Ready, Set, Yoga: A Quick Meditation to Change Your Brain and Curb Addictive Patterns

Every time you pick up your phone to check Facebook or go back to the pantry for “just one more” chocolate, your brain is messing with you. But self-control is much easier than you might think. Meditation is the trick.

Whatever it might be that has a hold over you, the chemical process in the brain is the same: The hypothalamus releases dopamine, creating a heightened experience of feeling good that stays in your memory, reminding you to repeat that behavior—even if it’s not good for you—over and over again for a pick-me-up.

If you feel a craving coming on, try this simple meditation. Start by applying pressure to the temples with the thumbs to create rhythmic current into the central brain where the pineal, pituitary, and hypothalamus glands are located. Combined with a mantra, the practice can help restabilize the glands and reset the brain to curb addictive patterns.

You can even make it a daily practice. Just watch and learn!