In thousands of books, videos, and even in the spa centers, meditation is presented as the best method of relaxation. But what if this technique has “side effects”? Is the average person correctly understanding the meaning of this word? Comparing the ideas of European and Eastern peoples about this technique, one can find a lot of inconsistencies. So who is right? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a holiday?
What is meditation
Meditation is an exercise that is accompanied by high concentration, abstraction from the surrounding fuss. However, this is not the only definition. Meditation refers not only to the practices themselves, but also to the states in which a person reaches the peak of his concentration.
Meditative art serves three purposes:
- enlightenment in terms of spirituality;
- bodily recovery;
- both listed tasks.
It is customary to meditate sitting with eyes closed. However, this is not the only way. In some practices, a person directs a glance at a real object, lies, stands, walks, or even works. With a standard form of exercise, the personality focuses on physical sensations, mental images, and occasionally on its emotions. Still a few facts about meditation:
- sometimes used auxiliary items - a rosary, other attributes of faith;
- deep breathing technique is followed;
- there are different techniques;
- Often the process is accompanied by the repetition of one movement;
- practicing the repetition of sacred sounds - mantras (known “Om” or “Aum”).
What are the benefits of meditation? What benefits can you get from them?
The benefits of meditations
Instead of a psychotherapist
Meditative practices have a beneficial effect on psychological state. Moreover, the effect of classes is so obvious that even psychotherapists recommend such leisure to everyone who suffers from neurotic disorders. This method:
- removes chronic anxiety;
- promotes self-knowledge;
- minimizes stress, its negative effects;
- increases the production of serotonin, responsible for a good mood;
- strengthens internal resilience.
A person who meditates regularly, copes not only with the current bad emotions, but also with those that may arise in the future. Studies show that such people begin to react to trouble easier than before they began to conduct training systematically.
For those who choose this occupation, a new opportunity opens up - to draw energy from its internal reserve. It becomes an additional supply of vigorous energy. People who relax from time to time in asana (yogic posture), note that they have lethargy, fatigue, drowsiness. Instead, there is a feeling of “second breath” in work, relationships, health, and other areas.
Strong heart
During meditation, with proper breathing, comfortable posture, pressure on the most important and largest artery - the aorta - is reduced. At the same time, good blood flow is ensured throughout the body. Blood, enriched with oxygen, circulates freely through the vessels. A few more benefits for the cardiovascular system:
- decrease, stabilization of blood pressure;
- reducing the risk of heart attack or heart attack;
- pulse normalization;
- elimination of the effect of stiff, cold extremities;
- the disappearance of shortness of breath.
Meditative techniques do not replace sports, but they also have a positive effect on the body. Many patients with diseases of the heart or blood vessels are contraindicated physical activity. Meditation for them is the best way out.
Intellect and concentration
Since the blood rich in oxygen feeds the cells well, it means that the brain, which receives a sufficient amount of nutrients, begins to work more actively. With age, gray matter loses its density. Meditation noticeably inhibits this process.
The 2011 Harvard Scientific Experiment showed that this kind of rest restores brain cells. It clearly increases concentration, memory, learning ability, and also improves:
- Creative skills;
- intuition;
- perception of difficult topics, riddles;
- self-organization;
- productivity.
No, after a couple of classes, a person does not suddenly turn into a genius. However, he will notice that he can work longer on mental tasks, less tired. The necessary answers will come to mind much faster. The mind will be replenished with qualities such as clarity, sharpness, subtlety.
Sensitivity
This is not about vulnerability or weakness. It is more appropriate to talk about a certain “insight”. Blind people feel things to the touch much better than owners of good vision. Meditative lessons will help achieve the same tactile sensitivity.
Systematic practice also has a positive effect on hearing, smell, feeling in space. Improves work, the state of the vestibular apparatus.
But there is one paradox. Although he is very nice. This relaxation helps reduce pain:
- headaches, migraines;
- muscle;
- stomach;
- articular.
This theory was proved by Fadel Zeidan, a neuroscientist from the USA. With the help of a tomograph, his technicians recorded the activity of the brain areas during the pain sensations in the subjects. Then the experiment participants were sent to four sessions of 20-minute meditation. After this, the study was repeated.
This time the tomograph did not capture the changes in the corresponding areas of the brain at all. The subjects themselves admitted that the pain during the second session was almost halved.
Deep sleep
Meditative exercises do not compensate for the lack of night rest. They also cannot fully or partially replace it. However, with regular classes:
- the required number of hours for sleep will decrease;
- waking up in the morning will be easier;
- morning awakening will be accompanied by vivacity, healthy appetite;
- insomnia disappears;
- adjust the mode of the day will be easier;
- nighttime awakenings will stop.
In this case, this effect is observed almost from the first trainings. There is less sleepiness throughout the day, no need for an afternoon nap.
Good immunity
Another study by Harvard University has shown that people who often practice yoga or meditation have improved energy production in mitochondria. This reaction provides a strong immunity, increased resistance to stress.
It makes sense to mention the well-known popular expression “all diseases are from nerves”. Partly it is true. Negative experiences, if they do not create new diseases, then definitely aggravate them. Correct meditations prevent the negative effect of anxiety, dismantle the already existing “inner mess”.
Restrictions and contraindications
There is a category of people for whom it is better to seek other types of relaxation - these are patients with depression or mental disabilities. Even if you use the technique only for health purposes, you still have to face your inner state. The reaction of people with these diagnoses may be unexpected, dangerous for themselves or others.
Like any technique of working on the body and mind, meditation is better to discuss with your doctor. This is especially true of those who have problems with:
- musculoskeletal system (not all poses will do);
- osteochondrosis (the same reason as in the previous paragraph);
- fainting or cloudiness of consciousness;
- sharp, unexpected, severe vasospasm.
Meditation is really good for physical, psychological health. However, this effect is observed only in those who intelligently and sensibly take on this occupation. Otherwise, either progress does not appear at all, or, even worse, the method begins to act to the detriment. To avoid possible mistakes, unpleasant consequences, it is better to stock up with specialized literature, recommendations of your doctor even before the start of classes.
