What is Meditation?
A means of focusing your attention to allow relaxation and mindfulness. Meditation will give back exactly what you put into it. This technique has been around for centuries and spans many cultures around our world.
How long can you focus on a task without getting distracted?
To have a longer attention span is a skill that needs to be exercised. Practicing Meditation can retrain the mind to focus for longer and become a more effective listener, speaker and partner.
Stress reduction is one of the most common reasons to why people try meditation and it has been concluded that meditation lives up to its reputation.
Normally, mental and physical stress cause increased levels of the stress hormone “Cortisol” This produces many of the harmful effects of stress, such as the release of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines. In an 8-week study, a meditation style called “mindfulness meditation” reduced the inflammation response caused by stress.
As Yoga Journal explains “Modern neuroimaging technology like fMRI machines provide more detailed brain scans than ever before. Researchers can now see the long-term effects of practicing meditation on neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to form new connections, especially in response to learning or experiencing something new. Just as exercise develops your muscles, practicing presence through meditation strengthens neural connections. Meditation, asana, and pranayama stimulate your brain, which helps prevent atrophy and functional decline. Positive effects have been seen in long-time meditators who practice for as little as 10 minutes a day. “
Interested in getting a meditation practice started? We have beginners meditation workshops coming up! Check out our Events page for the next one.