Meditation isn’t just for the barefoot, basket-weaving, free-spirits among us. At its core, meditation is a mindfulness practice that can have life-altering effects on our happiness and general well-being. Keep reading for a comprehensive, need-to-know guide about this health-promoting practice!
One of the most important things to remember is that meditation isn’t exclusive to religious or spiritual practices. Although it is often pursued by religious people, (and has its roots in Buddhism), non-secular mindfulness meditation is accessible to everyone, regardless of beliefs or backgrounds.
It is an awareness practice that aims to train the mind, resulting in a healthier sense of perspective, clarity, emotional positivity, and ability to be fully engaged in the present.
Why should I meditate? Meditation seeks to train and develop the control centre of the body – the brain; which is why the benefits of this mindfulness practice are far-reaching and all-encompassing.
Meditation improves your happiness Measuring happiness might sound impossible, but in 2008 several neuro-scientific researchers at New York University tried to do exactly this. After observing the brains of over 20 Buddhist monks during meditation using MRI technology, they discovered that the happier part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) was far more active than usual. As you engage with and learn the patterns and habits of your mind through meditation, it is possible to boost emotional positivity and encourage constructive thoughts.
Meditation can help to manage anxiety, depression, and stress Just as researchers found that the prefrontal cortex (happy) part of the brain became more active when meditating, they also discovered that the part that regulates stress and anxiety shrinks with consistent mindfulness practice. As happiness increases and stress decreases, overall mental and emotional health improves and conditions such as depression can lessen in severity.
Meditation can help you sleep better In fact, some people struggle to stay awake when meditating at any time of the day! This is because meditation triggers the relaxation response in our brains, making it the perfect sleep-inducing tool…for when counting sheep just doesn’t cut it. Meditation not only trains our brains to become more self-aware, but also helps us de-clutter our minds and tell our brain when it’s time to wind down. There are hundreds of guided sleep meditations available online to help you fight against those dreaded sleepless nights!
Meditation enhances self-awareness Meditation is excellent for developing a stronger understanding of yourself, your thought patterns, and how your mind works in general. By understanding and learning to harness this information, you are better able to grow into your best self and relate to those around you. As an example, many forms of meditating encourage you to recognise harmful or self-sabotaging thoughts and guide them towards more constructive and kind thought patterns. Meditation has also proven to cultivate better creative problem solving, giving you the ability to work through your problems more effectively.
Meditation sharpens your memory Meditation is a great way to keep your mind and memory young! Mindfulness meditation is all about increasing mental clarity and seeks to train you to exist in the present and be less distracted by thoughts outside of the ‘now’. This type of brain-work can help fight memory loss and dementia and increase your day-to-day productivity.
How do I meditate? There are many ways that you can learn how to meditate! Here are a few for you to consider:
Go online – it’s easy to meditate at home thanks to the many resources that are available at our fingertips. Search online for simple self-guided meditation techniques, or listen to guided meditations available on YouTube and other audio platforms.
Download a meditation App - a quick search on your phone’s app store will bring up a whole host of meditation apps designed for beginners and experts alike. Here are our top picks:
Find a guided meditation class – search in your local area for a guided meditation class. This can be a great way to connect with others, ask questions, and learn the craft straight from a master’s mouth.
Meditating changes the brain in the same way that exercise changes the body. Whether you’ve had an interest in meditating for some time now, or stumbled across this article by accident – why not start today? Give the “happy” part of your brain a boost!
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