8 Benefits of Meditation For Your Mind and Body

What if we told you that training your stressed-out brain and taking responsibility for your state of mind is possible through a simple practice like meditation? Meditation is an umbrella term with different myths, meanings, and fairytales, so let’s avoid the fluff: it’s simply a mental exercise that involves focusing on an object, thought, or activity.

Meditation has recently skyrocketed in popularity in the U.S. because of its all-encompassing health benefits. This survey [1] shows that the percentage of adults who practiced meditation tripled between 2012 and 2017, from a mighty 4.1 percent to 14.2 percent.

In this straightforward article, we’ll explore how meditation can benefit your mind and body through science-backed facts. At Purblack, it’s our mission to enhance your well-being with only tried-and-true natural supplements and information.

The History of Meditation

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How did meditation find its way into our modern world? First, we need to go back in time. The oldest written meditation record dates to 1500 BCE in the ancient Indian Vedas. However, documentation of meditation traces back to ancient India from 5000 to 3500 BCE on wall art paintings, where people appear in meditative positions.

After making its way throughout Asia, meditation was adopted by the ancient Greeks and later by Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Finally arriving in the U.S. in the early 20th century, meditation is one of the biggest and most studied health trends practiced in schools, businesses, and prisons to improve quality of life.

Understanding Meditation

Hundreds of meditation techniques exist in various religions, cultures, and traditions. And knowing them all isn’t necessary for you to start, but it’s good to have an idea of what techniques most people are engaged in:

Mindfulness meditation uses the breath as an object of focus and involves paying attention to thoughts, sensations, and emotions to increase calmness and concentration.
Vipassana meditation is a form of mindfulness meditation; it also uses the breath as an anchor and involves analyzing and deconstructing thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Mantra meditation involves repeating specific words and phrases to yourself.
Loving Kindness Meditation focuses on using visualizations to cultivate feelings of unconditional kindness and compassion towards yourself and others.

Now that you know some popular techniques, what does science say about the magic of meditation? Mindfulness-based training is shown [2] to increase gray matter in the hippocampus (the part that plays an essential role in learning and memory formation) and shrink the amygdala (the part that controls stress, fear, and anxiety).

This means that meditation can rewire our brain structures (yes, you read that right). And in the next section, we will look at the benefits and investigate how a natural substance like shilajit can boost your meditation practice.

Health Benefits of Meditation

Hundreds of studies prove that meditation is abundant in mind and body benefits, from managing daily stressors to strengthening immunity. Let’s explore how meditation can improve our health.

Stress reduction: Research shows that mindfulness balances the body’s response to stress, reducing stress hormones and calming down your nervous system [3], and the more we practice, the better we are at reacting to stressful situations in a less spontaneous, more healthy way.
Anxiety and depression: Meditation has been found to break the connection between two parts of the brain that work together to cause depression: the amygdala (the “fear center”) and the medial prefrontal cortex (the part where we worry and ruminate). [4]
Improved focus: A study shows that consistent meditators have better control over their minds’ wandering compared to people who didn’t meditate. In the same study, researchers used brain scans and found that a part of the brain called the ventral posteromedial cortex (linked to daydreaming) was more stable in the meditators. [5]
Emotional well-being: Did you know that practicing mindfulness for just 15 minutes a day can improve emotional well-being? A study shows that people who practiced brief mindfulness meditation for 15 minutes daily for a week experienced improved mood, better emotional processing, and less emotional intensity. [6]
Better sleep: Through breath-focused techniques, meditation works wonders for rest, like reducing pain sensitivity and discomfort [7], increasing the relaxation response, and releasing melatonin (the natural sleep chemical). [8]
Pain management: Research shows that meditation triggers the release of endorphins (the brain’s natural painkillers), making us less sensitive to physical pain. [9]
Boosted Immunity: A study [10] on meditators injected with the flu shot shows that their antibodies increased (a protein that helps the body fight off bacteria and viruses). It doesn’t just stop there: another study [11] shows that people who practiced sky-breath meditation had a significantly higher amount of natural killer cells, which fight off cancer, HIV, and more.
Improved Heart Health: A study shows that patients who practiced meditation with coronary heart disease had lower blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, and mortality rates.

Meditation is undoubtedly a tool that can improve the quality of your life, but it’s not a cure-all. Some studies suggest that natural adaptogens like pure shilajit, when used responsibly and with proper medical guidance, might complement meditation practices and help manage feelings of stress, fatigue, and anxiety. However, the effects can vary among individuals and it’s important to note that this is not a guaranteed solution for these conditions. [12]

How to Incorporate Meditation and Shilajit into Your Daily Life

You might be eager to begin, but how do you start? First and foremost, consider seeking advice from a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen, especially if you have existing health conditions or are taking other medications. It’s important to understand that the most effective meditation technique doesn’t exist. It’s up to your preference to find the one that works for you. Even though there isn’t a one-size-fits-all technique, you can use guided meditation apps like Headspace or Insight Timer as a foundation for your practice.

Alternatively, you can boost your meditation experience with natural supplements like Pure Shilajit. Here’s what we suggest for finding the best shilajit and making it a part of your routine:

Stay away from raw or unpurified shilajit. Check for purified shilajit that is free of heavy metals and fungus.
Only purchase shilajit in resin form to ensure authenticity, and always ask for a Certificate of Analysis to verify it. However, remember to consult a healthcare professional before incorporating it into your daily routine. Beware of powders, tablets, and pills claiming to be shilajit. Ask for a Certificate of Analysis to verify authenticity.
It’s essential to follow the recommended dosage when taking shilajit. While shilajit can improve your overall health, it’s still a supplement that can be harmful if taken more than the recommended daily intake.

Before beginning, it’s good to start with low expectations. It might sound counterintuitive, but you’ll progress much further in meditation when you drop ambitious expectations like gaining emotional mastery immediately. Meditation is a skill; just like any other skill, you must dedicate time and effort to improving it. Here are a few tips to stay consistent:

Time: Set a time and stick to it daily. You should prioritize meditation over other activities, or it won’t become a habit. So, find a time consistent with your other priorities and when you’re the least tired and grumpy.
Location: A consistent spot is just as important as a fixed time. Find a quiet and comfortable place where you’ll be undisturbed. You can sit on a chair or cross-legged, but nothing too comfy where you can fall asleep.

Conclusion

You now know how meditation can work wonders on the mind and body, from being a natural painkiller and stress reducer to strengthening our immunity. We talked about how using natural substances like pure shilajit can be a powerful combo with meditation. Practicing meditation for 15 minutes daily and considering the potential benefits of supplements like shilajit, under the guidance of a healthcare professional, might contribute positively to your well-being. So what are you waiting for?

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on current research and is meant to be informative. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options.

The History of Meditation

Understanding Meditation

Health Benefits of Meditation

How to Incorporate Meditation and Shilajit into Your Daily Life

Conclusion

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