
Ever wondered why so many people rave about meditation and mindfulness. Maybe you've never tried it or perhaps you've given it a go and haven't particularly taken to it. Whatever your experience and your feelings towards meditation, this can help shed some light on the benefits of meditation.
The stereotypical view of meditation may be someone sitting cross legged, eyes closed, humming under their breath. Utterly serene and at peace with life. Where they can drop right into a perfect meditative state and link all life achievements back to this mindful practice. Not a super accessible or realistic view of meditation as a daily practice. As with anything, there will be ups and downs and plenty of trial and error. For tips on how to start or develop your meditation practice click here. For now, let's focus on why meditation is so worth it
There are several benefits to a consistent meditation practice. From a way to deal with general stress to being prescribed by medical professionals for depression or anxiety. Meditation offers a whole host of benefits.
A consistent meditation practice helps to calm the mind and body through centring. While there are various techniques on how to do this, the general idea is to become present by focussing the mind on one thing. Perhaps sensations within the body, sounds around you etc... Just as pranayama induces the parasympathetic nervous system to actively calm the body, by meditating we can do the same. Meditation greatly improves concentration, a welcome tonic in today's short attention span norm - thanks to apps like TikTok. By meditating for a few minutes a day you'll find that over time, lengthening your meditation will become easier and more natural. This improvement in concentration won't just be limited to your practice, it will spill over into your everyday life. Whether thats an easier time at work, reading a book, or simply listening to others.
You may notice during your meditation practice that several thoughts just keep popping up. While this may be annoying, it's also super interesting. See if the same thoughts pop up time and time again. If they continue throughout just one practice, or multiple. This is your mind saying there's something I'd like to deal with. Meditating can often lead to revelations on how to deal with life's problems. By giving your brain the time and space to think without distraction you may well find the answer coming to you easily and unexpectedly.
Meditation is a technique for helping you to live in the moment. Practicing this with intention benefits you in other aspects of life. It gives you the embodied know how in order to step away from an overwhelming situation and drop into the present moment. To create space in the mind and bring breath into the body. So whether you're at work and the boss is breathing down your neck or the kids are running you ragged, you can take a moment to breath and notice the present moment. Giving yourself time and space to calm down and handle the situation how you would like.
As well helping with general stress and life, meditation is recognised the world over for helping with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Meditation may not stop a relapse of depressive episodes but it can help make it easier for you to spot the signs before it happens. Helping you to prepare and care for yourself. Anxiety is born from 'what if's' and 'if only's', mindfulness can help anchor you in the present moment rather than the spiralling of worrisome hypotheticals, encouraging you to keep calm and reject an overly negative mindset.
Another benefit to meditation is the increase in sensory awareness. Many meditation techniques focus on bringing awareness to the body, the breath, or the environment. By focussing in turn on the five senses, you are training the brain too easily recognise the sensory information you gain from the body. Through touch, sight, sound, smell, and taste you can again use these skills to bring yourself into the present moment in everyday life.
Meditation can even lead to feelings of vibrance, jubilation, and gratefulness. Bringing a sense of santosha (contentment) into your life. For example focussing on the taste of the food you eat, the smell of your soap, the feel of rain on your face, the sound of birds in the morning, and the sight of dew on the grass. Noticing the little things can often bring a sense of how important and intrinsic to life everything can be, including yourself.
For tips on how to get started with your meditation practice click here. If you'd like to discuss private guided meditations don't hesitate to contact me, or simply book a session if you're ready to get started!
By Laura Carey
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