Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Start a Mediation Practice
Meditation is popping up everywhere as one of the top ways to be happier and increase overall well-being, from Forbes to day time talk shows. But is it for real or is it just a placebo effect that happens to be trending right now? Science says it’s legit, with a host of physical and mental health benefits. In fact, hundreds of research studies on the myriad of benefits associated with a regular meditation practice have hit the scene in the last decade.
I originally resisted starting a meditation practice because I didn’t think I would be able to keep my mind clear and I thought I had to do it for 30 min or more. What I found out through my training as a yoga teacher is that neither of those things are true!
Small consistent sessions will work just fine, you do not have to sit still for hours on end. As with any other wellness practice, it is more about being consistent than sitting for as long as possible. You do not have to keep your mind clear, when your mind wanders, acknowledge the thoughts that come up for you and then let them go. Focus more on how you feel after a session than on the thoughts and feelings that may have come up during your practice. Read on for the benefits you can experience from beginning a meditation practice!
Meditate in nature!
It makes you happier
Meditation and other Mindfulness based practices have been shown to improve mental health; by helping to manage and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. As well as regulate mood in general.
2. It makes you healthier
When you reduce the body’s stress response, it results in a decrease of inflammation which decreases the risk of conditions like chronic pain, heart disease, and fatigue. Some studies have even shown a potential for reduced high blood pressure, though more research is needed to determine if this is consistent across all styles of meditation.
Meditation also has applications as a pain management tool, by stimulating several areas of the brain that affect how we experience our environment. Research also indicates that meditation, and more specifically mindfulness meditation, can help decrease sleep dysfunction.
3. It improves your brain
Various studies have shown that a regular meditation practice can actually cause increases in the brain tissues and volume such as: increased grey matter which promotes healthy cognition by protecting the hippocampus, the part of the brain connected to memory; increased volume in areas related to emotion regulation, positive emotions, and self-control; and increased cortical thickness in areas related to paying attention. Hello ADHD management, and a host of other applications, including addiction management.
4. It makes you more productive
Those improvements to your brain we just talked about? They are going to make you more productive. In addition to improving memory and the ability to pay attention, research also shows that meditation improves your ability to multitask, and increases creative thinking.
5. It increases self-awareness
Meditation can aid you on the quest to become the most authentic version of yourself. It does this by training you to notice your thoughts as they come up, and stay rooted in the present moment. By getting better acquainted with your own mind, you can start to call yourself on your own b.s., rather than buying into the story your brain is trying to get you to believe.
I know you’ve probably heard me say this before, but consistency is key here to fully reap the benefits of a meditation practice. In fact, science is telling us that the longer you maintain a regular meditation practice, the more you will reap the benefits!
Namaste,
Dana Joyce
