Numerous studies show that meditation can improve psychological health, improve positive emotions and even decrease anxiety.
For many years Buddhists have used meditation to relieve suffering and eventually become enlightened, although meditation has been proved to improve health when used as an additional therapy on top of any prescribed medication.
For example, meditation may help the heart. A Study found that when some people with heart disease did an additional online meditation program (while others remained with their usual treatment involving drugs), those who meditated as well, improved in their six-minute walking test. This is a measure of cardiovascular health. Meditating may also increase chance of surviving a heart attack.
Furthermore, a more recent study of Alzheimer’s disease, showed that meditation can help the brain too. Subjects were given meditative therapies or cognitive stimulation therapy. People who did the, meditation saw a larger cognitive improvement on various tests.
Moreover, Meditation has been shown to possibly increase the number of t cells in our blood, which as a consequence would help our immune system function and thus could possibly improve our resistance to certain disease.
So how do you meditate? There are many different methods of meditation, ranging from walking meditation to sitting meditation to group meditation and individual meditation. However, the basic form of this mindfulness technique is to first find a quiet place and comfortable position. Start by focusing on your breathing and homing in on positive thoughts. Then progress to scanning your body from head to toe and simply take note of the different sensations you feel in each part of your anatomy, as you move over each body part, try to ensure it is completely relaxed and that no muscle has contracted or become tense. You could also try to imagine a warm light flowing through your head and out of your feet.
If you have a spare minute, why not try and rejuvenate and relax with this simple yet effective exercise?
by Megan Bantleman
