Understanding the Benefits of Meditation
Life today is complicated. It seems we are on a racing track, with “start” and “end” points. Life’s race is never easy as we strive to race with time, finances, attention, emotions, failures, accomplishments, and perfection. All of these combined could cause tension and stress, hampering us from understanding the true essence of life – to embrace and savor what good life brings.
Going through stressful life events could be difficult and traumatic. Stressors take over life’s goodness. One of the best ways to deal with these life events is to take a pause and – meditate.
What is Meditation?
People who are in the midst of stress have claimed that meditation helped them overcome stressful situations and how to handle future stressors head-on.
Thus, the question of what meditation really is comes into the picture out of curiosity, strong in the conviction to triumph over life’s challenges with a strong will, heart, and body.
Meditation is an approach that uses various techniques to relax the mind and improve general well-being. These techniques are aimed at unifying the mind and body.
What are the Main Types of Meditation?
There are many ways to do meditation. It would depend on which technique one would be comfortable with. Let us take a look at the two main types of meditation and how one differs from the other.
Concentrative
This type of meditation requires keeping attention on a single and specific thing – your breathing, a sound, a picture in your mind, or a mantra (a word or phrase that you keep repeating to yourself).
Mindfulness
This type of meditation requires focusing attention or awareness on the present moment that aims at making you aware, open, and accept things as they are. It is believed that mindfulness is helpful in dealing with different emotional and mental health issues.
What are the Other Types of Meditation?
Let us take a look at the other types of meditation which you may find suited to you:
Yoga
Yoga makes you focus on the moment as you perform controlled breathing exercises and a series of postures. Despite your movements, you should maintain your balance and focus.
Mantra
This meditation allows you to choose a calming word, phrase, or thought. You silently repeat your chosen word, phrase, or thought to yourself to avoid distractions.
Tai Chi
Tai chi (TIE-CHEE) is a gentle martial arts training that originated in China. In this meditation type, you make slow and graceful movements according to your pace while doing deep breathing.
Guided
As the term dictates, in this meditation type, you will be guided or instructed by someone at every step of the meditation process. Instructions would be given by your guide to relax your body, breathe, or create visuals or images, or sounds in your mind that would make you relax. You would be made to use as much of your senses as possible to achieve desired results.
Transcendental
You silently repeat your personal mantra to yourself in a specific way. The aim of this meditation type is to achieve inner peace effortlessly.
Qi Gong
Qi gong (CHEE-GONG) is part of traditional Chinese medicine. It aims at restoring and maintaining balance through the combination of relaxation, meditation, movements, and breathing.
How Long Has Meditation Existed?
No one is exempted from stress – children and adults alike. No wonder, meditation became a popular go to remedy. Stress is very much part of life – without it is like having never lived at all. Having established that reality, we cannot do away with stress but look at it from a different angle by managing and eventually reducing it.
Meditation may be new to some but its history goes way back thousands of years ago. Primarily known to have been used in religious traditions in Asia, specifically Buddhism, the practice of meditation has spread globally. It became known in the US in 1960.
Although meditation is linked to various religions aside from Buddhism – Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, and Islam - it can be used by anyone even without being religious, anytime and anywhere.
Meditation has evolved in purpose integrating its use and practice into various coping treatments to counter mental, emotional, and social issues brought about by stress and anxiety.
What are the Benefits of Meditation?
Meditation would not have gained increased popularity over the years if it were not for its proven benefits. While there could be more than a hundred benefits of meditation, we classified them according to specific holistic aspects to better understand the importance and value of meditation.
Mental/Emotional
Gives a sense of calmness, balance and peace
Reduces negative emotions
Reduces stress achieved through inner peace and calmness
Decreases anxiety (work-related or personal)
Promotes a positive outlook in life
Improves self-image promoting a more confident “you”
Reduces depression
Improves memory and may reduce memory loss
Helps fight substance and/or alcohol addiction
Helps deal with trauma
Physical
Improves quality of sleep
Lowers heart rate
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces episodes of tension headaches
Lessens asthma attacks
Relieves symptoms of irritable bowel movement
Reduces fatigue
Helps to control pain
Helps lose weight and manage eating behaviors
Boosts the immune system
Improves digestion
Social
Improves tolerance and patience
Improves attention span
Brings out one’s kindness
Strengthens relationships
Manages anger
Opens one to forgiveness
Helps make one a better communicator
Spiritual
Increases self-awareness
Builds inner strength and will
Teaches how to simplify your life
Opens one to self-realization
Allows one to find sense of purpose
How Should I Go About Meditating?
With the many benefits of meditation, you surely would love to try it out for yourself – NOW. While there may be lots of meditation types mentioned in this content, you may go ahead and do meditation despite being a beginner. Check out what you may need to meditate:
A quiet spot. Your meditation spot need not be big. As long as it is free from unwanted and unnecessary noise, it would do. If you wish to play music in the background, make sure it is calming and repetitive.
Time limit. As a beginner, you may start out with a meditation length of 5 to 10 minutes.
Get comfortable. It is important that you connect with your body during meditation. You may sit in a cross-leg position or whatever sitting position you prefer as long as you will be comfortable for the duration of your meditation session.
Focus on your breathing. Pay attention to each breath you make. Breathing is best done by closing your eyes and taking a deep breath slowly, expanding your belly, then slowly exhaling
Keep your focus. If your mind tends to wander, refocus on your breathing and let go of any distractions that enter your mind.
Meditation is surely one less expensive approach to achieving a life lived with less stress, anxiety, and worries. You would be amazed at the wonders it could deliver – a better you.
