For me the lockdowns have been a real opportunity to enhance my meditation practice. 

I even manage to get into a daily routine which I was finding difficult to achieve one year ago. And I know for sure that my meditation practice has helped me cope with sometimes difficult circumstances in my life.

I have recently resumed group meditation with some of my yoga students one evening per week as I want to encourage them to make their meditation practice as regular as their yoga practice. I know so well the benefits of meditation and how much their wellbeing will increase from this.

And meditation is no longer revered as something only yogis do. With more people looking for ways to reduce stress and brain chatter, practicing meditation has become mainstream. Unlike other types of cleanses, meditation is holistic — something you do for your mind, body, and soul. There’s a wealth of scientific evidence confirming that learning how to meditate offers a multitude of health benefits.

Reduces stress

There’s plenty of fact-based evidence showing how the benefits of meditating continue even if you’re not practicing. One of the most common reasons why people meditate is to reduce stress. Any physical or mental stress increases the level of a hormone called cortisol. This, in turn, can cause a lot of harmful side effects like sleep deprivation, cloudy thinking, high blood pressure, and clinical depression. Studies also confirm that meditation improves the symptoms of certain stress-related conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and irritable bowel syndrome, and can even alleviate the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Soothes anxiety

Feeling anxious is normal. You may feel anxiety when faced with conflict or if you need to make an important decision. However, people suffering from actual anxiety disorders are different. For them, anxiety can be crippling, causing such distress that they’re unable to live normal lives. Meditation has repeatedly been proven to reduce anxiety. In fact, one recent eight-week mindfulness meditation study concluded that the practice reduces symptoms of numerous anxiety and anxiety-related disorders.

These include:

• Social anxiety
• Phobias
• Obsessive-Compulsive      Disorder (OCD)
• Paranoia
• Panic attacks
• Separation anxiety

There are many forms of meditation and different strategies people can choose from in order to suit their specific needs. One such form alleged to relieve anxiety is known as “loving-kindness meditation”. Mindful meditation gives anxiety sufferers control over their thoughts, something people often lack. It calms the storms that brew inside our minds, offering a feeling of empowerment.

When you’re able to trust something more significant than your negative thoughts, you are able to come to terms with what’s been fuelling your anxiety. 

Alleviates emotional distress

Meditation also helps people who are suffering emotionally. There are multiple meditations to help people have a more positive outlook on life and an improved self-image.

These include:

• Loving-kindness meditation
• Mindfulness meditation
• Zen meditation
• Kundalini Yoga
• Transcendental Meditation

Stress plays a big role in emotional health. Chemicals known as cytokines, which are produced from cortisol, can affect a person’s mood and lead to depression, a negative outlook on life, and a shattered self-image.

According to recent studies, meditation helps treat depression by decreasing certain inflammatory chemicals that exacerbate its symptoms. In addition, meditating for 30 minutes a day is proven to give you better control of how your brain works, allowing you to rid your mind of negative thoughts, which are clear triggers for depression.

This doesn’t mean you’ll never have negative thoughts again, however, meditation helps you to manage those negative thoughts and feelings in a different way. When you practice meditation, you let your guard down, let positive energy in and release your mind from self-defense mode. Think of meditation as an internal pause button, giving your soul and mind a chance to breathe.

If you would like to join my Thursday evening group meditation, just let me know and I will add to the invitation list.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. Should you have any feedback please do let me know

Namaste

Christel