Meditation originated from India Hindu traditions. Buddhism was one of the first religions to adopt the practice of meditation. As time went on different forms of meditation were created and adopted among other cultures and religions. As time has went on meditation has became a very popular practice in peoples daily lives. Meditation is known for its many benefits but specifically training the mind. There has been a lot of studies and scientific evidence behind the benefits of the practice of meditation.
1.Reduces Stress & Anxiety
Stress and anxiety are a main reason some people become interested in meditation. Meditation is known to reduce inflammation caused by stress. By meditating one is clearing the mind or focusing the mind on a specific intention thus lowering stress levels overall. Meditation requires one’s concentration and focus which brings them into the present not worrying about the future or the past relieving the feelings of stress and worry. This over time trains the mind to be in the present.
- Appreciate your time. Take a few moments to congratulate yourself that you are taking some time for meditation.
- Become aware of your breath. …
- Stay with your breath. …
- Just be. …
- Feel what your body is doing naturally. …
- Acknowledge your wandering mind. …
- Be where you are. …
- Acknowledge your time.
This is meditation practice is from www.Mindful.org
2. Improves Sleep
Meditation is known to put the body into a deep relaxation. Meditation possibly increases melatonin as well as serotonin. Meditation reduces heart rate and decreases blood pressure all promoting a better more restful sleep. Meditation activates the part of the brain responsible for sleep.Overtime with consistent practice meditation will improve sleep and restfulness. By learning to control your thoughts as well as reducing stress. These will play a big role in improving sleep.
3. Self Awareness & Discipline
Meditation is known to make one more aware of themselves. There have been studies done that show with meditation over time can increase one’s self esteem and confidence. Meditating can also bring awareness to things that do not serve a purpose in one’s life as well as leading one down the path that better serves them. Practicing mindfulness mediation brings one into touch with their inner awareness. By becoming more self aware it becomes easier to build self control as well as controlling negative thoughts and emotions.
4. Improves Mood
When meditating you learn to focus your mind, relax your body and remove unwanted thoughts. This reduces stress and tension built up promoting a happier mood. When we learn to stop feeding into the negative thinking patterns and become more self aware of whats going on within we become happier from the inside out. Meditating increases the levels of what is known as the feel good chemicals in our brains like serotonin and endorphins. Practicing meditation gives one a more positive outlook on life. Meditating over time rewires the brain to think more positive thoughts which then creates a more joyful person.
5. Mental Clarity & Focus
There have been many studies done on how meditation affects the brain. It has been found that by meditating it increases concentration, memory, focus, and attention span. This over time changes the brains patterns improving cognitive performance. Meditation can be a helpful way to overcome procrastination.
6. Improves Overall health
Meditation not only improves your emotional well being but also your overall physical health as well. Meditation has been used to manage many different medical conditions. Research has shown that people who meditate consistently over time have more disease fighting chemicals in their bodies than those who do not meditate. Meditation can reduce blood pressure, improves blood circulation, maintains a healthy heart rate. By reducing stress it allows your bodies immune system to improve. Meditation has been used to manage and decrease pain
7. Fights Addiction
Meditation has been shown to support those in recovery from addiction. By learning to manage stress and cope with triggers through meditation this improves the ability to fight bad habits and addiction avoiding relapses. A few different types of meditation used for addiction recovery are: mindfulness meditation, mantra meditation, breathing meditation, & guided meditation. Practicing mediation over time and consistently one can rewire their brain to change their thoughts assisting in fighting addiction.
8. Boosts Energy
Studies have shown that practicing meditation types like hatha yoga or mindfulness meditation improves the brains functions connected to goal directed behavior. For a lot of people stress and anxiety drains their energy making them tired. By decreasing stress and anxiety through meditation making one more productive and improving energy levels.Meditation over time improves overall health, Boosts the brains cognitive abilities making one more sharp and aware. These all play a role in improving energy. Meditation produces energy boosting endorphins.
Closing
After this all being said if you have not already found a way to incorporate meditation into your daily routine, It would be wise to do so for its many different health benefits. Starting out with just 5 minutes a day and slowly increasing your time by 5 minutes weekly is a good pace to start practicing meditation. By no means is this a quick fix to any of life’s many challenges but it can definitely be a way to improve life and handle things that come our way out of our control. These 8 benefits are only a few of the long list of benefits that meditation offers.