The health benefits of meditation, as well as those of mindfulness, have been known for centuries to strengthen the mind, improve concentration, and heal the body. Additionally, in recent years, the popularity of meditation and mindfulness has been increasing as many Americans seek to lower their stress levels Sound Baths.
If you are interested in starting a meditation routine, read on to learn more about meditation and the best ways to start practicing it.
Meditation and mindfulness, what are the differences?
There is so much talk about meditation and mindfulness that there can be the impression that they are the same. However, there are some distinctions between the two.
Meditation is a brain exercise that promotes being more self-aware and recovering from stressful events quickly. It originated in eastern countries such as India and China before spreading to the West, where it increased in popularity.
Mindfulness is part of meditation and refers to the process of being more aware of the present and paying close attention to your current actions without judging them. For example, let’s say you choose to focus on breathing at a steady pace. If you lose your rhythm, take note of it and try to get back into that rhythm without considering it a failure.
Simply put, meditation is like a workout for your brain of which mindfulness is a type of exercise, just like running or cycling.
Additionally, it should be noted that there is a misconception that meditation is the same as relaxation. The latter is more passive and aims to calm the body; However, meditation is more active, it is a continuous return to a point of concentration that is often found in the body and does not have a specific goal. This act of refocusing the mind whenever it begins to wander to other thoughts leads to a higher level of self-awareness and concentration, as well as a better ability to deal with stress, which often helps one feel better. more relaxed.
What are the techniques of meditation?
There are several ways to meditate, so it’s a matter of finding the practice that works best for you. Some examples of this are walking or moving, focusing on breathing, reciting a mantra, or trying to reach an internal body state.
Additionally, there are also many resources to help you find a meditation plan that best fits not only your schedule, but also your personal tastes. If exercise is your thing, yoga or walking can help calm your mind. If this doesn’t appeal to you, reciting a mantra may be better for removing negative thoughts and feelings that cause you stress.
What are the health benefits of meditation?
Meditation and mindfulness help calm the mind, improve concentration, and heal the body. This is all because they improve your ability to deal with stress. Those who practice meditation regularly find that they can cope with more stressful events in the day and not break down as often in the face of them.
In fact, the health benefits of meditation, as well as those of mindfulness, are so evident that many schools across the United States are already beginning to teach these practices to their students. Meditation has been shown to help children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, by promoting a decrease in medication use while naturally increasing concentration. This type of practice is also useful for improving sleep, managing pain and behavior, and giving people more control over their ability to heal.
How to put meditation into practice
Practicing daily mindfulness can be a great way to incorporate meditation into your activities. Start with something simple, like brushing your teeth. Focus on sensations when brushing, such as taste and smell. Being fully present during these activities is a great way to center your mind and take it away from stressful thoughts and emotions.
Additionally, there are quite a few resources that can help you get started meditating. Arizona State University’s Center for Mindfulness, Compassion and Resilience offers classes and information for those who want to start practicing meditation and mindfulness. Apps like Headspace even guide people through a series of meditation exercises. You can also look for mindfulness-based stress reduction or Koru Mindfulness meditation classes online with certified instructors.
When starting a meditation routine do what is best for you. There is no special time of day or specific amount of time you should meditate to get the most out of meditation. It’s just a matter of finding the schedule that works best for you and increasing it over time. Many adults start with just ten minutes of meditation a day and achieve good results.
Lastly, don’t be discouraged. Another misconception is that those who meditate are constantly at peace and are never distracted during a session. This is not the case for the vast majority of these people. It is completely normal for your mind to wander during meditation and start thinking about what is causing you stress. Take into account the reason behind those thoughts and work on improving with each session.