Meditation has been utilised for generations as a powerful tool for working with the mind and relaxation, well-being, and improved health. Dedicated meditators from several spiritual traditions had already realised the immense benefits of their practice even before the emergence of modern science and medicine.
Today’s stressed lifestyles have motivated an ever-increasing number of people to practice meditation for health reasons and its original spiritual aim.
Meditation and physical and mental health are linked in a growing body of research. Other research focuses on figuring out how meditation works and why it has such a favourable impact on the brain. Our beach resort in Gokarna is an excellent place to indulge in meditation. It is located very close to the serene beach in Gokarna.
Meditation’s Top 6 Health Benefits
1. Stress, anxiety, and sadness are better managed.
Several studies have found that mindfulness meditation can help people who suffer from stress, anxiety, or depression. In 2014, a literature analysis analysed 47 mindfulness meditation experiments with 3,515 participants.
According to the findings, meditation is a valuable method for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. Not only do meditators feel less anxious, but their levels of cortisol, the “stress hormone,” also drop significantly.
2. Boost immune system
According to a study undertaken at Ohio State University, regular mindfulness-based muscle relaxation exercises reduced the chance of breast cancer recurrence.
A different study at Ohio State that looked at the impact of meditation on elderly patients found that practising mindfulness and relaxation exercises for a month boosted patients’ lymphocytes, which are natural killer cells that support the immune system. As a result, the participants were more resistant to infections and cancers.
3. Blood pressure is lower.
Mindfulness meditation has also been demonstrated to help lower blood pressure, which benefits people who meditate for health reasons. According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, patients who engaged in meditation-based activities had significantly lower blood pressure than those in the control group. Meditation, according to experts, lessens the body’s reactivity to cortisol and other stress chemicals in the same way that blood pressure drugs do. It’s one of the many health benefits of meditation.
4. Pleasant sleep
Meditation practice teaches the body to relax, which benefits you even after you’ve gone to bed. It also introduces the mind to focus on a single item, such as the breath, and let other ideas and emotions drift by like clouds on a sunny day.
There are also guided meditations that can help you sleep better. When it’s time to sleep, Harvard Medical School recommends focusing on a phrase like “breathe in calm, breathe out stress” rather than counting sheep.
5. Relieving symptoms of IBS
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common bowel illness marked by bloating, abdominal pain, cramps, and changes in bowel habits. Around 15% of the world’s population suffers from IBS, including an estimated 25 to 45 million Americans.
Its precise cause is unknown. Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms have been relieved by a daily relaxing meditation. Researchers at The State University of New York now strongly encourage daily meditation in IBS management after a series of successful studies.
6. Increasing happiness and overall health
“Mindfulness may be linked to self-regulation throughout the day, and this may be an important way that mindfulness leads to enhanced emotional and physical well-being,” according to a study done at the University of Utah.
It’s no surprise that mindfulness improves happiness, clarity, and peace of mind. According to Maria Camara, PhD, a psychotherapist and certified mindfulness teacher, Meditation allows us to connect with our inner selves. We show a loving capacity that has always been present inside us once we embrace who we are and learn to interact directly with our ideas.
