Meditation is a popular mindfulness practice of the 21st century. It’s even been adopted by industry leaders, from Steve Jobs to Arianna Huffington. However, many dismiss meditation as an over-hyped trend precisely because of its popularity. In reality, the benefits of meditation are very real, with strong scientific backing.
A QUICK INTRO TO MEDITATION
Meditation is not about the mind. On the contrary, it’s about the heart and mind working together to bring clarity and empathy. It just takes a few small moments to achieve this daily.
MEDITATION’S IMPACT ON YOUR BODY
Meditation, a form of mind-body science, is considered to be the third primary treatment option in medicine. Nausea, diabetes, asthma, dizziness, and anxiety can be alleviated with meditation. A study backed by the National Institute of Health uncovered a 20% decrease in mortality in people who practice meditation. Another study found that meditation increases our antibody levels. That’s an insane benefit that we’d only expect from regular medication! As a result, some experts compare meditation to an entirely new class of medicinal drugs.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND MEDITATION
How exactly does this work? Well, meditation has the ability to alter your body genetically. The state of calm during meditation strengthens immunity. This, in turn, helps us tackle conditions ranging from high blood pressure to heart disease.
That’s not all; meditation affects our brain too! Meditation increases the thickness of the prefrontal cortex region of our brains. As a result, your cognitive performance is maintained instead of declining with age. So if you think about it, meditation literally changes how your brain works. People that meditate, therefore, experience the world completely differently.
These biological changes directly influence your thoughts, decision-making, and actions — essentially affecting your very being. Let’s get into the idea of our thoughts. The psychological benefits of meditation are endless. Research conducted by UCLA states that meditation reduces loneliness among the elderly, while the University of Michigan researchers have found that meditation helps veterans deal with PTSD. Besides this, post-surgical depression, postnatal depression, and any form of fight against negative emotion can be alleviated with meditation.
WANT THE BEST RESULTS? START WITH A LITTLE, EVERY DAY.
The facts are undeniable. Meditation can bring huge lifestyle improvements, even going so far as to change your outlook in life. All it takes is a few minutes of mindfulness a day!
