When it comes to the betterment of one’s health?
One has so very many options these days.
The easiest being?
Meditation.
[via Natural News]Recently, medical researchers have been exploring the physiological and psychological benefits of daily meditation.
Research on meditation proves health benefits
(1) Heart health: Meditation leads to calmness and better stress management. One report from England claims it cuts heart disease in half. The study was done on people with a history of heart health problems. Another study in Southern California had similar conclusions.
(2) Blood Pressure: Blood pressure is lowered naturally by practicing meditation daily. This has been measured and recorded.
(3) Stress reduction and improved energy levels: General health, immunity, and energy levels are boosted by meditation in that it reduces sympathetic nervous system activity, resulting in reduced stress hormones released. Chronic fatigue or adrenal fatigue and a compromised immune system are the direct results of too many unnecessary adrenaline and cortisol secretions.
(4) Increased intelligence: AUniversity of California, Los Angelesstudy showed MRI evidence of increased gyrification (brain matter folding) in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain associated with overall cognitive intelligence.
(5) Self awareness and reflection: Similar studies in Massachusetts and Germany showed brain matter changes corresponded with feelings of improved self esteem and peacefulness within eight weeks of daily meditation. [Read More]
And it doesn’t take long…
In fact only a few moments a day to pause and to reflect.
And by a few?
I mean just two.
[via LifeHacker] Zen Habits blogger Leo Babuta hits on perhaps the most important aspect of making
meditation a centering tool for your hectic life: forming the habit. Don’t buy a mat or pillow, or focus on 15-minute sits—not yet. Just sit for 2 minutes, every single day.
Babuta’s post is a great primer for those who feel like there’s just no way to fit meditation into their schedule, or, maybe more so, those who have tried and fallen off. Just two minutes, and the self-discipline of an unbroken streak, are all you need, Babuta writes:
Start with just 2 minutes. This is really important. Most people will think they can meditate for 15-30 minutes, and they can. But this is not a test of how strong you are at staying in meditation – we are trying to form a longer-lasting habit. And to do that, we want to start with just a two minutes. You’ll find it much easier to start this way, and forming a habit with a small start like this is a method much more likely to succeed. You can expand to 5-7 minutes if you can do it for 7 straight days, then 10 minutes if you can do it for 14 straight days, then 15 minutes if you can stick to it for 21 straight days, and 20 if you can do a full month.
Two minutes a day to invest into your future well being?
Honestly…
If you don’t have a mere two minutes a day to spare to put towards the betterment of you?
Well, just…
