We practice meditation not so that we can get "good at meditation" but so
that we can get better at handling LIFE with all of its demands, all its busyness, and all of its ups and downs. There are many scientifically-proven benefits of meditation, including:
1. EFFECTIVE STRESS RELIEF:
Meditation is the most powerful stress-relieving tool available to us by natural means and science shows us that it’s one of the best things you can do for your overall health and to regulate your nervous system. Learning how to shift into the relaxation response (and out of the stress response) means that you're training your mind and body how to create calm.
2. HELPS TO HEAL DEPRESSION & ANXIETY:
Meditation helps your body to naturally produce dopamine and serotonin (the feel good hormones) which help to counteract the damaging effects of cortisol (the stress hormone). Interestingly, meditation also shrinks the amygdala (the brains fear-center) and weakens the connection between the amygdala and other parts of the brain - which is excellent news for people who suffer with anxiety and depression!
3. HELPS TO IMPROVE SLEEP:
Regularly practicing relaxing your mind and body during the day helps you to more easily enter that state of relaxation at night. Additionally, research shows that meditation builds a stronger "pons" which in turn regulates the release of the neurochemical melatonin which is critical for falling asleep.
4. HELPS TO IMPROVE CONCENTRATION, PRODUCTIVITY AND OVERALL BRAIN HEALTH:
Meditation creates physical changes in your brain - it strengthens the pre-frontal cortex which helps to boost focus and concentration. Studies show that weakness within the prefrontal cortex negatively impacts our decision-making capability and brainpower and unfortunately at the same time, opens the floodgates to anxiety and depression. Meditation also enhances cognitive function and concentration and boosts attention span and helps in managing distractions.
5. PROMOTES MENTAL WELLBEING AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY:
Meditation enhances self-awareness and self-acceptance, and helps you to foster a more positive outlook and improve your overall mood. Meditation is well-known for helping you to develop emotional resilience and better stress management capability.
Would you like to try Meditation for yourself? Sign up to Meditation & Me - My Zendays signature meditation course for beginners.
