Stress is one of the most cited factors in the case of common diseases. Throughout life it is very likely that you will experience normal routines that empower you but that, at the same time, can leave you breathless. Maintaining the balance between the external world of work, classes, children, husbands and wives, and at the same time achieving stability in our body, breathing and mind, can be very complicated. Meditation can help you.
Meditation is a great way to manage stress, and it is also a great way to improve your quality of life in general. Also, calming your mind is a quick way to eliminate the negative emotions and stress that you may currently be experiencing.
Meditation has helped countless people, from different cultures, and ethnic and religious roots, to relax and reduce the accumulation of stress. Many times, people believe that meditation is a type of esoteric art, only practiced by monks who live in caves. The simple fact is that meditation is one of the simplest things you can do to relax your body and mind. Even, it’s so simple that most people get frustrated by not doing it right. Again and again, people try to meditate only to see that “they can not have a calm mind.”
There are many different types of meditation that are exercised around the world. Most promote cleanse our thoughts and empty our lives. Other meditation practices say that it is not really about stopping your thoughts, but about observing your mind when you think. In fact, by observing our thoughts and emotions, without judgment, we reach a point of being where we can truly accept ourselves.
In essence, meditation is the art of making an effort not to have to struggle. Then, I present a simple way to achieve a space of silence to reduce the factors that daily stress him in his life.
Why Should You Meditate?
Meditation is one of the most effective techniques, subject to the test of time, and that surpasses cultures, which reduces our level of stress. It also helps us to penetrate our unconscious mind, freeing us of old thoughts and experiences that can affect its development. Meditation provides a private and internal sanctuary where we can learn to go when the case of an accelerated life overtakes us.
In short, meditation detoxifies the body and mind from stress.
Did you know this about stress and meditation?
- People have used meditation as a practice for more than 2,000 years . The reduction of stress was one of the main reasons for this practice.
- Meditation for stress management has been proven to help people with pain , the flu and the cold , depression, fatigue, anxiety , stomach problems and insomnia.
- There is a general acceptance among the medical and scientific community that recognizes the direct correlations between the practice of meditation and well-being.
When mentally, emotionally, or physically stressed, our bodies begin a “fight or fly” pattern, releasing powerful chemicals into the bloodstream. In the past, when humans were still prey to animals, these adrenaline-filled chemicals helped us get away from an attacker or fight the enemy.
Currently, these chemicals are released into our bloodstream when we are stressed. The difference is that, as you can imagine, usually does not start running at full speed from your car, or hit the driver who is next (well, I hope!). You are still sitting there. And guess what? The toxins do the same. The accumulation of these internal toxins is a major health problem for modern humans. Meditation can relieve this overload of stress and toxins.
When your body and mind relax, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over. This is the part of your nervous response associated with cooling, soothing and relieving the body. In this way, meditation literally detoxifies and relieves the entire mental / body structure.
Harvard University is Surprised with the Results of Meditation
In the seventies, the Harvard Medical School did a study on the practice of transcendental meditation. The results impacted the doctors who did this work.
After studying thousands of people who practiced meditation regularly, they found that, by far, meditation had a very positive impact on health, stress and various organs and systems of the body. Patel (1985) found a correlation between meditating and melatonin levels, or the “I feel good response.” Like hypertension can be reduced with this practice.
Studies have shown that meditation relieves skin problems, boosts the immune system, reduces anxiety disorders, and even helps to reduce the whole spectrum of medicine in general.
Types of meditation
There are hundreds of different types of meditation. The best advice is to choose a type of meditation that is simple and effective for your life. These are a few examples of meditation techniques, as well as great ways to “focus the breath” for beginners.
- Concentration Meditation – This type of meditation focuses the mind on an object, a sensation, a sound or a particular mantra. As you can see in the following example, focus your mind on your inhalation and exhalation. You can focus on the sound of a mantra, or the flame of a candle. Eventually, and with sustained practice, the mind becomes quiet and a space of clarity, relaxation and calm emerges. If this is the first time you meditate, do not be alarmed if your thoughts are scattered! This is normal. Just watch the object or breathing continuously and keep practicing!
- Meditation without Focusing the Mind , like the one practiced in Vipassana meditation, requires observing the mental movie that is inside. There is no external focal point (as in the previous example) but a silent witness of the constant movement of sensations in your body, the feelings of your emotions, or the thought patterns of your mind. This is a slightly more advanced meditation, and it demands a lot of passive observation, not making judgments about yourself, and having a broad perspective of your mind.
The following example is another good meditation practice for a beginner. When you have practiced it a few times, you will see that each session has a way of showing you the true benefits of the practice. Do not be surprised if you are filled with thoughts or emotions during the first phases of the practice. That is normal! Think of your mind and body as if you were an inkwell attached to a desk. Imagine emptying pure water in the dirty inkwell. During the first minutes, a lot of black ink will come out. This same process occurs when we detoxify our body and our mind. With the practice soon your inkwell will be filled with pure and clean water!
A Simple Meditation Practice
- I recommend meditating at any time of the day when your ideas spring up freely. However, the best results with meditation are obtained early, between 3 and 6 in the morning. During this time the world is quiet and silent, and you forget all the factors that stressed you the day before.
- Feel in a quiet place, in a comfortable position, close your eyes and focus on the darkness between your eyes. The mystics call this their third eye. Try to erase all thoughts from your mind, until you feel that your body and the universe become one. The first 20 minutes are usually the most complicated but with daily persistence you will conquer your mind and feel the relaxing and energizing effects that meditation can provide.
Results may vary. The information and statements made are for educational purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. Global Healing Center does not dispense medical advice, prescribe or diagnose diseases. The opinions and nutritional advice expressed by Global Healing Center are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medical services. If you have a serious medical condition or concern about your health, consult your doctor.
