What are the benefits of meditation?
Meditation is not a new practise. There’s a number of reasons why it’s been around for so many years and why it’s practised by everyone from Buddhist monks to that guy in your office who seems to have become so much more chill of late.
And while it can seem hard at first, Headspace says it’s ‘both a skill and an experience’; the benefits are worth the practice.
Meditation can help to:
- Reduce the effects of stress - studies suggest meditation can significantly improve our health both mentally and physically by reducing the harmful effects of stress on our body
- Improve your sleep – research suggests following a meditation program can help you get an even better night’s sleep that following a program to improve sleep hygiene
- Sharpen your focus – for those of us that feel like we are in a constant state of busyness, a regular meditation practice helps you to develop an inner witness that monitors your attention
- Supports a healthy immune system – meditation may lower levels of blood markers that indicate inflammation, and increase a number of key immune system helper cells, which help to support our health and wellbeing