There are many health and spiritual benefits of meditation. In some cases, yoga and meditation are combined or yoga is used to prepare for meditation. Often studios that offer yoga classes also offer guided meditation for people who want to try it, but don’t know where to start.
The spiritual or psychological benefits to meditation are progressive. As you progress in your meditative practice, the ultimate goal is to reach a state of enlightenment or spiritual bliss. Along the path to enlightenment, there are other benefits, such as reducing stress, relaxing the body and experiencing happiness in the present moment.
These benefits shouldn’t be dismissed lightly, particularly in the modern world where stress can sometimes feel like a natural state of being. Although stress is so common that it feels normal, it isn’t. In fact, chronic stress is horrible for your general health. Meditation reduces stress and anxiety and can improve symptoms of depression.
The regular practice of meditation relaxes the muscles in the body and relieves tension in the muscles, joints and organs of the body. This relaxing effect helps improve the general mood, reduces PMS symptoms and relieves emotional distress that can lead to, or contribute to, anxiety and depression.
Meditation involves concentration, so it comes as no surprise that the practice results in improved concentration. There have been studies that have shown people who practice meditation experience some improvement in general concentration and increased mental performance.
The breathing exercises in meditation offer benefits to the respiratory system. The respiratory rate is decreased and oxygen consumption is lowered. In addition, the practice slows the heart rate and reduces blood pressure. For this reason, a growing number of doctors are now recommending meditation to their heart patients.
Research has shown meditation is good for strengthening the immune system. Various studies have shown mediation enhances healing after surgery and can speed healing. Other studies have shown an increase in the immune cells that are responsible for fighting bacteria, viruses and cancer cells in the body.