Meditation: what benefits does it bring us?

Did you know Do we ourselves have the power to change our mind and improve our well-being? One of the best ways to do this is through the practice of meditation. What are the benefits that meditation brings us?

Meditation is the path we can choose to reduce pressure, the stress and worries that confront us daily. When we meditate we provide ourselves with a space to restore our inner nature.

Meditating can change our mind

An interesting article published in the magazine Scientific American written by Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk and cellular biologist, Antoine Lutz, a leader in the study of the neurobiology of meditation and Richard J.Davidson, a pioneer in the study of the science of meditation, states that Through meditation we have the power to change our mind.

This study was carried out for almost 15 years by the University of Wisconsin, in collaboration with 19 other universities, in more than 100 Buddhist monasteries. And brain scans were compared with tens of thousands of hours of meditation practice, obtaining very interesting conclusions. According to the results, meditating causes:

Anxiety and depression levels go down.Some areas of the brain are activatedspecifically those associated with feelings of empathy, compassion and altruistic love.The volume of the amygdala is reduced, the region of the brain involved in the fear process.Has positive effects on the telomerase molecule, responsible for lengthening the DNA segments at the ends of the chromosomes; It is the enzyme that facilitates the immortality of cells in most carcinogenic processes.

Other benefits of meditation

But meditating not only has these benefits, but its range is very wide and its practice can help us on numerous occasions. Next, We indicate some other benefits that it brings us:

It helps us rest and relax our mind.Reduces blood pressure. Improves memory.Improves emotional stability.Helps to gain greater personal awareness. Facilitates and improves the quality of sleep. Improves overall health.Relax muscle tension.Improves concentration.Contributes to improving the mood.

Likewise, research has shown that Meditation contributes to the relief of severe conditions, whether physical or mental.. Among them are: Migraines, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress or schizophrenic spectrum disorders.

Amazing, right? In this point, we should question whether meditation should be another habit in our daily routine if we want a higher quality of life. Perhaps we should think about starting the practice of meditation more seriously, just as we do with incorporating a healthy diet or exercise into our lives.

Meditation also helps us develop social skills

One study found that loving-kindness meditation increases people’s prosocial behavior, such as helping behavior in a play context. Likewise, it has been shown to reduce implicit biases towards minorities, increase social connection and empathy.

Strengthens emotional intelligence

It has also been shown that active meditation and strengthens areas of the brain responsible for empathy and emotional intelligence.

Referring to the benefits of meditation mentioned above, the truth is that We all feel more and more the need to feel a little more altruistic and empathetic in a competitive society that often devours us, in addition to being more relaxed and less tense…

How can we start meditation if we have never done it?

Meditating is something that seems very simple, but in reality where we have to put more emphasis is on the consistency of your practice so that little by little we get what we really want. Therefore, we offer you some small guidelines to help you:

Reading a book on meditation written by a good expert can be an important first step. We recommend you Buddhist Meditationby Ramiro Calle, yoga teacher and writer and pioneer in introducing this discipline in Spain.Go to a meditation course. There are numerous free courses that include food and accommodation or even others that can be one day a week. The best one for you is the one that adapts to your pace and needs.Ask a friend or acquaintance who knows how to meditate for help. Getting advice from someone who has been immersed in this practice for some time or who has experience is a good option to begin to delve into the wonderful world of meditation. Learn to meditate for ourselves. Another option is to start on our own with small, simple practices. To do this, we have to choose a quiet place where no one will interrupt us, sit comfortably with our spine straight and start taking deep breaths.Avoid setting dates. It is common to want to perceive the benefits of meditation as soon as possible. However, impatience is discouraged. Hustle and meditation go in opposite directions, if you want a deep transformation, then you must take your time.Meditate regardless of your mood. The continuity of the meditation should not depend on your current mood. It doesn’t matter if the practice is pleasant or not, what matters is persevering.

If you are a curious person, Learn and choose the type of meditation that best suits your personality.: Zen meditation, Vipassana meditation or any of the other existing modalities. We encourage you to explore the different types of meditation and choose the one that best suits you.

Meditating helps us move forward

Be consistent, try and try a little meditation every day. You can start for 15 or 20 minutes. You will realize that little by little you will incorporate it into your life habits and you will notice its results. Besides, meditating will help you develop the learning of patience and concentration for your routine and you will savor the stillness as part of your being.

With meditation we can feel more relaxed, we will accept ourselves better and we will not fall so easily into negative or repetitive thoughts. Meditating helps us grow internally and that is not something we should lose.

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