Incorporating meditation into your daily routine can benefit you in more ways than you know. The calming effects of meditation extend beyond momentary calmness and stress relief. Regular practice can improve the overall quality of your life! Read the incredible benefits below and experience the bliss of meditation.
But first, how long do you need to meditate for? All it takes is a few minutes, the key to meditation is staying consistent. Start out slowly, set aside 2 minutes every night and increase the time as you see fit.
What is the best position to meditate in? If you are meditating before you sleep, the perfect and comfy position for you is the "savasana" position. Simply lay down on your back, place your palms facing upright, and relax your body. All that’s left for you to do is take in deep breaths.
Let’s try it out right now; inhale, hold for 3 seconds, exhale. Feels nice, doesn’t it?
If you are looking for a more engaging form of mediation, try positive visualization. As you are doing the controlled breathing exercise we just did together, take advantage of this release of stress and anxiety and visualize the things you love. This could be a person, place, or anything in between. Take a moment to think back and reflect on what makes you feel calm, happy, and relaxed. The benefits of this practice will be sure to transform the quality of your sleep, as you are creating a safe space in your mind where you can think back to and have an escape from the chaos of everyday life.
Now that you know how to meditate, let’s talk about the benefits!
Stress Relief: Try meditating to naturally lower your body’s cortisol levels (stress hormone) and increase your body’s feel-good hormone (serotonin).
The two C’s, Calmness and Concentration: Meditation has been shown to increase calmness and concentration amongst those who regularly meditate. The decompression of thoughts and stress that comes with practising meditation allow you to regulate your emotions efficiently and encourages you to think clearly.
Meditation and Medicine: If natural healing is something that sounds appealing to you, meditation is the perfect habit for you to adopt. Meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure, which in turn lowers one’s risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, it can boost your immunity.
Sleeping Benefits: The peace that overcomes our body as you meditate before bed has been proven to help you fall asleep quicker and easier! Gone are the days of insomnia. Meditation is the new melatonin.
References:
https://bettersleep.org/blog/health-benefits-of-meditation/
https://polysleep.ca/blogs/wellness/bed-meditation
