If you’re anxious because of stress, meditation can help.
Before you read any further, if you have a picture in your head of meditation that involves candles, a cross-legged position and lots of “Ommm-ing,” go ahead and try to forget it. There are several forms of meditation, and they don’t all involve sitting still or strange chanting.
Meditating has existed in many forms over the centuries and was originally used to gain understanding of the world. Today, it’s all about the mind-body connection.
There are many emotional and physical benefits of meditating. It can give you peace and balance in your life. It also helps you gain a new perspective and manage your stress, increases self-awareness, helps you focus on the present and reduces negative emotions.
When you are more at peace emotionally, your body can also begin to heal physically. Meditation has been shown to help patients manage symptoms of conditions like anxiety disorders, asthma, cancer, depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, pain and sleep problems.
There are different types of meditation that can help with these illnesses, some of our favorites are:
Mindfulness Meditation ““ This meditation style is based on being present in the moment and accepting it. You focus on what you are doing such as breathing or eating and observe your thoughts without judgement.
Tai Chi ““ This is a form of martial arts where you go through a series of postures or poses at your own pace and practice deep breathing.
Yoga ““ Yoga helps you become more flexible and calm through poses that require balance and concentration.
Whatever type of meditation you choose, remember that it’s not a competition, it’s about keeping calm and relaxing.
To learn more about meditation types click here.