5 scientific benefits of meditation
Meditation has been around for centuries but in the past few decades, it became one of the most famous daily practice. From Hollywood stars to single moms, everyone is getting into meditation. Now it is important to understand what kind of change and benefits it can bring in our lives. A lot of studies have been conducted to highlight and explain why meditating is an important habit to develop. Depending on the kind of meditation effects may vary, so today let’s discover 5 of its most famous benefits.
1. Meditation and pregnancy
In a recent test performed on high-risk pregnant women, scientists realized that a combined and regular practice of meditation resulted in a significant decrease of depressive symptoms. The subjects themselves felt a more intense bonding with their child while still under pregnancy.
2. Meditation as a mood and anxiety regulator
Our brain is a complex organ which researchers are still trying to understand. But in a study from the University of Wisconsin, it is said that mindfulness meditators managed to decrease the density of their grey matter related to stress and anxiety. During the sessions, they managed to escape from the loop of stimuli they were exposed to. Allowing them to have increased focus and attention to their surroundings.
3. Meditation to improve focus and attention
Meditating regularly helps to improve focus and attention as per a study led by Katherine MacLean. During the study, students performed 20 minutes a day session which was merely enough to improve their cognitive skill when performing repetitive and boring tasks. And compared to a non-meditating group, their performance rates were 10 times higher. Researchers also noticed that meditators were less subject to stress which they managed better.
4. Meditation and decision-making
Eileen Luders of the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging and her colleagues discovered that long-term meditators could process information at a much faster rate. This is due to a larger amount of gyrification in their cortex which is also needed for decision making, attention, and memories creation.
5. Meditation for better mental strength and pain resistance
Have you ever seen how monks are less sensitive to pain compared to the rest of us? This is due to their intense practice of meditation which has created a lower level of pain in their mind for the same input. Combining it with a regular and intense practice of martial arts they were able to reach new heights of self control and resilience. And last but not least, better emotional intelligence has also been noticed among regular meditators.
Depending on what goals you wish to achieve, the type of meditation should be chosen carefully. Somehow regular practice will always lead to changes in your life so do not hesitate to start especially if you have a busy schedule. This new habit will change your life and help you fulfill yourself like you never did before.
