Even though meditation has been in existence for a long time, it is only quite recently that scientific studies and research are beginning to convince doubters that it has positive effects on the body. Meditation used to be regarded as a hippy thing that did not make any sense. Now, there is overwhelming evidence that it positively affects both one’s state of mind and body.
Sleep And Rest Better
Recently, some studies carried out at the University of Minnesota concluded that meditation helped to ease the habit of obsessing about sleep. It proved that based on the study results that meditation helped to reduce the production of stress hormones such as cortisol in the body. These hormones have been known to interfere with sleep. Meditation helped the subjects sleep and rest well.
Treating Chronic Pain
Clinical psychology studies at Duke University also showed that meditation had a remarkable effect in easing chronic neck and back pain in the body. Mediation helps one open his sense to breathing, relaxation and stillness of mind. By channeling attention towards other things, it was found that the pain did not bother the subjects as much as it used to.
Increase Mental Strength
Meditation has also been found to improve mental strength and concentration. Studies among students have showed an improved ability to multitask among students that meditated regularly. The brain does function more when the energy is increased and better channeled. This can be directly linked to improvement in mental focus, memory and mindfulness. A group of undergraduates at the University of California were divided into two groups, one class learned about meditation techniques while the other learned about nutrition. After a two week period, the scores of the meditation group showed significant improvements compared to the nutrition group.
Doing right through the mind
One of the major tenets of meditation wisdom is doing right by one’s body through the mind. This generally leads to an awareness of things in your lifestyle that are bad for you and a conscious decision and effort to make better choices. Being more aware of one’s self led a lot of people that meditate to choose more healthy lifestyle decisions such as fresher foods, reduced alcohol and substance intake, better sleeping patterns and also emotional wellness by worrying and stressing less.
Better work efficiency
Increased mental awareness and concentration has also been shown to lead directly to better work efficiency. Meditation helps to clear our mental headspace of cognitive interference. Less mundane thoughts and distractions lead to better focus on the tasks at hand. This leads to more effective work and better results.
In conclusion, no matter how much research and proof is available to support something, it still boils down to self-belief. Meditation is not a magic potion that cures all and everything. However, the benefits cannot be denied. There’s a lot to be gained from doing meditation and not a lot to lose. Meditation requires very little investment and the benefits are far reaching. There are also so many styles to pick from. No matter your personality, there’s a meditation style that fits you and the rewards are endless.
Misty Jhones