Meditators took on average two breaths less and one litre less air per minute. The meditators' heart rate was several beats less per minute. During meditation, blood pressure stayed at 'low levels', but fell markedly in persons starting meditation with abnormally high levels. The meditators' skin resistance to an electrical current was measured. The finding was that though meditation is primarily a mental technique, it soon brings significantly improved muscle relaxation.
Meditation reduces activity in the nervous system.
The parasympathetic branch of the autonomic or involuntary nervous system predominates. This is the branch responsible for calming us. During anxiety and tension states there is a rise in the level of lactate in the blood. Lactate is a substance produced by metabolism in the skeletal muscles. The likely reason for the dramatic reduction in lactate production by meditators was indicated when further studies of meditators showed an increased blood flow during.