The Benefits of Meditation

There are many physical and mental benefits to the mind-body practice of meditation. Meditation can be done alone, in a group or with a therapist.

Meditation can be a useful skill for managing your stress levels which can lead to an improved quality of life. High blood pressure affects 1 billion people worldwide and about half the people in the US. The American Heart Association has listed meditation as a clinically proven complementary treatment for decreasing blood pressure. Managing your stress levels may help prevent type 2 diabetes, regulate your blood sugar and help control pain.

Reducing stress helps control your anxiety by inducing a state of deep relaxation. Treating anxiety and depression can increase willpower to fight against addictions such as alcohol cravings and emotional eating. In a January 2014 research review published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the researchers found that meditation was about as effective as an antidepressant for treating depression. It does this by helping you recognize harmful or self defeating thoughts and giving you a more positive outlook on life. Relief from depression can improve your sleep, your attention span, improve your mental clarity and reduce age related memory problems.

It’s important to make meditation a daily habit. All you need is a quiet space and a few minutes each day. There are various types of meditation. There is focused meditation where you concentrate on one thing, such as your breathing, a mantra or visualization. I try to do 3-5 minutes of silent meditation focusing on my breathe every morning as part of the Miracle Morning routine. There are body centric meditations that combine movement with meditation such as Qigong, Tai Chi and Yoga. You can focus on the present sensations you’re experiencing by doing a body scan or broadening your awareness of your surroundings. You can even just meditate by walking or prayer. I would highly recommend trying to fit meditation into your daily routines!

References

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/10-health-benefits-of-meditation-and-how-to-focus-on-mindfulness-and-compassion/2022/12

https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/benefits-of-meditation/

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/what-meditation-can-do-for-your-mind-mood-and-health-

https://www.calm.com/blog/meditation-health-benefits