{"id":408,"date":"2022-04-18T03:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-18T03:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.shantisom.com\/?p=408"},"modified":"2023-03-27T23:57:48","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T23:57:48","slug":"health-benefits-of-meditation-and-mindfulness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shantisom.dagobah.hybrit.dev\/en\/blog\/2022\/04\/18\/health-benefits-of-meditation-and-mindfulness\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Health Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you\u2019ve decided to explore what are the health benefits of meditation and mindfulness for the mind and body. That\u2019s a great start and you\u2019re not alone – meditation and mindfulness practices have become a common way for people to de-stress, manage sleep and anxiety. In the current world we live in we are constantly consumed by our thoughts and worries.\u00a0 Meditation is an excellent way to take time for yourself every day to decompress and get perspective. However as a beginner, meditation can seem quite daunting and unrealistic – let’s bust that myth together.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Meditation?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Put most simply, meditation is a way to train the mind. We exercise to train our bodies and we also need to train our mind to be balanced, positive and happy. Most of the time, our minds are wandering \u2014 we\u2019re thinking about the future, dwelling on the past, worrying, fantasizing, fretting or daydreaming. Meditation brings us back to the present moment, and gives us the tools we need to be less stressed, calmer and kinder to ourselves and others.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meditation isn’t about learning how to empty your mind or stop your thoughts. Instead, <\/span>meditation is the practice<\/span><\/a> of training your attention and focus from a place of non-judgement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health Benefits of Meditation and Mindfulness\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

There has been a whole movement of scientific studies looking at the<\/span> measurable benefits of meditation<\/span><\/a> on the brain and connection to healing our body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meditation is something everyone can do to improve their mental and emotional health, here are some key benefits:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Reduces stress<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Helps control anxiety<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Promotes emotional health<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Enhances self awareness<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Lengthens attention span<\/span><\/li>\n
  • May reduce age related memory loss<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Can generate kindness<\/span><\/li>\n
  • May help fight additions<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Improves sleep<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Helps control pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Can decrease blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n
  • It\u2019s accessible anywhere<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    One of the most interesting <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a> in the last few years, carried out at Yale University, found that mindfulness meditation decreases activity in the default mode network (DMN), the brain network responsible for mind-wandering. The DMN is \u201con\u201d or active when we\u2019re not thinking about anything in particular, when our minds are just wandering from thought to thought. Since mind-wandering is typically<\/span> associated with being less happy<\/span><\/a>, ruminating, and worrying about the past and future, it\u2019s the goal for many people to dial it down. Several studies have shown that meditation, through its quieting effect on the DMN, appears to do just this. And even when the mind does start to wander, because of the new connections that form, meditators are better at snapping back out of it. This is said to help with anxiety and depression.<\/span><\/p>\n