If you are skeptical about the benefits of meditation, you should probably take the time to understand its multifold advantages. Meditation is the practice of focusing the mind on one thought or image to help the brain rewire itself to attain clarity and calmness.
6 Benefits of Meditation
If you have tried to sit down with your eyes closed, for as little as five minutes, you’ll know how the mind constantly flutters from one thought to another. Practicing meditation can help you build focus and eventually you may gain the ability to meditate even in the middle of a crowded room.
One of the main benefits of meditation is its ability to take away tightness and tension from the muscles as the brain tells the body to relax gradually. The reduction of stress automatically leads to a lower risk of heart disease, anxiety, obesity and even depression.
Apart from relaxation, meditation can also help:
-
Improve cognition and productivity:
A relaxed body and mind can help you work better, leading to increased productivity both at work and at home. It can also enhance concentration, empathy, memory and overall cognition.
-
Enhance sleep:
Studies show that nearly 50 percent of adults in the U.S. have sleep disorders like insomnia. Since practicing meditation at least a few times a week can help reduce stress, it may also improve sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep, every night definitely has its benefits on overall health.
Regular practice of meditation might help improve the body’s immune response, which is essential for keeping infections at bay. Research shows that people who meditate regularly may see an improvement in any existing chronic ailments and they may also notice that they rarely fall sick.
-
Lower anxiety:
The fact that anxiety is a common problem is emphasized by studies reporting that in the U.S. alone, 23 percent of women in their 40s and 50s depend on antidepressants. Fortunately, there are studies that also show that meditation might be powerful enough to combat depression and anxiety just as well as medications. It might do this by increasing the production of dopamine and serotonin, which can bring relaxation and sedation to the body.
-
Reduce frequent migraines:
Many have found that regular meditation may help reduce the duration and intensity of migraines. For instance, a study showed that the duration of a migraine attack was almost three hours shorter and its frequency was 1.4 times lower in people who practice meditation.
-
Improve women’s health:
It has been noticed that women struggling with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) have seen a 58 percent reduction in their symptoms. Others also felt a reduction in hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause. Women experiencing infertility also found a reduction in stress and fatigue linked to their condition.
Meditation is similar to practicing sports or hobbies like painting or knitting. Though it may look unattainable, you can perfect the art by committing to it and practicing regularly.
References
MacKenzie, M. (2018, August 09). 6 Ways Meditation Benefits Every Part of Your Body. Retrieved from https://www.prevention.com/health/a22679621/health-benefits-of-meditation/
The Mind-Body Benefits of Meditation. (2018, February 27). Retrieved from https://zivameditation.com/zivablog/from-emily/the-mind-body-benefits-of-mindfulness-meditation
Davis, J. L. (n.d.). Meditation Balances the Body’s Systems. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/transcendental-meditation#1
Meditation. (2018, August 14). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation
