As stress levels rise worldwide, many are wondering what does meditation do for your health? Meditation is the ancient practice of applying focus and breathing techniques to induce relaxation, relieve worry, and rid the mind of anxious thoughts. Similar to the treadmill that collects dust in your den or the diet you found impossible to follow, you must make meditation a part of your routine to experience its benefits.
What Does Meditation Do for Your Health?
Meditation can become an effective tool, equipping you to enjoy your life and handle tension. Its benefits extend beyond your meditation room and can affect every aspect of your life from emotional health and well-being to physical health and management of chronic conditions. Some emotional benefits of meditation include:
- Reduced negative thoughts and feelings
- Increased awareness of self
- Ability to focus on the moment
- Gaining stress management skills
Meditation and Depression
While meditation can benefit anyone, those with anxiety and depression may find it especially helpful. Mediation helps teach individuals to develop emotional stability. The meditator gains insight into his feelings and becomes confident, as he learns to manage his emotions. Those who have mastered this tool are able to find more pleasure in life and their relationships.
Meditation and Health Conditions
Scientific research supports meditation as a therapy. Conditions that may worsen with stress improve with meditation. The following conditions are examples:
- Asthma and Allergies
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Substance abuse and binge eating
In addition, meditation may help decrease fatigue and reduce the occurrence of chronic headaches. Migraine sufferers may experience fewer debilitating headaches with regular meditation.
Meditation Breathing for Pain
Meditation utilizes relaxed breathing techniques. These exercises allow the meditator to strengthen and flex the diaphragm muscles. Taking in more oxygen while breathing also helps nourish the body, releasing endorphins and ultimately, reducing pain while feelings of pleasure increase. For this reason, meditation can be an effective manner of coping with painful conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia. Regular meditation can help reduce the symptoms and can be achieved by setting aside time to practice techniques like visualization, positive thinking and deep breathing in an undisturbed environment.
Meditation as a Complimentary Therapy
For some individuals, meditation is the only method needed to manage stress-related conditions, while others use meditation as a complementary therapy. Some medical facilities like hospitals and clinics encourage meditation and recognize it as a valid treatment. It is used in conjunction with medications and modern medicinal approaches.
Religion, Meditation and Health
The traditional goal of meditation was to gain deeper insight into the sacred, a means to connect with spiritual forces. Meditation has evolved, however. In the western world, it is centered on the physical, mainly health and healing. Even so, meditation has not lost its religious significance. It is still honored by many as a religious practice. Though it may have begun with Buddhist monks, hosts of religions have tailored the practice to suit their beliefs, making mediation useful for everyone, of every conviction. Some use a Bible, prayer book, poetry or other tools like music. Reflecting and focusing on love and gratitude are other ways to meditate. Whatever approach you use to perform meditation, the health benefits apply. You can learn to meditate in any place, and for any purpose. Try it and see if you can discover the answer to the question, what does meditation do for your health?
