Myths and Benefits of Meditation

Meditation and mindfulness are two buzzwords that have grown in popularity in the last few years. While some may roll their eyes at the thought, others can testify to their life-changing benefits.

Often I hear people say “Meditation is hard,” or “I don’t know how to do it the right way,” and I understand the sentiment. The meditation PR strategy is really just a big game of telephone which means there are a lot of misconceptions about what it actually is, how to do it, and how it can help you improve your overall health.

What Is Meditation?

Breathing. Silence. Reading. Writing. Walking. Dancing. Laying on the floor staring at the ceiling. All of these things are different types of meditation. We’re used to seeing a peaceful person sitting criss cross on the floor with their eyes closed; and while this is meditation, it’s not the only way to meditate.

Essentially, meditation is the act of being present, settling your thoughts, and taking notice of what you feel. Well, that’s my meditative yoga teacher definition — here’s Webster’s definition: to engage in mental exercise (such as concentration on one's breathing or repetition of a mantra) for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.

The heightened level of awareness is the goal — no matter how you get there.

The Myths & Benefits of Meditation

We already know there is a lot of misinformation out there, so let's shine the light on a few myths and benefits of meditation.

Myth: Meditation must be long to be effective.

Experts say consistent meditation is more important than lengthy meditation. Meditation does not have to be any longer than 60 seconds! Depending on your availability and schedule, you can fit meditation into any time slot because it’s all about being present - no matter how long the moment lasts.

Myth: Meditation must be practiced in silence.

Meditation is about centering yourself which can happen with or without sound. Going within yourself and tuning out your surroundings is just as effective as putting on your favorite song and surrendering to how you feel in the moment. Taking notice of your thoughts and your breath requires concentration, not silence.

Myth: The goal of meditation is to clear your mind.

Meditation is more about paying attention to your thoughts than it is about clearing your mind completely. Paying attention to what thoughts come up gives you the opportunity to be mindful of how you’re actually feeling. In our everyday lives, it’s easy to ignore our thoughts or feel overwhelmed by them. In meditation, you can use the time to watch them and take note of the patterns.

Benefit: Mediation helps the brain function better

It may sound a little crazy, but a strong meditation practice can shift the way your brain functions. Meditation helps decrease fear and anxiety in the brain by replacing negative neural pathways with positive ones. If you’d like a more scientific explanation, do a little research on “the effects of meditation on neural pathways.'' To summarize, as you meditate consistently, your brain will reorganize these new connections and experiences to positively change the way you think and respond to situations.

Benefit: Meditation can reduce stress

Meditation can produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind by moving you to refocus your attention to something calming. Building a habit of this will make peace the default response to experiences that may have been stressful in the past. With meditation, instead of triggering a fight or flight response, you trigger relaxation.

Benefit: Meditation improves your gut health

According to Medical News Today, a new study suggests practicing deep meditation for an extended period of time may help maintain balance within the gut-brain axis, the communication from brain to gut and gut to brain. The gut-brain axis can regulate the immune system, hormone signaling, stress response, and various essential bodily functions. Basically everything in our bodies is connected.

This study identified:

• Meditation may affect certain bacteria that may have a role in mental well-being.

• Meditation may increase anti-inflammatory pathways that protect against inflammation & increase metabolism.

• Mediation may lower agents linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, such as total cholesterol.