Scientific Benefits of Meditation

The benefits of having a meditation practice  have been strongly supported by thousands of evidence-based neuroscience research studies in the recent years.  

 

Psychological Benefits: 

-Improve overall mental health 

- Reduce anxiety/stress

- Reduce reactivity 

- Reduce depression

- Reduce irritability

- Reduce aggression 

- Improve insomnia

- Improve social connection

 

Physical Benefits:  

- Lower blood pressure

- Reduce symptoms of IBS, ulcerative colitis, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, RA, PTSD, chronic pain  

- Slow down cognitive decline 

- Improve concentration

- Improve memory 

- Amygdala (part of brain that activates anxiety/fear/stress) decreases in size 

- Gray matter in hippocampus (part of brain that assists in cognition, memory and emotional regulation) increases in size  

 

* This practice may not be appropriate for everyone, not a treatment for any disorder, and not a substitute for professional care.  If there are underlying psychological or traumatic issues, some people can be distressed by a meditation practice if they are not properly guided.   If it doesn't feel right for you, please simply stop with ease.  We should listen to our inner wisdom what is right for us in this moment.  

 

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 https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth

 

 https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2018/04/harvard-researchers-study-how-mindfulness-may-change-the-brain-in-depressed-patients/

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/05/26/harvard-neuroscientist-meditation-not-only-reduces-stress-it-literally-changes-your-brain/

 

https://www.mindful.org/five-ways-mindfulness-meditation-is-good-for-your-health/

 

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/07-08/ce-corner  "What are the benefits of mindfulness?" by American Psychological Association

 

https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/670724/ Mindful Emotion Regulation: Exploring the Neurocognitive Mechanisms Behind Mindfulness 

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5337506/#:~:text=Several%20authors%20have%20argued%20that,al.%2C%202009%3B%20Farb%20and

Mindfulness and Emotion Regulation: Insights from Neurobiological, Psychological, and Clinical Studies