Meditation is one of those buzzwords—everyone loves to talk about it, but not everyone actually does it. But according to some interesting research by Western scientists, meditation does offer the extreme benefits touted by Eastern mystics and Zen masters thousands of years ago. Below is a list of some of the most astounding benefits of meditation, along with all the ways it can actually change your life.
start meditating
into meditation
If you like to practice yoga, you know – there’s nothing more relaxing than lying in Savasana after an hour of meditative practice. Whether you’re practicing Ashtanga Yoga like an epic yoga warrior or entering spiritual flow with Kundalini Yoga, once your body and breath are aligned, your mind will feel so peaceful. While your daily yoga practice is sure to bring some major benefits to your body, mind, and spirit, meditation may be the key to increasing your level of awareness.
If you’re just starting to meditate, don’t get distracted by how to do it. Just commit to sitting still for two minutes every morning. Sit in a comfortable place and adjust your mental state. Focus on inhaling and exhaling, and if you need a little extra help, consider a guided meditation. You can find many free videos on free streaming sites like YouTube. The types of meditation you can explore include mindfulness meditation, Zen Buddhist meditation, and transcendental meditation. Any form of meditation can be beneficial, just find the one that works best for you and see if the benefits below work for you.
meditation reduces stress
meditation for stress relief
One of the most well-known benefits of meditation is stress relief. As detailed in this Yoga Journal article on meditation, the practice is scientifically proven to change your brain. The effect sounds dramatic; in this article, author Kelly McGonigal describes a brain-scanning study conducted by Philippe Goldin, director of Stanford University’s Clinically Applied Affective Neuroscience Program.
Goldin has conducted several studies using mindfulness meditation on stressed students. The result was increased activity in the regions of the participants’ brains that process negative self-reports. In short, the more you meditate, the better you will be able to transform negative thoughts into something positive and lead a stress-free life. Isn’t real stress just a flood of negative thoughts and emotions?
Meditation Reduces Depression and Regulates Mood
Meditation Reduces Depression and Regulates Mood
Meditation not only relieves stress, but also regulates mood and relieves depression. In this Scientific American article, researchers found that “mindfulness meditation can reduce pain, anxiety, and depression…to a degree similar to antidepressant drug treatment.” These results are quite alarming, showing that meditation can indeed improve your Mental and emotional state – all without the painful side effects of drugs.
This is especially good news for new mothers or pregnant women, as the hormonal response and ensuing life changes after childbirth can be dramatic. As noted in the Medical News Today article, one in five expectant mothers suffers from severe depression, but yoga and meditation can help. When pregnant women participated in the study, they experienced “significant reductions in depressive symptoms” and “reported greater attachment to their babies in the womb.” One of the best things about meditation is that it’s relatively free; anyone can access meditation teaching online and practice it at home, without the need for expensive equipment.
Meditation Improves Your Overall Lifestyle
Meditation Improves Your Overall Lifestyle
Perhaps one of the secrets to meditation success is its habit-forming quality. Meditation is what is known as a key habit. Another example of a key habit is running; as described in this article, a key habit is any type of behavior that has compound effects. Meditation is an important habit that helps you improve your sense of well-being by allowing you to feel small victories each day. This means that when you start meditating, you are more likely to make better choices in your life overall. This could mean adding more yoga or exercise to your routine, drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, eating healthier, or all of the above! All of these factors lead to higher self-esteem and put you in touch with your higher self.
meditation improves concentration
meditation improves concentration
In a world of ads, cell phones, social media, television and the expectation of 24/7 availability, it’s no surprise that many people feel increasingly distracted. But through meditation, you can calm your mind and give yourself some peace and tranquility. In Yoga Sutra II.11, the wise sage Patanjali writes: “Meditation removes distractions from the mind.” This speaks to the increased focus that meditation brings—if you train your brain to focus, it It will become easier to ignore the insignificant things and the things in life.
This is also good news for people with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). People who feel unable to meditate because of an existing medical condition such as ADHD should see a medical professional for advice. According to Dr. Gosswald at doctorsontm.org, Transcendental Meditation is “very simple, relaxing and easy to perform. It’s really about calming the mind, and when the mind is quiet, the body naturally calms down. You