Meditation: Why It Works So Well
Meditation is a classic stress relief tool. Learn why it's so effective, and get motivated to give it a try.
Overview of Meditation:
Throughout the day, when we experience stress, our bodies automatically react in ways that prepare us to
fight or run. In some cases of extreme danger, this physical response is helpful. However, a prolonged state of such agitation can
cause physical damage
to every part of the body. Meditation affects the body in exactly the
opposite ways that stress does, restoring the body to a calm state,
helping the body to repair itself, and preventing new damage due to the
physical effects of stress.
The Benefits of Meditation:
The
benefits of meditation are manifold. When practicing meditation, your
heart rate and breathing slow down, your blood pressure normalizes, you
use oxygen more efficiently, and you sweat less. Also, your adrenal
glands produce less cortisol, your mind ages at a slower rate, and your
immune function improves. Your mind also clears and your creativity
increases. People who meditate regularly find it easier to give up
life-damaging habits like smoking, drinking and drugs.
How Meditation Works:
Meditation
involves sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind. You may
focus on a sound, like "ooommm," or on your own breathing, or on
nothing at all. It’s necessary to have 5-20 distraction-free minutes to
spend. It’s helpful to have silence and privacy, but more practiced
meditators can do it anywhere. Many practitioners of meditation attach
a spiritual component to it, but it can also be a secular exercise.
Pros Of Meditation:
Meditation
is wonderful in that it’s free, always available, and amazingly
effective in short-term stress reduction and long-term health. Benefits
can be felt in just one session. An experienced teacher isn’t
necessary; you can learn to meditate from a book or from the resources
on this site.
The Cons of Meditation:
It does take some
practice, however, and some people find it difficult to "get it" in the
beginning. It also requires a little patience, and may be difficult for
people with little free time (like some stay-at-home
mothers
who get little privacy from small children). However, the time and
effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth it in terms of the
benefits it provides.
How Does It Compare To Other Stress Reduction Methods?:
Unlike some
medications and herbal therapies,
meditation has no potential side effects. People with physical
limitations may find it easier to practice than strenuous physical
exercise for stress relief, plus, no special equipment is required.
Unlike enlisting the help of a professional, meditation is free.
However, it does take discipline and commitment, so some people may
find it more difficult to maintain as a habit than methods that enlist
the help of someone or something outside themselves for added
motivation. Also, some people may find it more difficult to free their
minds of the thoughts of the day, and thus find it more difficult than
methods like
journaling that involve focusing on these events, or methods that in themselves are distracting, like physical
exercise or the use of
humor.
