Meditation And Health

Meditation has long been upheld as a pillar of physical and mental health by eastern medicine and traditions. Western medicine and scientific theories have previously scoffed at the old adage, "Mind over matter." However, recent studies by professionals in both the medical and scientific worlds have begun to understand the truth behind the benefits of meditation.


If you're feeling sleeping during the day, and are unable to take a nap, for most people their first response is to grab a coffee or a sweet treat to give them a boost of energy. Unfortunately this sugar high, will only give you short-term energy before you crash.

Once the crash hits, hitting the gym and making a healthy meal is often overlooked for another option-perhaps skipping the gym and grabbing takeout. Finally, once it's time to go to bed it's difficult to fall asleep because you're all wound up from your food-derived energy roller coaster.

The practice of meditation allows you to inhabit a space of low or no stress while giving your mind the opportunity to recuperate from the rigors of daily life. Your brain, like any other muscle in your body requires a period of rest in order to perform well. By calming your mind and creating a safe space free of stress, your mind is able to process and more clearly define the experiences of your life and will perform better when required.

This calm state additionally provides an opportunity for reflection and introspection. As you are relaxed there is less activity in your amygdala, which is directly involved in how we experience negative emotions. During meditation you are less prone to feelings of guilt, doubt, and fear. Free of those emotions, you can examine life from a clearer perspective, potentially gaining new insight into old experiences and your own natural emotional reactions.

Your body, much like your brain, benefits significantly from the practice of meditation. Though sleep provides much needed physical rest, science has begun to discover the significant benefits of guided, deliberate periods of waking rest, or meditation.

Stress leads to high-blood pressure and a host of other negative health conditions from heart problems to respiratory ailments and weight gain. Meditation reduces and in some circumstances can eliminate or reverse the negative effects of stress on your body. Your body is controlled by your mind and meditation improves the functionality of your heart, immune system, and can reduce symptoms of arthritis, psoriasis, irritable bowel syndrome, heart disease, and other ailments.

Also, it's not just about the number of hours that you sleep; it's also about the quality of sleep you get. Quality sleep can do wonders to improve your health and mood. One of the best ways to prepare your body for a restful night's sleep is to "power down." Turn off the TV or electronic devices two hours before going to bed.

Although sleeping to lose weight, may seem like a headline from a magazine, it really works. Be sure to make the changes that you need to in order to get the proper amount of daily rest, so you can avoid gaining weight, which could require weight loss surgery, if not managed properly.