Pictured is Steven Raynor, an ordained meditation leader and leader of the Dharma Meditation and Wellness Group. Submitted photo

ASHVILLE — A relatively new group, the Dharma Meditation and Wellness Group, has started at the Ashville Library over the last few months, with a goal in mind of helping people deal with things such as their emotions and chronic illnesses through meditation.

Leader of the group, Steven Raynor, said the group meets at the library a few times a month to help people learn how to do and the benefits of meditation. Meditation, he said, can help people deal with pain from chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, cancer, depression, anxiety and more.

“A lot of medical conditions are helped tremendously by meditation,” Raynor said. “It can reduce anxiety; it can help you sleep. There are over 3,000 studies done that show it does things like reduce stress, control your cortisol levels, help your inflammation and blood pressure, regulation your emotions and improve your overall sense of well-being.”

Raynor added that meditation can also have a physical effect on the brain, increasing the density of the brain matter and reducing people’s fear and panic reactions. Other meditation benefits include increasing serotonin, decreasing pain, altering perceptions and the intensity of chronic pain, increasing the immune system, decreasing the heart rate, improving gut health and helping give people an overall positive outlook.

Mindfulness meditation is what Raynor said the Dharma Meditation and Wellness Group practices, which is something being used in both medicine and schools these days, and is a daily practice to clear the mind. This group started a few months ago, because Raynor said he saw similar groups in other areas and this area had nothing like it, but there was a need for it.

“People who are interested in trying meditation out and seeing how it can help them should come join us,” Raynor said. “When I first announced that this group was happening I had people tell me that they thought it would be helpful because they were feeling very anxious. Why not come try it out? There is a lot of research saying it is beneficial and I’ve never had anyone tell me it is a waste of time.”

Raynor is an ordained meditation teacher that has been practicing for 28 years. Meditation is something that Raynor said is a practice that is rooted in history and research, having been a practice for around 5,000 years.

“You will find a benefit if you walk in with an open mind,” Raynor said. “But, it also takes commitment. It’s not just something you do when our group meets, but a daily practice for a reasonable amount of time each day.”

Raynor is also available for individual instruction if anyone is interested, saying people can email him to set up a day and time. Overall, Raynor said meditation can be very helpful in many ways, which is something scientifically shown.

“Science is marching on and there are a tremendous amount of studies that are very exciting that show the physical benefits that we never knew before, including the changes meditation can make to the brain,” Raynor said. “Meditation is very helpful in almost rewiring your neuro pathways. For example, if you find yourself in the habit of getting angry at certain situations, meditation can help you be calm in those situations instead. If you have a lot of not helpful emotions, meditation can help with that.”

If interested in participating in the Dharma Meditation and Wellness Group, Raynor can be reached by phone or texting at (716)640-8746, or people can email JamestownDharma@gmail.com for a Google Meet link and the dates of the next meetings. The group also meets in person at the Ashville Library, 2200 North Maple Avenue, at 7 p.m. on meeting days.