Meditating offers several health benefits
Meditation is a practice involving relaxation, focused attention and serenity. Experts in the field believe that meditation is one of the single most beneficial things a person can do to improve his or her life.
Given the focus on men's health gets little attention in the press, we thought it might be helpful to blog about natural approaches to wellness that have proven benefits.
Believe it or not, meditation has become quite popular nowadays, along with other natural approaches to wellness, such as tantric massage.
You’ve probably heard about meditation in the past. But are the benefits really worth your time?
This article brings to light 10 of the most impressive benefits of incorporating meditation into your lifestyle.
Are you ready? Let’s jump right in!
- Meditation is simple. If you’re worried that meditation is too difficult, too complicated or simply just a waste of time, set those misunderstandings aside. Meditation is a very simple practice; if you can learn to sit still, relax, and focus your attention on your breathing then you have already mastered the basics. When you are ready to move onto intermediate levels of practice, you may wish to incorporate more complicated techniques and explore a deeper relationship with the world of meditation.
- Meditation is free and you can practice from the comfort of your own home. Many hobbies and activities require a little bit of money upfront. You have to buy your instrument and music books, or your yoga mat and class fees. Meditation, on the other hand, is absolutely free. Everything you need come from within. The ability to practice at home provides a great sense of freedom and flexibility; you are not tied down to class times, schedules or venues. You can practice whenever you like, wherever you like and for how long you like.
- Meditation can be used to successfully reduce anxiety and stress. By using relaxation techniques and inner focus, the stresses of everyday life begin to fade away. By clearing your mind, meditation can lead you to find creative answers to life’s dilemmas and struggles.
- Meditation teaches you to concentrate and learn to fully control the whims of your mind. If you are prone to checking out, losing interest, and being pulled around by various distractions, you might be pleased to know that meditation promotes a much greater sense of focused attention and concentration. You can use meditation to develop these skills and then apply them where necessary in your life.
- Meditating on a regular basis is associated with plenty of mind-body benefits. During meditation, your heart rate slows down, your blood pressure lowers, your cholesterol levels are reduced, and your muscles relax. By focusing your attention within, these physical changes occur in your body. It’s quite impressive actually. Even more impressive is the psychological benefits that occur at the same time. Your creativity is sparked, your anxiety melts away, you feel a greater sense of peace of mind and your sense of perception is heightened.
- Meditation encourages you to become your own best friend. Our modern lifestyle can be hectic and overwhelming at times. We simply roll with the punches and get on with life. But how many people have the time or even the inclination to find out who they truly are and realize their potential? Meditation promotes being with yourself in the absence of judgment, uncertainty, or self-loathing. With continued practice, you can begin to truly accept and appreciate who you are.
- Research has shown that meditation makes you happier because it activates certain centers in the brain associated with positivity and pleasant emotions. A similar benefit of meditation is that practitioners experience greater feelings of gratitude and appreciation as they begin to focus on what they have rather than what they don’t have. Meditation promotes a more mindful sex life. This in turn may empower you to try new things!
- We have already established that meditation reduces your stress levels and promotes a healthier psychological assessment of life. Surprisingly, meditation can markedly improve your physical health as well. Research has shown that people who regularly practice meditation spend less time in hospital than non-meditating counterparts.
- People who meditate experience a healthier aging process and live longer than people who don’t. Following from the last point, elderly people who practice meditation have fewer physical health concerns in their later years and their mental abilities remain sharp.
- Meditation keeps your heart healthy. Research has strongly established meditation as a contributing factor in reversing coronary artery disease, which is known to be a leading cause of heart attacks.