Understanding Meditation And It’s Health Benefits

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Understanding Meditation And It’s Health Benefits

Sunday, August 16th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Meditation has its origins in Eastern culture, but it has been practiced for centuries in cultures all over the world. Meditation refers to a large variety of practices and techniques and includes guided meditation, transcendental meditation and mindful meditation practice. Many different techniques can be used, such as the focus of the mind on certain objects or words, or on the breath. Sometimes a particular posture can be used but isn’t necessary. Let this be part of your beginners guide to meditation.

Meditation can be learned by anyone, doesn’t require getting special equipment, and can be done anywhere. Meditation and yoga for stress relief can make a big impact. Even after the first session, you may experience a reduction in stress. It’s been found by researchers that just 20 minutes a day is all one needs to do to reap the long-term benefits. Even meditating 10 minutes a few days a week could produce positive results.

Meditation, if practiced regularly, can improve psychological and physiological health. The brainwave pattern can be brought into the alpha state by meditation. This is the state of consciousness which encourages healing. Meditation promotes relaxation, mental clarity, psychological health, healing from different diseases, and mind/body health generally.

Scientists have found that meditation encourages the release of parts of the brain that affect the autonomic nervous system, controlling involuntary bodily functions like blood pressure and digestion. Because these functions can be inhibited by stress, the relaxation effect from meditation can definitely have a positive impact on conditions that are related to stress, like digestive problems or heart disease.

A study reported in Psychosomatic Medicine described 90 cancer patients who practiced mindful meditation for seven weeks. At the conclusion of this study, patients said they experienced less depression, confusion, anger or anxiety. They reported having more energy and fewer gastrointestinal or heart problems.

At the Maharishi School of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, a group was studied whose members had meditated for four months. Researchers found reduced levels of cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone, and these people who had meditated reported they could better handle stress in their lives, which includes tips on dealing with anxiety and depression.

While research findings are helpful, it’s not necessary to wait for science to validate all claims. Meditation has many benefits to offer and there are no negative health impacts from it.

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