Someone asked me recently if I practiced meditation, as they had been reading that it helped with keeping calm and improving mental health.
I replied that I did, and indeed it helps not only my mental health but my general health and outlook on life.
WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Many people are unsure what meditation means and have various interpretations of it, such as being an eastern mystic philosophy or an altered state of consciousness.
The answer lies somewhere in between, as it came to prominence in the 1960s when all sorts of mind altering ideas were in fashion.
The precise origins of meditation remain unclear, but first documented evidence is associated with India, where it was practiced in many forms for thousands of years.
Gradually it spread throughout Asia and eventually even further afield to a variety of countries, philosophies and religions, but with various alterations.
We experience altered states of consciousness on many levels, such as being absorbed reading a book, listening to a lecture, day dreaming or intense concentration.
Meditation is similar as it channels the mind and body to achieve focus and allowing a feeling of well being to permeate mentally and physically.
For such an ancient practice, it is only now that a scientific approach is being used to actually see how it acts on the brain, with very interesting results.
THE INCREASE OF MEDICATIONS:
Most people today are on medication of some sort, which will most likely be chemically based, and whilst doing some amazing things to help various symptoms, we have become reliant on them.
Anxiety and depression contribute towards a very large part of the medications prescribed for mental health, which demonstrate that the body is depending on the actions of medication to control the symptoms.
There is plenty of evidence available on Google and other sources, which indicate that the brain is responsible for the mind, producing thoughts which affect how the body behaves.
We lead life at a frenetic pace, and are constantly chasing material gain and striving to fit in.
RELAXING MIND and BODY
The thoughts and brain processes which are used, often have a negative effect on our well being, as we may feel stressed, not good enough, or constantly chasing what is perceived to be success, which can culminate in a feeling of inadequacy and depression.
A MEDITATION CLASS:
Our brain and body together can do amazing things, and just as they can produce a feeling of anxiety, they can also produce feelings of calmness, focus and well being without any chemical intervention, and that is where meditation comes in.
It takes practice, and a bit of discipline and preparation to feel the effects and benefits.
The stresses of life show up in our bodies as tension.
That is tension in our thoughts, (constantly thinking often negative thoughts), which is transferred to our muscles and heart rate, causing a feeling of agitation and restlessness.
Meditation unravels those feelings by clearing the mind of (all) thoughts, (very difficult in the beginning), and relaxing the muscles of the entire body, (also quite difficult to do).
DEEP BREATHING IS KEY:
The key to doing this successfully is by breathing deeply.
Breathing is the mechanism which pulls air into the body to fill the lungs, where oxygen is extracted and travels round the body as a vital nutrient, then exhaled taking with it the carbon dioxide which has been produced as a used by product.
As the deep breaths revitalize the body, the muscles begin to relax.
Alongside deep breathing, the object is to clear the mind, by slowing down brain activity and eliminating thoughts.
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL BALANCE:
When one has mastered these two processes, the body feels detached and takes on a feeling of lightness and positive feelings of calmness and well being.
This has a hugely beneficial effect on the mind and body.
It slows down the feelings of agitation and anxiety and lifts the mood by feeling more relaxed and happy.
It is about gaining a sense of mental and physical balance.
Meditation is best done in a quiet place with no distractions, although those with great experience of meditation can carry out the process anywhere.
It is something to be worked on, and there are plenty of online meditation videos to help with relaxation and clearing thoughts, or taking part in a meditation class.
Personally, I found meditation extremely helpful as part of my recovery from post viral fatigue, and find that the more I use it the better I am at accessing the benefits.
Meditation costs nothing, and it is dictated by our own body, which shows the power which we all possess and can utilize and benefit from.
DISCLAIMER:
As with any new mental / physical activity, It is always advisable to check with a health professional if one has any health issues or concerns.
In general meditation has a very positive track record, with the majority of people finding it very positive and helpful, although it does take a a bit of practice to align deep breathing, relaxing of muscles and clearing of thoughts. Perseverance pays off.
There have been some recorded incidences of some individuals having a negative outcome, which could be down to a variety of causes.
The author can only speak from a very positive point of view, having been practicing meditation for a few years, and finding tremendous benefits for both mental and physical health, and in particular strengthening the immune system.
Opt In for for updates!