Reasons Why You Should Meditate
Improved Management Of Depression, Anxiety and Stress
There are numerous studies which indicate that mindfulness meditation can greatly benefit people who have issues such as depression, anxiety and stress. There was a literature review of 47 mindfulness meditation trials in 2014 which included about 3,515 people. In the conclusion of the review, it was found that meditation was quite useful in reducing the symptoms of people who suffer from depression and anxiety. Stress levels were not only reduced but also cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone.
According to a well known meditation and spiritual expert, Chogyal Rinpoche, meditation is excellent for controlling strong emotions and calming the mind. So, if you find yourself battling with stress and depression, practicing meditation can help you to become more balanced and calm the storm of your mind.
Better Immunity
There was another study done at Ohio State University that clearly showed that by focusing on muscle relaxation and mindfulness, you can drastically reduce the recurrence rate of breast cancer. There was another study done there that also focused on how meditation impacted older patients. What they found was that it actually helped to improve the number of lymphocytes in the patients which boosts the immune system. Therefore, these subjects became significantly more resistant to tumors and viruses.
Reduced Blood Pressure
Next, another benefit of practicing meditation is that it can actually help to lower your blood pressure. There was a study done in the British Medical Journal where patients did meditation and the results showed that they experienced lower blood pressure when compared to the control group. There are experts who think that meditation actually reduces how the body responds to stress hormones such as cortisol. This means it actually works in a similar fashion to blood pressure medication. So, meditation can truly help to improve your health.
Improved Sleep
Next, by practicing meditation, it can help your body to relax which is quite beneficial to sleep. Meditation works by training your mind to focus on a particular object or thing. For example, you can focus on your breath and simply ignore your thoughts. There are actually also particular meditations that are meant for sleep. You can even focus on certain phrases such as “breathing out the tension and breathing in calmness.” This is quite effective and much better for sleep than counting imaginary sheep.
Reducing IBS Symptoms
IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a relatively common bowel problem where you’d experience cramps, pain in the stomach, bloating and changed bowel behaviors. Approximately 15% of the people in the world actually suffer from this disease. In the United States alone, about 25 to 45 million Americans suffer from IBS. The cause of this syndrome isn’t well understood, however, regular meditation has been found to relieve some of its symptoms. There have been studies done in the State University Of New York on IBS and these researchers have recommended meditation to help deal with IBS.
Improved Wellbeing And Happiness
According to another study done at the University Of Utah, they found that meditation and mindfulness practices work to improve self regulation on a daily basis. Therefore, it can greatly help to improve your mental, physical and emotional health. The Clarity Clinic in Chicago has therapists that can help you with mastering mindfulness.
One particular psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher, Maria Camara, indicates that meditation can help you to become more self aware and identify your authentic qualities. Essentially, when you become more familiar with yourself and have the ability to handle your thoughts, you’d be able to discover more of your loving capacity. Therefore, this practice can greatly help to improve clarity, happiness and peace of mind.
Getting started with meditation is easier than you think. Grab yourself a meditation pillow, and make sure you have a dedicated room/area in your house or apartment where you won’t be disturbed. Start today and change your life.
