Meditation is a trending wellness practice that’s definitely increased in its number of participants over the years. Top athletes, to the most successful entrepreneurs, take part in this practice. Meditation is the practice of focusing one’s attention on a single point while regulating your breath and heartbeat. What is it about meditation that makes it so powerful? Why are so many people hopping aboard the train? We did some digging to find out.
The Types of Meditation
Before we dive too deep into the plethora of benefits it offers, we should outline what meditation is and the types of meditation you can practice. Guided meditation is when all of your senses are activated by a guide or teacher who asks you to picture yourself in a certain place/environment. Mantra meditation is when you repeat a certain mantra to yourself and focus your attention on that mantra. Mindfulness meditation is when you allow yourself to consider the present moment and analyze what you go through during the process (i.e., the slowing of your breath). Believe it or not, even Yoga is a form of meditation as well as exercise. It allows you to connect your body to your breath.
Your Brain on Meditation
When practicing meditation, research shows that there are effects on the brain. When meditating, the brain decreases Beta waves, making it so we process information less actively. Your frontal lobe goes completely offline, the activity in the parietal lobe slows down, and the information coming through the thalamus reduces. There are plenty of parts in the brain that gets affected, but those are just a few.
The Positive Effects
Now let us get into why people meditate. We understand what it does on a molecular level, but what does it really do for us. It’s proven to boost your mood and brain function, lower your blood pressure, and reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. It’s also shown to make you more productive, gain more self-awareness, and make you more tolerant.
What do You Need to Start
You can start meditating anywhere, but here are a few things that might help the process be more enjoyable. Find a place to sit, such as a chair, couch, pillow, or bench. It would help if you had a timer to time your practice, which you can easily do on your phone’s clock or get a specialized meditation timer. A good position to sit in is also important. Finding a comfortable position is important so that you don’t get distracted by discomfort during your session. There are many ways to sit for your meditation, so choose what works best for you.
The oldest documented evidence of meditation ranges from 5000 – 3500 BCE. There’s something magical about the experience and can definitely help maintain positive mental health and general overall wellness. With anything, meditation takes a lot of practice, and it won’t be able to nail on your first try. Most people build up from one minute of meditation upwards. Have you tried meditating? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments.
