Health Benefits of Meditation

We all have to deal with the stress of everyday life. From stressful careers, child care, and for some, caring for parents, as women, we are experts at juggling our life demands. 

Although this juggling is sometimes necessary, over time stress can build up and start to affect your health, both physically and psychologically. 

When I was working in my high-stress professional career, I needed an easy, healthy way to decompress. I was completely exhausted and burned out. I started taking a meditation class at the gym and was amazed at how effective it was at reducing my stress. I started trying to meditate here and there. I noticed I gradually became better at slowing down my breathing and heart rate and relaxing my muscles, thus reducing my stress levels.     

Meditation is a wonderful practice that can be done anywhere to help you relax, reduce stress, and improve your mood.

Here are some of the physical and psychological health benefits of meditation:

• Stress reduction: Meditation can help you calm your mind and body by focusing on your breathing, a word, or an object. This can lower the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your system. Cortisol can cause inflammation, blood pressure spikes, and other harmful effects if it stays high for too long. By meditating regularly, you can reduce the impact of stress on your cardiovascular system and body. 
• Anxiety management: Meditation can also help you cope with anxiety by teaching you how to observe your thoughts without judging them or reacting to them. This can help you break the cycle of negative thinking and emotional distress that often triggers anxiety. Meditation can also increase your self-awareness and self-compassion, which are important for dealing with anxiety.
• Depression management: Meditation can be especially helpful for people who suffer from depression. It can boost your mood by increasing the levels of serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins in your brain. These are neurotransmitters that regulate happiness, motivation, and pain relief. Meditation can also enhance your cognitive skills, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving
• Blood pressure regulation: Meditation can lower your blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels and reducing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. This is the part of your nervous system that prepares your body for fight or flight responses when you face a threat or stressor. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, so lowering it through meditation can protect your heart health.
• Immune system health: Meditation can strengthen your immune system by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in your body. These are processes that damage your cells and tissues when they encounter harmful substances or infections. A healthy immune system helps you fight off diseases and recover faster from illnesses.

• Self-awareness: Meditation can increase your self-awareness by helping you become more mindful of yourself and your surroundings. Mindfulness is the state of being fully present in the moment without being distracted by thoughts or emotions. Self-awareness is essential for personal growth, emotional intelligence, and relationship satisfaction.

These are just some of the amazing benefits of meditation that science has confirmed. If you want to experience them for yourself, I recommend trying different types of meditation techniques until you find one that suits you best. You don’t need any special equipment or skills to start meditating; all you need is a few minutes a day to focus on something that makes you feel calm and peaceful.

Try meditating a bit every day and see the benefit it will have on your life.

Learn about how to create a Meditation space of your own here. 

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