Five Incredible Benefits of Meditation

Meditation dates back thousands of years. The original purpose of meditation was to deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. In modern times, meditation is often used to relax and reduce stress. A type of complementary medicine that combines mind and body, meditation, promotes deep relaxation and calm.

By meditating, you focus your attention and eliminate thoughts that are cluttering your mind and causing stress. You may benefit physically and psychologically from this practice.

The benefits of meditation don't end when you stop doing it, you can carry the benefits throughout the day. Meditation may even assist you in managing symptoms of certain medical conditions. Meditating for even a few minutes an everyday day can restore your inner calm and peace. 

In ordinary times, meditation offers many benefits. With the current coronavirus pandemic, finding moments of peace is more vital than ever. Practicing meditation and mindfulness can help us find a little bit of calm when we suffer from uncertainty and a lack of understanding of what the future holds.

Here are some wonderful benefits of meditation:

1. Contributes To Emotional Well-being

You can reduce your stress levels through meditation by clearing your mind of the information overload that builds up every day. Meditation has countless emotional benefits. You gain a  whole new perspective on a stressful situation. It helps you manage your stress easily. 

Meditation Increases self-awareness. Meditation assists you with associating with your internal self. It helps you focus on the present. Meditating shatters all negative emotions. It boosts your imagination and creativity. You become more tolerant and patient.

2. Enhances Sleep 

You’ll sleep better. Most of us don’t get enough sleep, and it’s tough to get through the day when you’re exhausted. It’s also bad for your health. Meditation may help you drift off to sleep more easily and get better quality sleep. 

Meditation is especially useful if you suffer from sleep disorders like insomnia. Stress is reduced and the brain is retrained to respond differently to stressors. Meditation is not an asleep replacement, and we all need our eight hours.

But, when long-term meditation professionals went through hours thinking, they encountered a huge drop in rest time contrasted with the people who don't meditate.

3. Conquer Anger and Grudges

When dealing with difficult people or situations, it is natural to become angry. Acting impulsively, however, could make things worse. Meditation can help you learn to control and process your emotions at the moment because it teaches your brain to concentrate on the present.

Grudges can be dealt with. A person's mental and physical health suffers when they hold on to anger and relive past wrongs in their minds. To calm these feelings, a mindfulness-based meditation technique can be practiced, it's called STOP, which stands for stopping at the moment, taking a breath, observing your internal feelings, and proceeding with your day.

4. Meditation and Illness

You may also benefit from meditation if you have a medical condition, especially one that is exacerbated by stress. Many conditions may benefit from meditation, including anxiety, asthma, cancer, chronic pain, depression, heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, sleep issues, tension headaches.

If you suffer from any of these conditions or other health problems, you should also consult your doctor about the pros and cons of meditation. Meditation may even worsen symptoms of mental and physical health conditions in some cases. 

It's best to take advice first and then meditate. Also worth noting is that meditation isn't a substitute for traditional medical treatment. However, it may complement your other treatment. 

5. Managing Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Mindfulness meditation bring down cortisol levels, the stress hormone. The art of meditation increases mental and physical calm. once the mind gets relaxed and lets go of everything, the body follows.

Meditation also reduces anxiety. The practice is a portable anti-anxiety remedy. Even a few minutes of closing your eyes and doing breathing exercises can turn off the mechanisms in your brain that cause anxiety.

It can also reduce depression symptoms. Anxiety and stress are the starting points of depression. Meditation may increase grey matter in the hippocampus, the part of the brain that controls memory, which is associated with depression. Meditating instantly boosts your mood, which will help you manage your stress.

Meditating can help you achieve a sense of calm, peace, and balance that benefits both your mental and physical health. Meditation is something anyone can do. You don't need any special equipment, and the process is simple.

And the best part is that you can practice meditation wherever you are, whether you're out for a walk, traveling, sitting in a doctor's waiting room, or even at work. Finding time during the day to meditate, whether it's for five minutes or 20 minutes, can help you feel more peaceful and happier.

Not to mention that you'll feel better in the long run. No doubt there are countless benefits of meditation!

Written by - Arushi Oberoi

Edited by - Harshdeep Kaur