Demystifying Meditation

What is meditation, its benefits, and how it works

The Tibetan word for meditation is gom or ghom which means “to become familiar with your mind.” It is a practice that involves focusing the mind and eliminating distractions to achieve a state of mental clarity and emotional calm. It has been practiced for thousands of years across various cultures and is known for its numerous benefits for mental, emotional, and physical health. 

Meditation helps to lower stress levels by promoting relaxation and reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol. It can help reduce or alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, promoting a more positive outlook and emotional resilience. Regular meditation practice has been proven to enhance attention span and cognitive function, improving your ability to concentrate on tasks.

There is a lot of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of meditation on physical health. Studies have shown that it can help lower blood pressure by promoting relaxation and reducing stress, which can benefit cardiovascular health. Regular practices, especially those focusing on mindfulness and relaxation, can improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia. Furthermore, it can be used to treat chronic pain by altering the perception of pain and reducing its emotional impact.

The emotional and psychological benefits of meditation are well-known among scholars. Over 1,400 studies have shown the benefits of this practice. Meditation encourages self-reflection and introspection, helping you become more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It helps improve emotional regulation by increasing mindfulness and reducing reactivity to negative emotions.

In addition to fostering a sense of inner peace, contentment, and overall well-being in those who practice meditation as part of a spiritual tradition, it has been found to deepen their awareness of connection to a higher power or spiritual path. It connects one to the higher self or highest self also known as the universal force (also known as God in religious text) and fosters a sense of inner peace, contentment, and overall well-being.

Learn more about what Guided Meditation is and its impact

Now that we covered some of the benefits, let’s explore!

How Does Meditation Work? 

Mindfulness meditation involves paying attention to the present moment without judgment, and observing thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise and pass. This involves focusing on a single object, such as the breath, a mantra, or a visual image, to quiet the mind and eliminate distractions. Meditation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing the fight-or-flight response. This relaxation response helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, contributing to overall physical relaxation.

Regular meditation practice can lead to changes in the brain’s structure and function, literally rewiring your brain for the better! Studies have shown increased gray matter in areas associated with learning, memory, and emotional regulation. Meditation strengthens neural connections, improving cognitive function and emotional resilience in individuals.

Mindful practices and meditation enhance activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions like decision-making, attention, and emotional regulation, and reduce activity in the amygdala, the brain region associated with the fear response and emotional reactivity.

All research and evidence point to why we all would benefit from incorporating meditation practices into our daily routines. However, many are quickly discouraged after a few minutes of trying since by sitting still, there may be a floodgate of negative and limiting thoughts and emotions open up and we are quick to quit the process. 

Meditation is a learned skill, and like any other skill it gets better with practice, so don’t quit! 

Here are some techniques to effectively practice Meditation: 

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes.

2. Begin by focusing on your breath. Observe the sensation of the breath entering and leaving your body. Focus on the gap between inhales and exhales. This can serve as an anchor to keep your mind focused.

3. Perform a body scan by focusing on each part of your body, starting from the toes, and internal organs, and slowly moving up to the head, noticing any sensations or tension.

4. Practice mindfulness by paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Observe your thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise and pass.

5. Repeat a word, phrase, or sound (such as “Om”) silently or aloud to help focus your mind and promote a sense of calm. The vibration of Om is a tuning vibration for the body.

6. Use guided meditation recordings or apps to help you focus and relax. These can provide instructions and visualizations to enhance your meditation practice.

Here are some Guided Meditations for you to use:

7. Practice Affirmation meditation by silently repeating phrases that convey goodwill and compassion towards yourself and others (e.g., “I am happy, I am healthy, I am safe”).

8. Aim to meditate regularly, even if it’s just for a few minutes each day. Consistency is key to experiencing the benefits of meditation. 

By incorporating these techniques and principles into your daily routine, you can harness the power of meditation to enhance your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Meditation is the key to your mental, physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual harmony. So start now, why wait for tomorrow? 

If you are in the Great LA Area or Orange County Area please check out our Upcoming events to join us in person for Guided Mediation, Breathwork and more!! www.zeropointactivation.org

Much love and light to you!  

Light Bringer