, the US armed forces have had the reputation of having the toughest
training process. Tested on mental and physical levels, recruits are pushed to meet high set
standards. Training, however, has put such focus on the rapid improvement of physical
abilities that civilians transforming into soldiers experience a huge amount of stress on the
body. Post World War I, however, a step was taken in the right direction. A program was
implemented to assist veterans experiencing extreme fatigue, stress, physical ailments, and
even PTSD. The program included the vets doing pilates, a workout similar to yoga. The
slow, yet strength demanding workout focusses on control and calmness. Despite being

successful, the upkeep and improvement of these veterans did not warrant enough proof
that high demanding workouts arent the only path to fitness.
In training today, soldiers do in fact have pilates and yoga moves incorporated in
workouts, but rather than the focus being on muscle control, as they should be, the moves
are examined for speed and reps. What would happen if the mediation and controlled
movements were executed properly?
Taking a closer look at the branches of the military, a question arises- would one
branch benefit more than another based on demands from specific jobs in said branch? The
Marine Corps, a branch famous for its high physical demands, has a school dedicated to
one of the most mentally taxing field jobs- sniping. The Marine Corps Scout Snipers have
a special training program. It is so highly rated amongst the armed forces, men from other
branches are even sent out to this base. More importantly, over one-third of the men who
go into this program, fail it. Including both field tests of strength, and mind games to
examine clarity in the field, the trainees are pushed to their limits. What if, incorporated
into this program, techniques that slow the breathing, improve focus, and up mental
function were included? How? Meditation, through research, has shown to do just that.
Ancient beliefs of meditation stated that taking the time to focus on your mind, life,
breathing, and your body, would produce physiological changes brought on by cells being
introduced to prana, a type of spiritual energy. Though science cannot back spiritual belief,
it can support the fact that physiological changes are in fact happening in the mind. A study
completed by Dr. McLean of the University of California showed that those who

underwent a meditation program had improved focus, and were even able to sustain said
focus for longer than individuals who did not experience the program.

Notes for Conference:

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Believe I have a good introduction to the idea, slow yet still educational
Raises good questions

Worried it sounds too much like a research paper

Connection between the two might not make sense

If my inquiry can be easily grasped