why is meditation the fastest growing health trend?
More and more people are learning about the huge and sometimes life-changing benefits that meditation can have and the power it has to enhance the quality of their daily life, especially with the hustle and bustle of a fast-moving world.
We all deal with some sort of stress on a regular basis and ignoring it can lead to all types of health challenges, both mental and physical, that can eventually result in burn out.
In 2018 a research study published in a journal focused on cognitive enhancement, in which participants used the Headspace App, found that 8 weeks of meditation in the workplace resulted in a 46% decrease in psychological distress and a 31% reduction in negative thoughts. For this reason alone the benefits are huge and after practicing regularly people are finding that they are more focused, can tackle their work better and that their life improves considerably.
Incorporating meditation as part of a daily self-care routine can help reduce anxiety, de-stress, enhance wellbeing, improve sleep and boost immunity, as well as decrease signs of ageing.
People are also noticing how they perform better at work, as it helps boost creativity and productivity… hence the increase in many workers meditating in their lunch hour in parks and quiet areas. Another popular practice is post-workout meditation to improve physical performance and influence the way the body responds to exercise.
It gives you a sense of stillness, peace and balance to relax and cope with challenges of the day by refocusing your attention on something calming while helping you to stay centred and it causes a shift in awareness.
The key to getting the most benefit is consistency, making it a daily practice, but people often give up when their thoughts start drifting and they say they find it difficult to quieten their mind. It’s not actually about quietening your mind, it’s not about doing anything, it’s about just being. Once you are present and centred your mind will naturally quieten down.
There are many different forms of meditation, with a multitude of guided recordings and apps available to help people.
When working with the Law of Attraction, meditation plays a huge part in helping you to get into alignment with your inner being and your core values, reducing resistance to your desires and allowing manifestation. This is mindfulness meditation where you are fully aware in the present moment while acknowledging and accepting thoughts, feelings and sensations without judgement.
Although it’s very simple, meditation can be difficult to master. If you’ve never meditated before, it’s best to start slowly and ease yourself into practice.
Ideally meditate on waking, if possible, when you are in a sleepy alpha frequency, before any thoughts of the day have entered your head. It is equally beneficial, though, before bed to help you sleep and whenever you can fit it in during the day. The main rule is to make it a daily habit, just like brushing your teeth.
If you feel you have got too much going on in your mind to meditate at a particular time you have set, come back to it at a later time when you are more relaxed and ready.
Start slowly by meditating for 5 minutes a day and lead up to 15/20 minutes.
How to meditate:
1 Find a quiet space where you will be uninterrupted.
2 Set a timer and make sure your phone is off or on airplane mode.
3 If possible set the scene by lighting some candles and/or burn some incense for a relaxed atmosphere.
4 Get into a comfortable position sitting on a chair or cross legged on the floor.(Alternatively, find a place in nature where you won’t be disturbed and feel at one with your surroundings.)
5 Once you’re comfortable, make sure your back is upright but not too tense then close your eyes and completely relax, letting go of any tension in your body.
6 Slowly shrug your shoulders and then let them gently fall back and feel your arms relax.
7 Sit with your back straight and place your hands, palms up gently on your lap.
8 Take a deep breath in through your nose, focusing on the feeling of the air entering your body through your nostrils and filling your lungs… hold for 2 seconds and then exhale gently as the breath slowly leaves your body. Continue with this breathing keeping your focus on your breath entering and leaving your body.
9 If you catch your mind wandering, just focus back on your breathing, counting your deep breaths in and out. It is natural for this to happen but the key is just to recognise it and take your attention back to your breathing.
10 When your timer goes, take a minute to wriggle your toes and fingers and when you’re ready open your eyes.
You may notice a tingling sensation in your hands or face while meditating, which is a positive experience of energy flowing and a connection with your source. You may experience seeing colours which has been said can signal that you are connected with your higher self. In some traditions, seeing different colours whilst meditating is a sign of your progress while in others certain colours are a sign of healing and a connection to your chakras. It is a pleasant experience but not one to get fixated on, just let the colours come and go.
The goal is to enter the space between where you’re aware of yourself and what’s around you, but your mind is not thinking anything. This awareness is your consciousness… your soul.
If you find it too hard and you just can’t seem to focus on your breathing when your mind keeps wandering… I’ve been there myself… don’t give up, help is at hand!
You may like to take a look at my Meditation Prompts download page on my website, to help you master meditation so that you can benefit from the amazing effects it can have on you.
Click https://www.veelifecoaching.com/meditation-prompts for more info.
Give yourself some love and self-care by starting to meditate today. Let me know how you get on!
Once you master it, you won’t look back and will notice a massive positive shift in your life.
