You have likely heard of Meditation- as it is growing in popularity- but what you may not know are the variety of benefits that can come with it.
Meditation actually dates back pretty far!
The earliest documented records that mentioned meditation involved Vedantism, a Hindu tradition in India, around 1500 BCE. However, historians believe that meditation was practiced before this time, as early as 3000 BCE. The terminology used today to “meditate” was not introduced until the 12th century AD, coming from the Latin word meditatum.
Meditation has been used for thousands of years for various purposes- but originated in the religious realm for the most part until more modern day. In addition to meditation being common in religious traditions- presently more and more people are turning to meditation as a form of relaxation and to clear their minds . In fact- the CDC reported that 14.2% of American adults surveyed in 2017 said they had practiced meditation at least once in the last year.
It has been long used and is still growing in popularity for good reason.
Meditation is known to help people relax and ease themselves from worries while producing a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention elsewhere while you are eliminating all access thoughts that may be in your mind and causing you worry. This meditation process can assist in creating a more enhanced physical and emotional well being- especially if meditation is continued over time to help clear these thoughts if they are reoccurring.
Meditation has also been known to help with:
- Emotional Balance
- Increased Focus
- Pain Management
- Increased creativity and productivity
- Promote better memory
- And has even been said to help with addiction recovery
If you are new to meditation- here are some helpful tips for beginning meditation:
- Find your meditation spot. This should be a private spot free from external disturbances such as background noise. Add ambiance if it will help you relax- candles or something aromatic.
- Sit in a comfortable position- many choose to sit on a mat (ex a yoga mat) and cross their legs
- Clear your mind-try counting backward from 20 to first clear your mind.
- Remember to breathe-and focus on your breathing. In and out.
- Simply sit and observe- while still focusing on your breathing.
- When ending your meditation- don’t end abruptly- count to 10 and slowly ease into the end of your meditation .
If you feel like you are carrying a lot of weight around and have a cluttered mind, meditation may be your answer. Try it for 15 minutes and see how it can help ease your mind and doing it everyday for 15 minutes can help you have a more sound mind and even learn to control your stress management more.
Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-benefits-of-meditation#1.-Reduces-stress
