Do you suffer from anxiety, difficulty concentrating or disturbed sleep? Start meditating, for at least 7 good reasons!
Meditation has been recognized for many centuries as a practice that is used to achieve greater mastery of oneself and the activities of the mind. It is therefore an exercise aimed at self-realization; the aim is to improve the psychophysical conditions in order to achieve an inner balance that is advantageous for different areas of our life.
Meditating is not difficult, there are many courses that can teach you this discipline, which you can then practice anywhere and at any time of the day.
But what are the main benefits that come from a regular meditation practice? Here are 7, scientifically proven!
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Meditation not only calms the nerves, but promotes good, restful sleep. And not only that, this practice seems to be more restful than sleeping! In a 2006 study, a group of college students were asked to take a short nap, meditate, or watch TV before taking a test to check their alert levels. Those who meditated achieved 10% better results than those who took a siesta. During meditation, oxygen consumption drops by 10/20% and this produces a state of rest that is deeper than sleep.
2. Makes you feel pain less
Several studies have shown that those who meditate regularly experience less pain. Strange? No, if you think that this is related to the fact that the mind is more trained to keep away - and therefore to perceive less - negative and painful sensations. Those who meditate are not - therefore - immune to physical pain, but have learned to untie it from the emotional component, which worsens its impact.
3. Improve concentration and train the brain
Meditation, like most relaxation techniques, not only aids memory and concentration and gives the brain greater clarity, but also increases gray matter. A study conducted by the Massachusetts General Hospital found that 8 weeks of meditation and anti-stress practices produce important effects on memory and empathy.
4. Promotes calm and fights anxiety
Meditation is among the best natural remedies for anxiety and depression. 30 minutes a day of meditation can be enough to help fight them, with effects superior to those that a placebo could give and in some cases even comparable to those of antidepressant drugs. The most encouraging results in this regard concern meditation sessions of about 30-40 minutes per day.
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5. Helps you fight addictions
Cigarettes, food, alcohol, work ... addictions can be the most varied and meditation can help you in each case. In fact, it acts at different levels by increasing your self-control, removing the feeling of abstinence and making you more detached from the object of your addiction.
6. Keeps you young
One meditation session per day slows down the cellular aging process. Several studies, including an "extensive research from the University of California at Davis, have shown that meditation improves the activity of the telomerase enzyme, which reconstructs and lengthens telomeres, DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes." Protecting telomeres is essential to ensure long life for cells.
7. It helps you to know yourself
Meditation is also a valid tool for getting to know yourself and your limits better. It helps to turn your attention to the present moment and your inner gaze towards the deepest self. You will thus be able to find and maintain a good inner balance.
© iStockHave we convinced you or at least intrigued you? Get in the mood with this music, perfect to start meditating. Ohmmmmm
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