WHAT IS MEDITATION?
Meditation is a practice to peacefully focus the mind on something, allowing the external world to fade into the background, to cultivate calm, compassion, mindfulness and positivity.
Styles of meditation vary (see Meditation Techniques for examples), so you may focus on the breath, body, object, word or visual, freeing your mind of the triggers weighing you down.
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Meditation allows us space between what we are faced with and our response to it, it gives us time to consider how we want to respond, before reacting from emotion.
BENEFITS OF MEDITATION
Happiness
Studies have shown that meditation activates parts of the brain associated with positive emotions. The practise also encourages gratitude and presence of now, rather than the 'next'.
Health and immunity
Meditation is proven to reduce blood pressure, increase blood flow and
reduce heart rate. It can help strengthen immunity and overall well-being.
Reduce stress
Meditation calms down the nervous system and over time reduces the size of the brains stress centre – the amygdala.
Self awareness
Turning your attention inwards, to yourself, we listen and learn more about our emotions, needs and intentions.
Cultivate calm
Regular meditation is proven to increase brain size in areas linked to emotion regulation. The act itself can also feel calming as we allow ourselves to just stop, and be still.
Relaxation
Meditation induces the relaxation response which reduces activity in the sympathetic nervous system and is the opposite of fight-or-flight mode.
Kindness and compassion
Meditation improves the relationship you have with yourself, and helps you to feel more connected and compassionate to others, too. We are reminded that everyone faces challenges, no matter who they are, and that we all wish to be happy.
Feeling present
The practice of meditation cultivates a
mindful state – where we feel more present in the moment, instead of being lost in thoughts of the past or future.
