Is Meditating Healthy
Meditation may have been primarily practiced for spiritual purposes but today, its greater health benefits are beginning to be recognized all over the world. Aside from mental and physical relaxation, the calming effects of meditation have been reported to protect its practitioners from illnesses and other stress-related problems.
There is no limit to the good that meditation can do for you. According to studies made, meditation is said to be a simple and safe way to create balance between your physical, mental, and emotional states. Its values have already been practiced since time immemorial. Today more and more health practitioners are recommending meditation to treat stress-related illnesses such as insomnia, anxiety, and trauma.
Meditation generally involves being in a relaxed, sitting position and then clearing the mind. You may focus on one sound, on your breathing, or simply nothing. Some will use a mantra, or repeating a word or phrase such as ‘ooommm.” It is necessary to have about five to twenty minutes of distraction-free time. It will be immensely helpful to have privacy and silence however, the more experienced practitioners can perform medication anywhere. Most practitioners attach spiritual components to meditation but overall, can be practiced as just like any other secular fitness program or exercise.
One of the recognized health benefits of mediation is its ability to decrease the heart rate and metabolic rate, thus promoting regeneration and deep rest.
Blood pressure also tends to drop during meditation. Studies have shown that meditation can effectively lower the blood pressure of those who are hypertensive. So in general, meditation helps boost your heart health and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Stomach and bowel functions are also improved. The deep breathing that comes with meditation helps relax the abdominal muscles, leading to a more regular bowel activity. When combined with stretching and other joint and muscle isolation exercises, meditation can help improve the body’s flexibility and mobility. Studies have shown that meditation practitioners are significantly healthier than non-practitioners. Those who regularly practice meditation have fewer doctor’s consultations, fewer incidences of tumors, and dramatically lower cases of diseases and illnesses. Meditation is also an effective tool against pain management. Those who practice meditation have reported to have a 50% decrease in perceived pain. Meditation slows down the aging process. Those who regularly meditate generally register much younger than their calendar or chronological age.
Meditation improves one’s overall concentration. Even athletes use meditation techniques to improve on their focus and attention. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between meditation and performance levels in sports. Meditation helps strengthen the mind, allowing it to provide control and guidance to the physical body, thus improving execution of activities.
A 2009 study has also shown that meditation can be linked to improved performance involving memory. The study suggests that meditation can potentially treat memory loss, in particular, Alzheimer’s disease.
Aside from memory and concentration, meditation also increases self-esteem, creativity, awareness, and spontaneity. Those who practice meditation have generally healthier interpersonal relationships, increased self-confidence, less anxiety, and increased problem-solving skills.




