Meditation – An Amazing Stress Reduction Technique That is Easy to Do
Meditation has a reputation as an activity related to religious practices and hippy-dippy pseudo-science. This is unfortunate, because meditation is a simple, effective stress management tool that can be used by a anyone and solid medical research has shown that meditation is highly effective as a way to lower stress and even manage pain.
It’s particularly effective at the end of a long, stressful day you can set aside a short period when you get home from work, meditate, and then enjoy your evening with a clear mind and more relaxed body.
Why meditation is great for stress
One of the pioneers of serious meditation research was Harvard’s Dr. Herbert Benson, who’s 1968 book “The Relaxation Response” showed that meditation had a measurable affect on stress, slowing breathing and heartbeat and lessening the body’s natural fight-or-flight response. Meditation will allow you to relax your body and focus your thoughts, thus focusing your mind and allowing you to let go of the day’s troubles. It allows your body to refresh its resources, which is good for your immune system, your blood pressure and your mental outlook.
When you meditate, your heart rate and breathing slow down, your blood pressure normalizes, and you use oxygen more efficiently. Your adrenal glands produce less cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline and you produce good, healing. Your mind clears, allowing you harper thought and greater creativity. Meditation has proved beneficial for people trying to give up smoking, drinking and drugs.
Simple meditation for anyone
Meditation isn’t a mystical, mysterious practice. It’s easy to do, and doesn’t take any special