Think, Eat, Be Healthy

Meditate For A Healthy Body And Mind

I love to meditate in nature, finding the sights and sounds calming. Some find such surrounding too distracting and do better in a quiet room.

I love to meditate in nature, finding the sights and sounds calming. Some find such surrounding too distracting and do better in a quiet room.

Meditating daily creates a healthier body and a stronger and more resilient mind. Numerous scientific studies during the last decade have proven this. What is still unknown to science is how meditation creates change in both body and mind. And while some people are more strongly affected than others, it seems that no one can meditate regularly without at least some positive physical and mental changes taking place.

When meditating inside, a pattern can help me get centered. It is a sort of visual mantra to hold the attention without provoking thought.

When meditating inside, a pattern can help me get centered. It is a sort of visual mantra to hold the attention without provoking thought.

There are many traditional types of meditation and several newer styles. Many now consider yoga a type of meditation because of the state of mind required for proper practice. Religious prayer is most certainly meditation if done correctly. What all of these techniques have in common is the goal of synchronizing a calm mind with a calm body in the present moment without worry or regret about the past or anxiety about the future. The best part is that the goal can be approached in so many different ways: you can meditate while sitting, laying down or standing up, you can meditate with eyes open or closed, you can be still or walking or holding a yoga pose. They are all effective.

Meditation can get you to the essence of things, rather than getting hung up on the many small details.

Meditation can get you to the essence of things, rather than getting hung up on the many small details.

Some of the proven physical effects of meditating are:

*A lowered sensation of pain and lowered activity in the brain’s pain matrix

*The amount of time a person spends meditating is directly related to their ability to handle pain

*Increased seratonin levels and decreased levels of stress hormones

*Thickened prefrontal cortex, which lessens cognitive function decline as we age

*Higher electrical activity in the left frontal lobe that is associated with optimistic people

*Lower blood pressure due to increased levels of nitric acid, which relaxes and expands blood vessels

*Increased activation of genes that fight inflammation, protect from cancer and kill diseased cells

The positive mental effects of meditation are:

*Increased concentration and focus

*Increased self awareness

*Reduces negative emotions

*New and better perspectives on stressful situations

*Maintains focus on the present, not on what has happened or on what might possibly happen

*Increased self control and decreased cravings

All of the above changes caused by meditation result is better health, both physically and mentally. All of these changes have also been shown, in scientific studies, to start happening within 6-8 weeks of starting a meditation program. The changes continue with continued meditation, growing larger as meditation time increases. It is like a sort of exercise for all of the parts of our bodies that are not muscle.

There is more room for awe in every day with meditation.

There is more room for awe in every day with meditation.

My personal preference is mindfulness meditation. I prefer one meditation session during the day, outdoors in nature if possible, and a second shorter session in the evening an hour or so before bed. This fits my schedule and keeps me sane(being a chef can be a high-stress job).

I suggest researching the various meditation techniques and trying them to find what suits you best. Then make it a part of your daily schedule, just like getting up, eating and meetings. After a few weeks it will be a new healthy habit and after a few months you will start to really notice the positive effects and wonder how you ever got along without meditating.

Stay calm and be healthy. Everything will be just fine.

Stay calm and be healthy. Everything will be just fine.