Meditation: For mind, body and soul.
All you need is a quiet space and an open mind.
We’ve all heard the expression, “A healthy mind makes for a healthy life,” but what benefits can we really take away from a daily meditation session?
Millions of people worldwide are now actively taking part in meditation and mindfulness, a subject which was once thought of as “new-age mumbo jumbo,” and claim that the practise can help with focus, acceptance and relaxation. The great thing is, anybody and everybody can take part in meditation – you don’t need to have the patience of a Buddhist monk and you definitely don’t need to be an organic, granola loving hippie! We have put a list together to squash those outdated stereotypes and explain to you why meditation and mindfulness could benefit you.
Mind
Simple meditation has been proven to change the brainwave pattern to a cycle which promotes healing. Meditation has undergone a lot of studies in recent years and results have shown that practising daily can effectively alter the structure of your brain. New brainwave connections are created which can alter the way your brain processes mood and enhances attention. With prolonged experience of using meditation, grey matter in the brain can increase which is known to help with emotional processing and memory.
Practising daily meditation could improve your mood and help you gain an optimistic outlook on life. Many people who suffer with anxiety and depression find that taking a few moments out of their day can work wonders for their mental health and even report that their anxiety levels have lessoned as a result. Through using meditation, you should be able to feel a sense of clarity and peace of mind.
Body
Practising meditation can also help with physical problems your body may be experiencing. When you use mindful breathing, this will activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “good” nervous system) which in turn will slow your heart rate and maintain a normal blood pressure level. The parasympathetic nervous system allows your body and organs to work to their best ability. It can also help with improving your digestive system, regulating your immune system to stop your from catching many colds and increasing your life span. Meditation also can have a huge effect on the heart. Studies have shown that practising focussed breathing can aid in decreasing arterial thickness which in turn lowers the risk associated with heart disease and stroke.
If you have felt your energy levels dropping and you find that most days you don’t want to get out of bed, meditation and mindfulness could be the answer for you! First thing in the morning, take a few deep breaths before you get out of bed and mentally list everything you are grateful for. This method has been known to release a source of “inner energy” which will give you the boost to want to get out of bed and be happy to start a new, beautiful day!
Soul
Using mindfulness and meditation is a miracle for you soul! When you apply mindfulness and meditation to your life, you will learn to live in the moment and to not focus on problems and worries from the past or future. Mindfulness is the process of “living and accepting the now” and studies on clearing the mind making way for creativity. When you can learn to let go of the problems that may hold you back, you will be more willing to accept different possibilities. People who study meditation are often overwhelmed by the sense of happiness and calm that they experience once putting all these studies into practice.
So, what can you take away from this? Perhaps, you’ve had a tough week at work, your mind feels frazzled and you can feel yourself snapping for no reason – instead of plundering on through, maybe it’s time to take five, stick the kettle on, relax and focus on your breathing. You will probably find that your mind will start to wonder and it when it does just allow it to return to concentrating on the breaths you are taking. That’s it! That’s how simple meditation can be. You don’t need to sit crossed-legged on the floor, surrounded by copious amounts of incense while your partner gently bangs on a gong. You just need a quiet space and an open mind.