The benefits of meditation
By: Rachid Elkhalil
Tags: Health, Spirituality, Benefits Of Meditation, Meditation, Wellbeing

Mediation requires the use of concentration and relaxation techniques that allow you to silence your thoughts in order to focus on yourself. Available in different varieties, it guarantees many benefits both morally and physically. So let’s Find out what are the benefits of meditation!

For novices, meditating involves getting into a lotus position on a cushion and closing your eyes. In other words, people only see the outward appearance of the practice. However, there is more to meditation than this. It is an art of living, a simple way to find inner peace and to keep it in all circumstances with many benefits.

The different types of meditation

There are different types of meditation and each variant has its specificities. We must first mention mindful meditation. It allows practitioners to become aware of their body and their environment so that they can fully experience the present moment.

There is also transcendental meditation. It is a relaxation technique that is based on the repetition of phrases or words that are part of the mantras. They serve as a support for concentration. Zen meditation is on the list and it works to change your view of the world in a more positive way.

The benefits of meditation

The practice of meditation is more and more common in the West. Here is a non-exhaustive list of the advantages it provides.

Improve memory

According to a study published in the journal Scientific Reports , the practice of meditation can optimize the efficiency of the brain . In fact, the researchers gathered 34 individuals divided into two groups. The first practiced mindfulness meditation while the other did muscle relaxation exercises.

Researchers found an improvement in cognitive performance in participants who practiced meditation. Indeed, their concentration at work and their memory have improved a lot. Another study conducted by Sonia Goulet and Carol Hudon among people aged 60 who are victims of mild cognitive impairment confirms this result.

Indeed, the fact of meditating for eight weeks allowed patients to preserve their memory capacity . It must be said that meditation is a way to shape different areas of the brain, especially the left hippocampus. It is at the origin of our ability to retain new information.

Optimizing concentration

According to a study by Dr. Katherine MacLean , meditating is a way to optimize your concentration . Indeed, the doctor asked two groups of students to analyze rather difficult lines of texts.

The first group attended meditation classes. Its members did well in the test. Indeed, thanks to meditation, they were able to concentrate for a long time, which allowed them to carry out the task, however difficult it might be.

A study by other American researchers from Washington gave the same result. This time, the researchers carried out the tests on workers. They found that the productivity of employees improved as they gained concentration through meditation .

We must also mention the experiment carried out by Harvard researchers on 16 individuals. After practicing meditation for 8 weeks, study participants had an MRI scan. The exam showed an increase in gray matter in areas of the brain related to memory and learning.

Reduce stress and bad feelings

Stress, dubbed the scourge of modern times, affects thousands of people around the world. It causes a whole host of health problems to name but hypertension, obesity and depression. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of meditation for managing and reducing stress.

We should mention, among others, the one conducted by Elisabeth Hoge in 2014 with people suffering from anxiety. After eight weeks of meditating, the symptoms improved. There is also the study carried out by Professor Willem Kuyken among individuals affected by recurrent depression. She found that mindfulness meditation reduced relapses and lessened symptoms.

Note that a frightening or stressful situation immediately provokes a strong reaction in the prefrontal cortex. This connection is the source of stress and anxiety, and meditation helps reduce it. In addition, meditating relaxes the body and releases all tensions.

Prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease

The Alzheimer’s disease is a disorder that scares some more. It must be said that it could practically destroy the lives of its victims. Several factors can promote the onset of this disease, to name but the metabolic syndrome and stress. The research team of Sonia Goulet and Carole Hudon, professors at Laval University’s School of Psychology, discovered that meditation could be a solution to the problem. Indeed, it could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s .

Optimizing longevity

This is another benefit of meditation . Meditation can reduce the amount of c-reactive protein, according to a study done by researchers in California on elderly people. If it is too high, it could promote the development of a heart disorder. In addition, meditation helps in the reduction of inflammation in the body.

Another study was done in Boston on individuals with high blood pressure. They practiced meditation for three months and it was enough to reduce their blood pressure. We must not forget that cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and hypertension are the cause of many deaths. Thanks to meditation therefore, it is possible to prevent and avoid them, which could put many people out of harm’s way. But what is still important is the result of the study carried out by Elizabet BlackBurn in 2010 which shows that meditation can slow down aging .

Overcome bad habits

This is another asset of the practice of meditation . Indeed, according to a 2015 study, it promotes the development of the dorso-lateral frontal cortex. This area of ​​the brain is responsible for willpower.

