Meditation and Your Brain

Researchers report that those who meditate for thirty minutes per day for eight weeks have changes in their gray matter density in the part of the brain associated with memory. Meditation assists with their sense of self and learning abilities as well as memory.

Mindfulness is one technique of meditating. Other meditation styles are Shamatha, Vipassana and Zazen. Mindfulness meditation is based on ancient Buddhist techniques which focus on breathing, emotions or any type of body sensation rather than letting the mind wander. It can reduce blood pressure, increase attention spans and reduce stress.

Those who meditate, researchers have found, have larger brains. Since our brains shrink naturally from aging, meditation could well slow this progress. Meditation helps all areas of the brain so those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury would greatly benefit from it as well. Meditation, it is also believed, can slow down the onset of various types of dementias.

According to research, there are many benefits to doing regular meditation besides the ones mentioned above. It can also help people stay focused, can boost feelings of happiness, contentment and well-being. Mindfulness meditation is also thought to help post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And it is linked to metabolism, brain activation, blood pressure and stress and pain reduction. Meditation tunes out self-centered thinking and it is thought that it may re-wire the brain and provide cognitive benefits. Again this makes it especially good for those who have suffered a traumatic or acquired brain injury.

Meditation cultivates positive emotions, emotional stability, better focus and control, reduced levels of stress, mindful behavior and it bolsters the immune system. It also helps to reduce the symptoms of compulsive disorder and helps with chronic anxiety and depression.

Meditation requires deep concentration. For those who practice Mindfulness meditation, it opens their awareness to present bodily sensations, i.e.: their breathing, the beat of their heart, their thoughts and their emotions. Mindfulness meditation calms and nourishes the brain while it increases the blood flow to the brain.

The technique of Mindfulness meditation is being aware of present thoughts and actions but anchoring yourself to perhaps your breathing. This is to be aware of each breath as you breathe in and out, aware of the length of each breath and aware of your body as a whole. This will encompass feelings of a calming of your body with each breath in and out you take. If your mind wanders, bring it gently back to your breathing technique or whatever other bodily function you are focusing on.

In this fast-paced world, we all would like to reduce the stress in our lives and have serenity and calmness surrounding us. Meditation therefore, points to the many benefits, as mentioned above, as well as the importance of helping people as they age and those who have suffered brain injuries.