If you’re looking for reasons to meditate, you don’t have to look far. With celebs, entrepreneurs and sports stars singing its praises, and studies showing the physical, mental and social benefits, meditation is having a moment. And – from mindfulness to zen, mantra, yoga, transcendental and loving kindness – there really is a meditation style to suit everyone.
If you’ve ever wanted to meditate, there’s no better time to start than now! Here are seven reasons to meditate today, and start enjoying a multitude of benefits.
1. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Despite technological advances granting us access to virtually whatever we want, whenever we want it, we’ve never been so stressed. At the same time, we’re experiencing an ‘anxiety epidemic’ like never before.
Can meditation help? A growing body of research indicates it can – helping to reduce stress and anxiety, as well as relieving symptoms of various stress-related conditions. One study published in 2014 found transcendental meditation in particular to be more effective in the treatment of chronic anxiety than most alternative treatments.
2. Better Sleep
Those technological advances aren’t helping us in the bedroom, either, with the blue light from our devices interfering with the release of sleep hormone, melatonin. With studies showing mindfulness meditation can promote better sleep, reducing insomnia and fatigue, it might pay to turn to meditation. And set yourself a tech curfew.
3. Healthier Eating Habits
You’ve no doubt heard the expression ‘think yourself thin’, and meditation has been known to help overweight individuals lose weight. By improving your body awareness and making you more aware of your thoughts, meditation can help you reduce mindless snacking and binge eating. It can help you recognise when you are hungry versus bored or emotional, and can assist you in making healthier decisions about food.
(Are you struggling with your diet or feelings towards food? Book an appointment with our Integrative Nutritionist.)
4. More Energy, Mental Clarity and Focus
Want to run that marathon or get a promotion at work? Start meditating, as it’s been shown to make you more alert, focused and energised. According to ScienceDaily, a study conducted by the University of Waterloo reveals meditation can improve brain function and energy levels. The study found practising 25 minutes of mindfulness meditation (or Hatha Yoga) each day “can boost the brain’s executive functions [and] cognitive abilities linked to goal-directed behaviour.”
5. Greater Compassion, Kindness and Happiness
Another wonderful benefit of meditation is greater compassion towards family, friends and total strangers and – equally importantly – towards yourself. Those who meditate regularly have been found to exhibit increased self-awareness and empathy, and generally be kinder, happier people (just look at the Dalai Lama).
In one study, 67 employees at a software and IT company in Michigan were taught Loving Kindness Meditation over seven weeks, and asked to meditate for 15-20 minutes at least five times a week. “Results showed that this meditation practice produced increases over time in daily experiences of positive emotions, which, in turn, produced increases in a wide range of personal resources (e.g., increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, decreased illness symptoms).”
6. Improved Physical Health
If you’re still not convinced meditation is for you, consider this – research has shown meditation can help reduce blood pressure. The American Heart Association has also stated meditation can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. So, what are you waiting for?
7. It’s Free and Accessible to Everyone!
Unlike joining the gym or signing up for an expensive juice cleanse, meditation is 100% free. (There may be a small fee if you use an app like Headspace, but there are dozens of free online guided meditations you can try.)
You don’t have to be young, fit or flexible to meditate. It’s totally accessible to people of all shapes, sizes and walks of life. All you need to start reaping the benefits of meditation is to find a quiet spot where you won’t be interrupted, and invest in a little ‘me-time’. You won’t regret it!
Our workplace yoga classes incorporate meditation and are a great way to quiet the monkey mind and integrate your mind, body and spirit. Call us on 9650 2220 to enquire.
Pete Hunt is a highly skilled physiotherapist with nearly three decades of experience working in sports physiotherapy and private practice. The Director of The Alignment Studio, he has a special interest in musculoskeletal and sports injuries, orthopaedic rehabilitation and postural syndrome. With a caring, communicative approach, Pete uses a combination of joint and soft tissue mobilisation and exercise prescription to treat his clients. He’s also passionate about education for injury prevention and lasting results.