Meditation and breathing exercises have been practiced for thousands of years and are known for their profound benefits on both mental and physical health. Pay attention to different parts of your body, promoting relaxation and awareness. Focus on your breath and bring your attention back whenever your mind wanders. Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can significantly enhance your overall well-being.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Meditation helps lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, leading to reduced stress and anxiety. Regular meditation enhances attention span and cognitive function and can lead to an improved self-image and more positive outlook on life.
Promotes Self-Awareness
Meditation encourages a greater understanding of oneself, fostering personal growth and improve memory in older adults. Regular practice can stabilize emotions and reduce mood swings. Meditation can change the perception of pain in the brain.
Improves Sleep
It reduces strain on the heart by promoting relaxation. It can also help control the runaway thoughts that can interfere with sleep while stimulating the digestive organs and improving digestion. Effective breathing helps eliminate toxins from the body through enhanced lymphatic flow.
Boosts Immunity
Deep breathing increases oxygen levels in the blood, which can boost immune function. More efficient oxygen use can enhance overall energy and vitality, while also helping balance the autonomic nervous system.
Generates Kindness
By using a mantra to transcend ordinary thought processes, meditation can help increase feelings of compassion and love for oneself and others. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds. Also, close one nostril, inhale through the other, then switch.
You can also pratice the 4-7-8 breathing, by inhaling for 4 seconds, then hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. These key points highlight the power of meditation and breating exercises.