Sarah Bower also conducted a study of people addicted to alcohol in 2014. Patients were divided into two groups. The first practiced mindfulness meditation while the second went through a classic weaning program. After 12 months, 20% of the members of the second group relapsed into alcoholism. In contrast, the relapse rate was only 8% for the first group.

All of this proves that meditation really helps overcome addictions . Indeed, it optimizes the desire to have a healthier life. It is also effective in the fight against obesity and other behavioral disorders .

Boost creativity

According to Dr. John Fagan , a biologist at Maharishi University of Management, two meditation sessions a day are enough to boost creativity . It must be said that stress and lack of self-confidence are real creative blockages. To eliminate doubt and think positive thoughts, there is nothing better than meditation.

Researchers from Leiden University have also claimed that meditating allows for divergent thinking . You will need it if you want to find new ideas when carrying out a specific task or solving a particular problem.

In addition, it should be noted that meditation helps to better oxygenate the brain. This provides a feeling of clarity and promotes the development of intuition.

Live happier

If meditation has conquered so many people, it is because it is a real source of well-being. In addition, it promotes positive emotions . A study done by Dr. Richard Davidson in 2004 yielded some pretty impressive results.

The doctor has placed electrodes on the heads of monks who have been doing meditation for years. Its goal was to measure the gamma brain wave levels of monks. They are linked to different notions such as self-control, intelligence, well-being and compassion. The doctor then found out that they are very high, which can only make them better in the areas mentioned above.

The practice of meditation therefore allows you to acquire many qualities that will make life pleasant . For example, it is possible to have more compassion for people, positive thoughts, kind feelings and a great ability to deal with anger. All this is necessary to lead a peaceful life.

To fight the pain

Meditation is also a great ally in the fight against pain and this is proven by many scientific studies. For example, researchers at the University of California carried out a study on 12 individuals practicing meditation and 12 others who served as witnesses.

In people who meditated, brain responses to pain were less than 50% compared to controls. They then practiced meditation for 5 months. At the end of this period, their brain response to pain also experienced a significant decline. The practice of meditation is therefore an adequate solution for people suffering from chronic pain.

Boost immunity

Meditation is a way to boost the immune system . Indeed, the study conducted by Richard J. Davidson published in the journal “Psychoneuroendocrionoligy” found that meditation has beneficial effects on genes. To be more precise, meditating makes pro-inflammatory genes less expressed.

As a result, the body is able to fight effectively against stress and negative emotions . Note that they are the cause of many health problems ranging from a simple cold to the most serious disorders. In addition, the practice of meditation alleviates inflammatory symptoms.

To sleep well

Many people suffer from insomnia. Stress, fatigue and everyday problems are at the root of the problem. Most victims hope to regain a restful and restful sleep by taking sleeping pills. However, many studies have shown that these drugs often remain ineffective.

Meditation, on the other hand, may be an adequate solution. Why ? Quite simply because it eliminates the causes of insomnia, to name only stress, tension and fatigue. In addition, meditation promotes relaxation, a condition required to facilitate falling asleep.

Fight depression and increase attention levels

All of this is possible thanks to the fact that meditation helps to fight stress and optimize brain function . Its practice is particularly beneficial for people with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders. Indeed, meditation could optimize their level of attention.

An American study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry also found that the combination of sport and meditation can reduce symptoms of depression. This conclusion is confirmed by the work of American researchers at Carnegie Mellon University.

They observed 35 stressed unemployed workers who practiced meditation. This allowed a strong connection of a neural network linked to rest, which practically reduced their stress level. Note that this network has a great influence on behavior.

How to properly practice meditation?

Obviously, to benefit from the benefits of meditation , it must be practiced in the rules of the art. First of all, it is essential to choose the approach to adopt and the moment to embark on it according to the objectives to be achieved. If the idea is to improve the quality of sleep, it would be better to meditate at night.

On the other hand, if the goal is to be able to face the day in all serenity, it will be preferable to practice meditation in the morning. Besides all this, you have to meditate in a pleasant environment conducive to concentration. The ideal is to lock yourself in a room with a Zen decor. Want to live in a good mood and in good health? You have to test meditation. In addition, it is accessible to everyone. Yep, even children can meditate. Know that a regular meditation practice will protect you from stress and all its harmful effects on health. It will also allow you to be more successful in professional life.

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