Reduce stress with Mindfulness & Meditation
Stress is a part of life. It's our body's way of responding to any kind of demand. But too much stress, or chronic stress, can lead to serious health problems. That's why it's important to find ways to manage your stress. One effective way to do this is through mindfulness and meditation.
What is meditation?
Meditation has been around for centuries, and its benefits are well-documented. But what exactly is meditation? In general, meditation is a practice of mindfulness, or focus on the present moment by becoming more aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Meditation is a great way to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body. People often meditate to reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, or simply to take a break from the chaos of everyday life. However, the benefits of meditation go far beyond relaxation. Studies have shown that meditation can help to improve focus, reduce tension, lower blood pressure, improve memory, and even immunity.
Benefits of meditation
For many people, meditation is a way to find inner peace and calmness. However, meditation can also offer a number of other health benefits.
Better Sleep
Research has shown that meditation can help to improve sleep quality. Those who struggle with insomnia often find that meditation can help to ease racing thoughts and promote relaxation.
Increased Focus, Clarity and Memory
Regular meditators often find that they have more clarity of thought, improved focus, better memory, increased self-compassion, self-awareness and a greater sense of well-being.
Managing Anxiety and Stress
When you meditate, you focus your attention on your breath or a mantra, and let go of the thoughts and worries that are causing you stress. This can help to calm your mind and body, and allow you to better cope with stressful situations and regulate emotions.
But the benefits aren’t just psychological. Long-term meditation practice has been shown to create changes in the brain and help to regulate the body’s response to stress. Blood pressure, heart-rate, cytokine and cortisol levels, two physiological markers of stress, can decrease with meditation and activity of the amygdala (the part of the brain responsible for fear and anxiety) has been found to decrease.
Tips for beginners
Meditation is a simple and effective way to reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall well being. Although it can seem daunting at first, meditation is actually quite easy to do. Here are a few tips for getting started:
Get Comfortable
Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. You can meditate anywhere – indoors or outdoors, in silence or with background noise. Just make sure you won’t be disturbed for the duration of your practice. You don’t have to meditate for hours on end – just start with 5 or 10 minutes. You can gradually increase the length of your meditation as you become more comfortable with it.
Begin With Breathing
There are a number of different ways to meditate, but one of the simplest is to focus on your breath. As you breathe in and out, try to clear your mind of all other thoughts. Focus on the sensation of your breath as it enters and leaves your body. If your mind starts to wander, simply redirect your attention back to your breath.
Guided Meditation
Meditation can also be guided, with someone leading you through a visualisation or breathing exercises. Take a minute and try this short 6-min meditation today, or you can join us every Tuesday evening for a guided meditation class with Jacqui herself.
Meditation can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to meditate. The important thing is that you're taking some time out of your day to focus on your breath and relax your mind. Meditation is about training your mind to focus, and it takes practice. Don't worry if you can't "clear your mind" right away.
Meditation Apps to Try
If you're looking to add meditation to your daily routine, there are a number of great apps that can help you start your meditation journey, so you can meditate anywhere, anytime.
Headspace
Headspace is one of the most popular meditation apps, and for good reason. It offers a 14-day trial so you can explore the app and find out if it's right for you. Once you sign up, you're given a list of activities to do each day to help you get started with meditation.
Calm
Calm.com is another great option for those looking to meditate. The app includes a variety of guided meditations, relaxation exercises, and sleep stories to help you wind down at night. You can also set goals and track your progress over time.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a great option for kids or teens who want to learn how to meditate. It's also free, which makes it a great option for those on a budget.
TBM ONDemand
We also have a number of online meditation classes available in our online yoga, pilates, barre and meditation platform – TBM ONDemand. Sign up today for a free 10-day trial.
Mindfulness and meditation offer a host of benefits for both the mind and body, from reducing stress levels to improving memory and cognitive function. If you’re looking to de-stress, or simply want to start enjoying some of the many perks meditation has to offer, we invite you to join us for a yin yoga & meditation class at our Cornerstone studio, located in Tugun, Gold Coast – beginners are absolutely welcome!
Start reaping the benefits of mindfulness and meditation today.