health & wellness
A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE : 9 BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
As the world moves towards a full-bodied approach to wellness , traditional techniques such as meditation are becoming an increasingly popular way to improve our health , both mentally and physically . Nowadays , many people — including the likes of Katy Perry , Paul McCartney , and Oprah Winfrey — swear by the benefits of meditation . But meditation only works for them because they pay a professional instructor to guide them in their meditations , right ?
Wrong ! Meditation is not just for A-list celebrities ; in fact , over 36 million Americans report meditating at least once a week . Since meditation is the practice of silencing your thoughts to achieve awareness or an alternate state of consciousness , it ’ s about developing mindful practices and connecting with yourself , which can be achieved in a guided manner or not .
So , if your favorite celebrities and millions of other people benefit from meditation every day , why aren ’ t you ? Maybe you ’ re not aware of the significant benefits that meditation could have on your health . In that case , read on to find out more about some of the most powerful benefits of meditation , broken down into two categories : mental and physical .
MENTAL BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Decrease stress – A large part of meditation is practicing relaxed breathing techniques and focusing your attention away from the jumbled thoughts causing you worry or anxiety in your life . Therefore , a common result of meditation is decreased stress even after just one session .
Restore inner peace – Meditation is a time for self-reflection and learning to stay centered in a world filled with sensory overload . By pushing aside the negative thoughts and only focusing on the positive during meditation , you ’ ll experience a sense of balance and tranquility you ’ ve only dreamed of .
Reduce negative thinking – Beyond just “ pushing aside ” negative thoughts , meditation helps you build skills for dealing with stress by acknowledging the negativity and then carrying on productively . It allows you to gain a new perspective on things going on in your life , and this new , clarified worldview will help you move through your day more positively , thereby reducing your negative thinking .
Increase self-awareness – Since meditation is a mindfulness practice , you ’ ll experience an increased selfawareness that can begin from the first second you sit down . By focusing on the present and what you can control and letting go of the rest , you learn to trust yourself and your path .
Improve mind-body connection – One of the main goals of meditation is quieting your mind , body , and spirit in order to bring yourself into homeostasis . Once your body is in this state of total harmony , you ’ re creating and fostering a direct connection between the mental and physical sides of your being , or in other words , improving your mind-body connection .
PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Lower resting heart rate – Because meditation involves a lot of deep , relaxed breathing and bringing your mind and body into a state of homeostasis , a positive result that some people acquire is a lower resting heart rate . A lower resting heart rate means your heart can pump more blood with each contraction , which helps oxygenate your blood better and keep you healthy .
Lower resting blood pressure – Recently , many well-designed studies have shown that meditation can modestly lower blood pressure . The key to successful meditation is relaxation , and this relaxation can help open blood vessels , promote increased circulation , and lower the person ’ s resting blood pressure .
Manage chronic ailments – A growing body of research supports the physical health benefits of meditation and claims that the practice can help manage many chronic ailments , including anxiety , cancer , depression , chronic pain , irritable bowel syndrome , tension headaches , and more .
Improve sleep quality – Relaxing your brain and releasing the distracting thoughts is critical in mediation , and studies have found that meditation can help reduce cortisol levels ( the hormone associated with stress ) and increase melatonin intake ( the hormone associated with restful sleep ).
So , now that you know all about the advantages of meditation are you ready to try it out for yourself ? To enjoy all the benefits that meditation holds , find a quiet place , away from any noise or distractions , and set an intention to mindfully sit with yourself for a certain amount of time . Next , focus on your breathing and notice what thoughts might be coming through for you . Anytime these thoughts start to bubble up , bring yourself back to your breathing and focus on being present in your body in the moment . And always remember to close with kindness . Thank yourself for taking the time to meditate because , as we ’ ve seen , the benefits can be truly lifechanging both mentally and physically .
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