Why Meditate?

Need a reason to start meditating? Here are a few.

Stress Reduction

We're all under stress pretty much all of the time. Whether it's work, family, health, money, or any of a thousand other thing, none of us lives completely stress-free. All of that stress can lead to some rather serious problems, from anxiety and depression to trouble sleeping to heart disease. Stress is bad. Unfortunately, it's a normal part of life for most of us. Meditation won't eliminate stress, but it sure can help reduce it. How? Read on!

Lowering Cortisol Levels: Cortisol is what's often called the "stress hormone." We get stressed and our bodies produce more of it. High cortisol levels over a long time can lead to health issues, including weight gain, high blood pressure, and a weakened immune system. Meditation has been shown to lower cortisol levels, helping to reduce the effects of stress.

Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System: That's a big word, I know. Don't worry, I'll explain.
Your autonomic nervous system controls things like your heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. You know, those things you don't have to think about. It's divided into two parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is the part that triggers your "fight or flight" response. While useful, it's not great for lowering stress. Quite the opposite, in fact. The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, triggers your "rest and digest" state. That's what meditation helps to activate. That's good for you.

Mindfulness and Present-Moment Awareness: That sounds complicated, but it's not. "Mindfulness" is just a fancy way of saying "being in the moment". Basically, you're putting yourself in the present, the "now". When you're focusing on the "now", you're not thinking about past mistakes or worrying about future maybes. Meditation is good for mindfulness.

Improved Concentration

Do you find yourself getting distracted easily? Yeah, me too. Meditation has been shown to be a powerful tool for improving your concentration and reducing the constant distractions.

Training the Mind: If you want strong muscles, you exercise. Meditation is like a workout for your mind. Regular practice requires you to repeatedly bring your attention back to your point of focus, whether it's your breathing, a mantra, or a specific thought or image. After a while, you'll find that you've trained your mind to get back on track much easier, and even to ignore all of those minor little distractions.

Enhancing Brain Function: That's right, actual scientific studies have shown that regular meditation can lead to increased thickness in areas of the brain related to attention and sensory processing. People much smarter than me say that this change suggests a long-term improvement in cognitive functions, including concentration. If you want to be a big-brain, meditation is a good start.

Boosts Immunity

Your immune system is your body's defense mechanism against pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and other nasties. You need a strong immune system to maintain good health and prevent illnesses. Meditation, with its myriad benefits, has been shown to have a positive impact on your immune system.

Balanced Hormonal Levels: Meditation can also balance other hormones in your body. Keeping your hormones balanced helps you keep your immune system healthy, which makes it better at its job and keeps the rest of your body healthy. Which hormones? Cortisol, melatonin, serotonin, DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone), GABA (Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid), endorphins, oxytocin, and growth hormone. That last one won't make you taller if you've already reached your full growth. It's meditation, not a miracle.

These are just a few solid reasons for giving meditation a try. What are you waiting for?

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