You might have heard about exercising, eating and sleeping better being the stepping stones to a healthy and happy life. But what you do not hear about very often is meditation, which is as important as the other three and should be done regularly for daytime and bedtime wellness. And what’s more remarkable about meditation is that it is simple, inexpensive and does not require any special equipment. You can meditate from wherever you are, whether out walking, riding the bus or waiting at the doctors’ clinic.
Practising meditation has been around for thousands of years, and its original purpose was to help one understand life’s mystical and sacred forces. However, nowadays, people use stress exercises and meditation to relax and reduce stress.
And though meditation is always paired with religion and can be an essential part of a religion; You do not need to be religious to benefit from it; meditation helps all. It is about developing calmness, practising awareness and decluttering the mind. And although contemplation is a crucial element in almost all world religions, you do not have to adhere to religion to practice meditation.
Some of the benefits of meditation include:
- Makes you happy
People who meditate are generally happier than the ones who do not. That is because meditation enhances the flow of constructive thoughts and positive emotions. So even a few minutes of meditation a day can make a big difference in your life. And this is supported by the extensive studies conducted on a group of Buddhist monks while meditating. In these studies, researchers found that the prefrontal cortex of monks’ brains was overactive.
- Helps manage stress
Meditation can wipe away your day’s stress, anxiety, tension and worries. And a few minutes of meditation a day can restore your calm and inner peace.
Studies have found that consistently practising meditation shrinks the part of the brain that regulates stress and anxiety. A meditator trains the mind to remain calm during meditation, even in a stressful situation. And while doing this, the meditator also experiences significantly less anxiety due to uncertainty about the future.
- Can help in falling asleep
Suppose you have insomnia, whether occasional or chronic, or you only recently have sleepless nights, meditation is the perfect solution. Moreover, it is a great relaxing exercise, which is why some people immediately fall asleep when they begin to meditate.
- Can help Sharpen memory
Meditation can help your memory stay sharp and can help you concentrate. While meditating, we train the mind to remain aware of the present moment without judgment. It also results in you being less likely to get distracted.
- Can help with illnesses
Meditation can also be helpful for medical conditions, especially those that could get worsened by stress. Meditation is a great relief and an excellent stress exercise. Although researchers are still debating on the health benefits of meditation, some researchers suggest that it can help manage symptoms of anxiety, cancer, asthma, depression, chronic pain, heart diseases, high blood pressure, sleep problems and headaches.
