Meditation has been practiced for a very long time it dates all the way back to 1500 BCE in India and is still practiced today. Before I jump in and tell you the 5 Benefits of Meditation let’s start what it is.

“Meditation is considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine. Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress.”

Now meditation is easier said and done and is a practice that I recommend doing daily in order to master it. Getting quiet with your and hushing your thoughts to give your mind a break is actually quite difficult. Think about it we are always on the go constantly thinking of the next task that we need to get done. There has to be a point where you stop and by the time that happens most of us are anxious, irritated, and exhausted from the day. Taking time to meditate will help with so many parts of your mental and physical health.

It’s easier to conquer that to-do list than to sit with yourself and just relax. The fact is life is stressful and meditation is a powerful tool that helps deal with stress. Thoughts will arise when you begin meditation, but they will quiet down if you sit long enough. You can meditate anytime you want, but I found that meditating first thing in the morning helps me get through the day with more ease and focus. So let’s get started with what are the benefits of meditation and how they can improve your life.

5 Benefits of Meditation

CONTROLS ANXIETY

These days everyone suffers from some sort of anxiety. However, there is a way to control it without medication.  When you quiet the mind those anxious thoughts and feelings go to the background. Giving your brain a chance to relax and come up with a different perspective. It’s not a cure, but it helps manage the symptoms.

REDUCES STRESS

This is normally the main reason start to meditation practice. The stress hormone cortisol can affect sleep, increase blood pressure, cause depression and anxiety, and affect your decision-making. What meditation does is stop the stress from happening in the first place. It makes you take a step back, take a breath, and give you a relaxed state of mind.

HELPS YOU STAY FOCUSED

Another benefit of meditation is that it helps you stay focused. That is why I like to practice in the morning because it keeps me focused throughout the day. When you focus on your breathing you stay present in the moment and on the task at hand. This is especially helpful for people who have a hard time completing a task before starting a new one. If you take a few moments between each task and breathe it makes it easier to focus on the next thing that has to get done.

IMPROVE RELATIONSHIPS

When you practice meditation, you become mindful of others. Meditations doesn’t just teach you how to quiet your mind it also teaches you gratitude and appreciation for others. This works both in your personal life but in your work life as well. Being able to stay calm and communicate mindfully will help create and maintain healthy relationships.

REGULATES MOOD

Maintaining a regular meditation practice benefits your overall health, but it also improves your mood. You become more in-tune with your feeling and how you react in situations. Meditation makes you more relaxed and helps when you respond better to the outside world. By practicing daily, you will develop a sense of yourself and your emotions.

HOW TO START YOUR MEDITATION PRACTICE

I would never tell you all the benefits of meditation and leave out how to get started. Here is how I started meditating. You can sit in silence, have ambient noise in the background, or use guided meditation. When you first start I suggest guided meditation because it’s like having an instruction manual on how to get in the meditative state.

• Do it in the morning before the crazy has time to highjack your day.
• Find a comfortable place to sit. This can be your couch, the floor, on a pillow or even on your bed. (DON’T LAY DOWN IN BED)
•  You can use a meditation app or even YouTube video to help guide you.
• Start breathing in your nose and out through your mouth. Take a few conscious deep breaths to help relax your body.
• Then breathe normally.
• Whatever thoughts arise let them and then gently let them fade into the background.
• Focus on your breath. I easy way to stay focused on your breath is to think “in” while you are breathing in and then think “out” as you are breathing out. After about 8 times your mind should clear so you can focus on your breathing.

You should check out the meditation guru Deepak Chopra he has many resources for learning to meditate and also an awesome podcast to give you even more insight on the benefits of meditation.

Final Thoughts

There are so many benefits when you practice meditation. The main benefit of meditation is that it is something you can do to improve your mental and emotional health.  You can practice as much and or as long as you want. I meditate at least 10-20 minutes a day and it has changed my life. Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way to meditate. It’s about controlling your breath and relaxing your mind.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on meditation.  

If you are looking for more on self-care check out Self Care