Why does meditation work and how to take advantage of it?

When meditating we use the brain in a different way. For this reason the transformation occurs. Specifically, they are given changes in the electrical activity of neuronsin the waves that the brain generates to function and that vary according to our mental state:

During the deep sleep the delta waveswhich have the ability to repair the body and mind. During the light sleepwhen the brain is at its highest point of deep relaxation, prevail theta waves.In state of vigil waves abound alpha.In state of rational mind the beta.

Well, during meditation there is an increase in theta and alpha waves: a calm brain is achieved while in a state of vigil.

Recently, science has discovered the role of brain gamma waves in relation to states of greater awarenessevidencing that help to get out of cyclical thoughtsincessant, and enter a mental space where the creativitythe direct apprehension of knowledge, where we also find ourselves at peace and feel that feeling that everything is fine, the prelude to happiness.

What to do to get all these benefits?

Therefore, although the word meditate suggests a verb, and therefore an action, in reality meditating does not require any action. It simply consists of taking the mind to another state.

It is not about doing great exercises or great efforts: in reality, meditating is very simple.

Every time we do something we love to do, every time we “go into the flow” and lose track of space-time and we are in the pure present, every time we focus on expressing our creativity, on allowing ourselves to learn something new (getting out of automatisms), we are favoring this meditative state.

Read Also: Strawberry plant: how to plant wild strawberries in the garden or on the balcony

Playing a musical instrument, knitting, singing, dancing, traveling, climbing, skating, even driving!, can be activities that take us to a mental state beyond the rational, to a meditative mind in which we can begin to “think differently.” Like when you have the feeling that time does not exist, that you are fully immersed in an experience.

6 health goals that we can achieve through meditation

Dream

Meditating not only improves our day to day, but also our night. Studies show that people who meditate regularly have a better quality of sleep, it is deeper. In addition, this more restful rest has a direct impact on the improvement of mental and emotional states on wakefulness, generating a virtuous cycle wellness and health.

Meditation with movements (tai chi, yoga, qigong…) is especially effective for improving sleep.

View

The displaya meditation technique that consists in evoking with the imagination a pleasant situation, activates visual brain regions,
which does not happen with other types of technique.

Memory

Mindfulness is the gym of the brain. Practicing it for 12 minutes a day seems to be enough to notice improvements in many physical and mental aspects related to the youth of the brain, according to a study by the Tucson Foundation for Research and Prevention of Alzheimer’s (USA).

It has been proven that focused attention meditation (usually practiced by concentrating on an object, such as looking at a candle) activates areas of the brain related to attention control, which also improves the ability to retain and memorize data.

Anxiety

Focus on the breath (focusing the mind on how the air enters and leaves our body) has proven effective against episodes of anxiety. It is an effective way of reduce nervousness, even in cases of post-traumatic stress.

Read Also: 4 easy and healthy spinach recipes

Fear

the cardiologist Herbert Bensonfrom Harvard Medical School (USA) studied the effects of Buddhist meditation and verified that its practice increases activity in the left frontal lobe of the brain and decreases the one on the right.

People who use the left hemisphere more they take less time to eliminate negative emotions. This imbalance between the activity
from both hemispheres favors the reduction of fear and irascible states.

It also detected that there was a increase in the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the feeling of well-being.

Pain

Meditative practice focused on the sensation of pain can help transform it. Is about become familiar with this sensation in order to gradually learn to accept it.

A common contemplative meditation technique is to relax and Imagine that you are breathing through the painful area and that the air is expelled through a hole in the same body area.