Meditation
What is all the hype about?
Let us begin with this question–what is meditation?
Meditation is the
activity of physical stillness, with emphasis on awareness and connection of the mind, body and spirit
feeling and emotions through thought exercises of visualization.
Where does meditation come from?
Historically, meditation is a practice
that comes from the Buddhist religion. One of the core principles of
Buddhism revolves around that of human suffering and the notion to control
the pain and suffering that is caused by default of the human condition to
have emotions. Through the practice of meditation this concept of
suffering can cease and emotions controlled.
What are the benefits of meditation?
The benefits of mediation are
overwhelmingly positive and there is more and more research coming out on
the physical effects of meditation practice. Here’s the crazy part…studies
have shown that with consistent meditation the mind can heal itself and
thus, cease the suffering of an individual, heal diseases and more! Easier said than done, I know.
So let me share supportive, scientific evidence of the physical effects
discovered on consistent medication practice. The study by Sampaio, Lima,
& Ladeia (2017) conducted a comprehensive literature review and shared
that a longitudinal study done in 2011 explains that through the
consistent (and long-term) practice of meditation, it was found that gray
matter of the brain had been altered and in fact became more dense
signifying a physical change through the active practice of meditation.
The area of the brian of gray matter where it was increased, is
“associated with processes of learning, memory, regulation of emotion and
empathetic capacity”. The positive effects of meditation helps emotional
regulation, something many individuals struggle with and by understanding
that if someone is not incontrol of their emotions, it is more likely that
they would be in a state of stress more often which increases those bad
chemicals of cortisol that have negative effects on the body and intern
can have negative physical effects body if not rendered increasing chances
of an early death, increase of somatic disorders and more. There is more
research supporting the reasons why people should be doing this more than
there are saying the opposite.
Never meditated before? Check out tips below
Click here for more information on the benefits of meditation.
References
Sampaio, C. V. S., Lima, M. G., & Ladeia, A. M. (2017). Meditation, Health and Scientific Investigations: Review of the Literature. Journal of Religion and Health, 56(2), 411–427. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44158323