5 Reasons to apply Meditation for Stress Relief

Aug 28

Especially in the current era it is vital to remember to effectively slow down….and then actually applying it every day

Stress prompts many adverse health conditions, psychological and physical in nature

In our world we are constantly surrounded by technology, visual stimuli and noises of all kinds. We are being bombarded with endless torrents of information, delivered to us through our hand held magic devices, providing universes of entertainment and endless channels, ceaseless streams of themes and topics, completely diverting our attention and energy from the present moment.

In the “old days”, before the industrial, electronic and now digital revolution, our energy was set in the current time and space, allowing us to focus within, or the person we were with, our partner, family, or the project and adventure at hand.

Chronic stress is a killer

Nowadays, instead, we are surrounded by continuous and multiple cascades of distractions, which greatly contribute to our elevated constant state of chronic stress.

Chronic stress affects a person’s mental ability and sound judgement, and reigns at the top of causes for a growing number of adverse health such as phobias, heart problems and high blood pressure.

Stress affects the whole personality of a person. This Forbes article talks about stress being the silent killer in the business world.

Meditation as the Stress Antidote

It is apparent that one needs to combat stress to support a healthy lifestyle, especially when one considers that about 90% of our problems are caused by our own thoughts.

One of many ways of mitigating it, is meditation - an ancient practice that yields modern-day benefits. It is a broad subject and this article wishes to give you some basic insights and food for thought.

Meditation is a relaxing practice that helps you to let go of stress and refocus your mind. There are many different forms of meditation and they all can have a slightly different effect and result, depending on the type of practice one follows.

The ways to meditate can be associated to Spiritual Meditation, Mindfulness Meditation, Movement Meditation, Focused Meditation, Visualization Meditation, Sound Meditation, Transcendental Meditation and more. Here is another entry that dives deeper into the concept of mindfulness and meditation.

The main goal when meditating is to calm and guide the mind. This is because the mind can generate stressful or anxious feelings and meditation can help to reduce a lot of nervous energy and anxiety.

Meditation is often associated with the notion of quitting everything and joining Tibetan monks on a mountaintop, yet, it is not the only path to meditate. You don’t need to quit your job, give up your possessions and go-off 30 days chanting. Recent research indicates that meditating brings about dramatic effects in as little as a 10-minute session.

How sound supports meditating

Aside from a soothing human voice leading you into a guided meditative state, calming background sounds act as powerful vehicles to attain deep states of relaxation.

Australian didgeridoos have been used for about 40,000 years for sound healing purposes

These can be generated by instruments such as the didgeridoo, gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, Koshi chimes and others. Oftentimes referred to as a sound bath, or gong bath, sound bathing is an increasingly popular form of attaining deep states of meditative relaxation and rejuvenation.

Curative (as opposed to parasitic) sounds are ancient vehicles to bring humans back to their core, to their essence, to their humanity. Apart from the above modality, one just needs to spend some time in nature to experience deeply healing sounds.

Or at its fundamental level, just cover your ears and hum, or tone with your voice, and experience the vibration and resonance in your skull cavities and body.

Yoga and Meditation go hand in hand

Another wonderful way of connecting with the calmer areas within, is yoga. An ancient practice for deepening one’s inner connection, while toning the body and keeping it pliable and flexible.

Kundalini yoga (kuṇḍalinī-yoga) derives from kundalini, defined in Vedantic culture as energy that lies dormant at the base of the spine until it is activated (as by the practice of yoga) and channeled upward through the chakras in the process of spiritual perfection. Kundalini yoga utilizes sound as part of the practice.

Sleep: the best meditation

It may sound simple…but do not forget to REST. Allow your mind and body to rejuvenate. When is the last time you allowed yourself a midday nap? Or a 10 – 12 h night of sleep? Sleep deprivation is a huge culprit in negative moods, including anxiety and depression. Allow yourself to replenish adequately. Getting enough quality sleep at the right times can help protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety. The way you feel while you're awake depends in part on what happens while you're sleeping. The benefits are endless.

Benefits of Meditation

Several studies have demonstrated that subjects who meditated for a short time showed increased alpha waves (the relaxed brain waves) and decreased anxiety and depression.

A Harvard Research study shares insights on depression and the positive aspects of meditation and mindfulness. And here another worthwhile entry published by the Mayo Clinic on the benefits of meditation.

So with that…some of the many positive aspects of meditation:

Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
Building skills to manage your stress
Increasing self-awareness
Focusing on the present
Reducing negative emotions
Increasing imagination and creativity
Increasing patience and tolerance.

The best time to start meditating is NOW

A state of optimal brain-heart coherence supports an ideal state of health - meditation is an integral part in achieving that

No matter where you are, or what your circumstances are, you can begin a mindful and meditative approach to your life at any time.

Start by setting aside three minutes per day, close your eyes and focus on a slow deep breathing sequence. As you inhale and exhale consciously, set the following thoughts in your mind:

“I am essence”…….“I am love”……..“I am harmony”, or
“Day by day in every way…I am getting better and better”

To move forward and become a meditator, simply find the practice that suits you and start sitting, and being! Set aside the time (which may mean replacing other pastimes such as TV or computer), and the space to do it - and just have a go.

Over time, 3 minutes might grow into 5 and then into 11 or more. Do not be discouraged if sometimes you may only be able to generate one or two seconds of mindfulness, that too is a meditation. And then one day, through constant practice, this meditative state of awareness and consciousness may become an integrated constant experience, your “normal” state of being.

The meditative state of being is part of our nature…we just need to re-member it, allow to reconnect with it. Meditation is life enhancing, it all begins with a deep and mindful breath…