Are you more cohabitant these days? Why not take the time to create a meditation space in your home! The best way to develop a powerful meditation practice is to find time each day to be still. Fortunately, you can create a meditation space anywhere, whether you live in a studio apartment or a large house.
Why meditate?
why meditate
Meditation sounds great in theory, but for many it sparks doubt and doubt. Many people feel their minds are too active for a meditation practice. Believe it or not, the practice of meditation is great for those whose minds just can’t shut down.
Meditation is a great stress reliever and has many health benefits as well. Many of the things we do to stay healthy are expensive. Think about how much you spend on gym or gym memberships each year. Think about the cost of all the healthy foods you love to eat. What’s the best thing about meditation? It’s free and can be done anytime, anywhere.
history of meditation
history of meditation
Meditation has a long history dating back to ancient times. According to PositivePsychology, the oldest written records of meditation date back to 1500 BC. in India. These written records found in the Vedas teach the practice of meditation, a method of training the mind. Meditation is also one of the eight branches of yoga created by Patanjali. PositivePsychology also notes that early forms of meditation arose in Buddhist India and Taoist China.
Meditation began to move westward in the 17th century. At that time, ancient texts were translated into English and other European languages. In 1893, an Indian monk named Swami Vivekananda spoke at the House of Religion in Chicago. His language and insights have had a lasting impact on Western culture. He helped shed light on Eastern ideas and philosophies such as meditation and yoga.
Although meditation originated in the Eastern religious world, today it is practiced in many cultures around the world. Some people use it as a spiritual practice, while others use it to relax and relieve stress. Many professionals, such as therapists and doctors, recommend the practice of meditation. It can help treat many physical and mental ailments.
Health Benefits of Meditation
Health Benefits of Meditation
In today’s world, meditation isn’t just for yoga classes. Doctors often recommend meditation to their patients. Numerous scientific studies have shown that meditation can help patients manage various symptoms.
According to the Mayo Clinic, meditation can help with cancer, chronic pain, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, and more! The Mayo Clinic states: “Meditation is not a substitute for traditional medical care. But it can be a helpful addition to your other treatments.”
If you have a health problem and are interested in trying meditation, talk to your doctor or psychologist about how best to incorporate meditation into your treatment plan.
meditation and brain
meditation and brain
Harvard University researcher Gaelle Desbordes performed MRIs on subjects who were meditating and not meditating. She found that the subjects had less activity in the amygdala part of the brain during meditation. This is the area of the brain responsible for emotional responses such as fear and anxiety.
In her research, Desbordes found that not only did subjects experience physical changes in the brain during meditation, but those changes persisted even when they were not meditating. This means that meditation can have a positive effect on your emotional state far beyond the moment you sit with your eyes closed.
Another interesting study from Harvard goes on to describe how meditation changes the brain. Forbes describes Sara Lazar’s research. Sara and her team examined problems during and after 8 weeks of mindfulness-based stress reduction. They found the following structural changes in the brain:
- Increased hippocampal cortical thickness. This is the area of the brain that controls learning and memory.
- There was increased cortical thickness in brain regions that help control emotion regulation and self-referential processing.
- Amygdala brain cell volume decreased. This is the area of the brain that controls fear, anxiety and stress responses.
These brain changes were consistent with reports of the subjects’ mental health.
As these studies show, meditation is far from an esoteric practice. It is an exercise that changes the structure of the brain. It can reduce anxiety, depression and improve various health conditions.
meditation and relaxation
meditation and relaxation
According to Headspace, when we’re stressed, our bodies release hormones. Hormones trigger the “fight or flight” response. This response causes the body to increase its heart rate, tighten its muscles, reduce digestion and increase breathing. These processes prepare our bodies for danger.
These physiological responses were helpful thousands of years ago, when threats included things like the persecution and killing of wild animals. Today, we don’t usually encounter such dire situations.
The problem is our bodies still respond the same way. Exam stress? Scared of family reunions? Scared of flying? None of these situations pose an immediate threat to your life. Unfortunately, they trigger a “fight or flight” response in many people. In this day and age, when there is no real danger, many people feel like they are in a constant “fight or flight” situation.
Living in this “fight or flight” state can lead to problems like chronic stress and anxiety. fortunately there is something