Why Meditate?
Oct 5th, 2007 by Ann
There is a common misconception that mediation is only practised by yogis and alternative-health enthusiasts and that its benefits are predominantly psychological (spiritual transcendence etc.). However, meditation is an accessible practice that anyone can start benefiting from without undergoing rigorous training or joining a class. And while it does have many psychological benefits, it can also improve your health in several ways.
Health Benefits:
- Lower blood pressure.
- Reduce frequency of anxiety attacks.
- Improve air flow to the lungs. Meditation has proven to help asthma patients.
- Help manage pain. Victims of chronic pain, from back problems to arthritis, can use meditation to treat reoccurring pain.
Of course your general health is closely linked to your state of mind, so don’t ignore the huge benefits it can have on your brain.
Psychological benefits:
- It can help decrease depression.
- By focusing your mind, it can improve creativity.
- Improve memory ability.
- Much like laughter releases certain hormones; mediation can increase serotonin levels, which have a positive influence on behaviour.