Written by: Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
With our super-hectic way of life today, our minds rarely take a break and our mental and physical health often suffer because of that.
Meditation is a perfect tool for combating stress and boosting resilience and relaxation. Studies show that a short meditation practiced every day can reduce stress and help your body and mind recharge.
The centuries-long meditation practice has proved its positive impact on our overall well-being. Additionally, during the latest decades, a large body of research proved the advantages of meditation on our mental and physical health as well.
Practicing meditation helps you quiet your mind and find peace, distracts your attention from disturbing thoughts, and it is regularly used to treat stress-related problems, anxiety, depression, rumination, and other mental health issues.
In recent years, mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular. They came to this conclusion after they after examining nearly 19,000 studies about meditation, the researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD concluded that mindful meditation can ease symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and physical pain.
The Benefits of Meditation
Meditation techniques can improve your mental and physical health. Research showed that meditation can lower blood pressure, improve your breathing, and reduce heart problems. Additionally, meditation can improve your immune system, enhance your executive cognitive function, boost your mood and optimism, and allow your intuition and creativity to thrive.
Meditation lessens apprehension and fear and can ease some symptoms of anxiety and depression. In addition, mindfulness meditation can improve your self-esteem and self-acceptance.
The Science Behind Mindfulness Meditation
As many studies demonstrate, mindfulness meditation actually rewires the brain in ways that affect our thoughts and behavior; rewiring the brain, meditation also changes the way our body responds to stress.
Using functioning magnetic resonance imaging and cat scans, neuroscientists can demonstrate the effects of meditation on the brain. Research proved that simply controlling your breath through the use of mindful meditation can reduce cortisol, the stress hormone.
Also, studies showed that mindfulness has the power to reduce the activity in the part of our brain’s limbic system called the amygdala. This part of the brain plays a crucial role in processing emotions and it is a starting point for our anxiety and stress response. Therefore, when the stressors convince the amygdala that you are in danger, this cluster of neurons sets to action by preparing your body for the flight or fight response. Consequently, you feel anxious. By reducing the amygdala’s activity, mindfulness meditation reduces your background level of stress and anxiety.
Mindfulness meditation exercise allows you to acknowledge your emotions instead of avoiding thinking about your feelings or trying not to feel upset. If you learn to accept your feelings and allow yourself to feel a certain way at the moment, it is more likely for those feelings to settle down and pass.
In addition, calming your mind and body for about 20 minutes every day promotes relaxation, helps feed your subconscious mind with positive self-thoughts, and improves self-confidence. It improves both your mental and physical health and enriches your life.
Kamini Wood, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Kamini Wood is the founder and CEO of Live Joy Your Way and the AuthenticMe® RiseUp program. An international best-selling author Kamini is driven to support people of all ages to heal their relationship with themselves and to stop outsourcing their self-worth. As a result, her clients become their own confident, resilient self-leader with healthier relationships. Kamini is a certified life coach, board-certified by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, holds specialty certifications in Calling in the One®, Conscious Uncoupling®, NewMoney Story®, and teen life coaching. Also trained in conscious parenting, Kamini aims to meet her clients where they are, supporting and guiding them on their journey to where they want to be, both personally and professionally. Her mission: create space for each person to see the unique gifts they bring to this world.
