Meditation

One of the most ancient forms of stress relief is meditation. In a nutshell, and from a lay man’s point of view, meditation is like resting in a state of sleep without being asleep at all. It is a more in depth form of “cat napping”. In depth in such a way that it does not only relieve physical stress but also clears the mind of everything that causes its exhaustion.

Some of the physical benefits of meditation include the lesser consumption of oxygen which enables the body to pass the threshold of stress to the state of relaxation, since the process of respiration slows in a more stable rhythm. It also decreases the volatility of blood flow and stabilizes the heart rate which subsequently lowers blood pressure to a normal rate. It also increases the level of serotonin, which, a deficiency of has been attributed to depression, obesity and insomnia.

People I know that practice meditation appears more lively and having a more positive outlook. These are happy stress free people who were able to develop a better coping mechanism.

Meditation, considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine, produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.

Benefits of meditation

Meditation can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don't end when your meditation session ends. Meditation can help carry you more calmly through your day and improve certain medical conditions.

Meditation and emotional well-being

When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.The emotional benefits of meditation include:

Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
Building skills to manage your stress
Increased self-awareness
Focusing on the present
Reducing negative emotions