3 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Life

3 Ways Meditation Can Improve Your Life

Meditation is an ancient practice that has long-been steeped in tradition, mystery, and myth. Contrary to what’s often depicted in today’s society, meditation doesn’t exclusively involve sitting in the Lotus position chanting the “Om” mantra for hours on end. Although this meditation method is still practiced by many modern meditators, it only comprises a small aspect of the many types of meditation techniques practiced today. While there are many benefits of meditation that have been proved by today’s science, you should first understand what meditation is (and what it isn’t) so you can have a better grasp of the practice and how to appropriately apply it to your life.

1.It Boosts Your Immune System
One of the most commonly cited benefits of meditation is that it is relaxing. While this is certainly true (and feels great) there are a number of second-hand benefits you can experience as a result of this relaxation. One of these is a stronger immune system. Stress and anxiety wreak havoc with our immune system, leaving us susceptible to all kinds of nasties—particularly during the winter. Developing a regular meditation practice reduces the amount of stress-related chemicals in our body, and also leaves us less likely to turn to unhealthy coping strategies to deal with the stress.

2. Lowers Blood Pressure
A study at Harvard Medical School found that meditation lowered blood pressure by making the body less responsive to stress hormones, in a similar way to blood pressure-lowering medication. Meanwhile a British Medical Journal report found that patients trained how to relax had significantly lower blood pressure.

3. It improves self-acceptance
When we meditate, we become more aware of, and more capable of controlling, our thoughts. A key part of meditation revolves around noticing our thoughts without judging them or getting caught up in their stories or meanings. This helps us to develop a different perspective on our internal dialogue, develop a greater understanding of ourselves, and practice noticing our thoughts and feelings without attaching meaning or judgement to them.