Ease Your Mind and Body With Meditation
By Paul Rothbart
Many people's lives are filled with stress. There's so much to worry about. Making a living, caring for family, health concerns, and then there are those big global issues you can't do much about. It can be harmful to your mental health and also impact you physically. Stress management is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. There are several methods that have proved effective. One of the better of these ways to manage stress is meditation.
Types of Meditation
There are several types of meditation. You can try them out to see which works best for you. One of the more popular is mantra meditation. In this type, you choose a word or short phrase you find peaceful. You then sit or lie comfortably while repeating the mantra in your head. Focusing on the mantra frees your mind from distractions.
Guided meditation is any form that many people practice. This is often led by a teacher, either live, online, or prerecorded. You close your eyes and use your senses to imagine being in a place that you find peaceful and comforting.
In mindfulness meditation, you sit relaxed with your eyes closed and become hyper-aware of your surroundings. Starting to focus on your breath, mindfulness can keep you present, solidly in the moment, and help you forget your anxiety.
Benefits for Your Mind
Stress and anxiety are harmful to good mental health. By practicing daily meditation, you can learn to relax and avoid the distractions of stress. It may help you to be more creative and come up with solutions for problems that are causing your anxiety. Meditation helps you stay in the present and stop fretting over past mistakes or worrying about what may happen in the future. It can help you to be more patient, tolerant, and self-aware, all of which are assets to good mental health.
Benefits for Your Body
Meditation may seem like a purely mental process, but the mind and body are linked and the practice can also boost your physical health. The relaxation component of meditation can help reduce the pain and frequency of tension headaches. It can also help lower blood pressure and reduce chronic pain. Meditation has also been linked to lower risk of heart disease and better sleep. People with asthma sometimes find relief when meditating.
When it comes to managing stress, you need all the help you can get. Daily meditation may be very helpful. Try out a few methods. You may find one that has a big impact on your mental and physical health.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Covington, Ga.