Why Practice Meditation? Research Studies
A recent study showed that practicing meditation may benefit mental health. In this article, we’ll explain the benefits of meditation and discuss whether or not this is the case.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a method of training the mind in order to develop mental stability and calmness. While there are different schools of thought, most schools teach similar techniques. The basic approach is to focus on the breath, which is done while sitting upright or in a seated position. Many schools of thought also teach you to pay attention to your body and its state of being.
Why Practice Meditation?
The benefits of meditation are numerous and widely researched. Some of the benefits include:
Increased Self-awareness
One study found that meditation has positive effects on self-awareness and insight into how you feel. This, in turn, leads to improvements in interpersonal relationships.
Improved Focus
While it may seem counterintuitive, meditation trains you to focus on the present moment without becoming distracted by the past or future. This leads to improved cognitive control and greater ability to ignore distractions.
Increased Productivity
There are multiple studies that suggest increased productivity through meditation. One study showed that working under stress is counterproductive and that mindfulness techniques help reduce stress levels.
Reduced Anxiety
There is evidence that mindfulness techniques can reduce anxiety and help relieve symptoms of certain conditions. One study showed that a meditation group was more effective than a control group at helping patients with social phobia.
Reduced Depression
There is evidence that mindfulness practices may reduce symptoms of depression and improve mood. One study showed that a mindfulness meditation group had lower scores on a depression scale than a control group, and those scores decreased more over time.
Lowered Blood Pressure
Research suggests that meditation may lower blood pressure and help prevent hypertension. One study suggested that the practice of yoga is an effective method for lowering blood pressure.
Improved Sleep
Meditation techniques can help induce sleep. This is one reason why many people meditate before bedtime. A study of sleep habits among college students found that people who meditated were more likely to be non-sleepy during the day and more likely to fall asleep at a more regular time.
Increased Concentration
Mindfulness training may increase concentration and sharpen focus. There are a number of different approaches to meditation, so some schools teach you to focus on your breathing while others train you to focus on the sensation of the breath as it comes in and out.
A few studies show that meditation may improve short-term memory, and one study showed that it may also reduce errors in memory recall.
Why Is Meditation So Popular?
In addition to all of the benefits listed above, there are several other reasons that meditation is so popular:
It’s Easy
Meditation is easy to learn, especially if you can get started with a basic instruction manual. The techniques taught in most classes are simple, and you can practice in less than 5 minutes.