Since time immemorial, meditation has been used to attain enlightenment. Wise ones have touted it as a means to get rid of misery. Experiences and modern research show that meditation is helpful for life goals as regular and diverse as overcoming a traumatic heartbreak to increasing daily productivity.
Modern day meditators call it the food for the soul and suggest that the practice can unlock doors to a better life. Do you think a better life is a far-fetched promise? Here are nine benefits of meditation that will inspire you to pick a meditation chair right away and start meditating.
Research has shown benefits of meditation towards mental health. It helps relieve stress, reduce anxiety, increase kindness, improve self-awareness and self-esteem.
Learn to let go and be firm
A life situation affects us deeply when we are not able to let go. The emotional baggage of an unfavorable situation and person torments us. Sometimes, to such a great extent that our ability to live happily crumbles. Meditating regularly helps us to let go and also helps us stay firm and passionate about what we are doing.
Reduces ageing
Studies show that meditation keeps you young and improves longevity. One of the main reasons for this is its diminishing effects on stress, a factor which has a negative impact on the body.
More energy, more efficiency
Meditation clears one’s mind and increases one’s energy levels. Meditation can stimulate the vagus nerve, which promotes positive emotions and relaxation. A recent study shows that meditation reduces exhaustion among entrepreneurs as it reduces workplace stressors, bringing you more calm and energy. Efficiency naturally increases as you feel more energized and have more clarity of mind.
Overcome anxiety and depression
Meditation has been shown to be as effective in relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression as antidepressants. It increases the prana level (life force) in the body. According to Ayurveda, as prana level increases, anxiety decreases automatically.
The Art of Living’s Sahaj Samadhi Dhyan, a meditation technique has been shown to alleviate symptoms of late-life depression.
Improves focus, attention and memory
Meditation improves concentration and helps one to be in the present moment. If you observe, the mind vacillates between the past and the future. We are either angry about the past or anxious about the future. Meditation helps bring the mind to the present. As that happens, focus and attention span improves. Meditation also improves gray matter in the brain, which improves memory.
Healing and managing pain
Studies show that meditation helps manage chronic pain effectively. Regular meditators with chronic pain are able to live with a pain that is manageable. Experiences also show that meditation can help heal from chronic conditions.
Benefit your health
With meditation, the physiology undergoes a change, and every cell in the body is filled with more prana (energy). This results in joy, peace, enthusiasm as the level of prana in the body increases.
On a physical level, meditation:
Lowers high blood pressure
Lowers the levels of blood lactate, reducing anxiety attacks
Decreases any tension-related pain, such as tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle, and joint problems
Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior
Improves the immune system
Improves sleep
More loving relationships
As you meditate and your awareness improves, you are less likely to blame others and indulge in negative emotions like anger. Your hold onto events reduces, and you become the person who lets go of that small squabble easily. Now, who does not like that person? You also feel more love in your relationships as techniques like Sudarshan Kriya also help release more oxytocin, the hormone that promotes feelings of love and social bonding.