8 Benefits of Meditation ...

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Stress occurs when the hypothalamus — the part of the brain that controls the body's nervous system, temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and circadian cycle — is stimulated. Studies have shown that meditation is effective in relieving stress by stimulating the other parts of the brain, giving the hypothalamus a chance to slow down and rest.

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Meditation brings you to a deeper state of physical relaxation by slowing down your breathing and lowering oxygen consumption. Meditation also increases blood flow and slows down your heart rate. Your muscles become loose and relaxed during meditation. This deeper state of relaxation may feel similar to being asleep.

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People who are stressed feel pain more intensely than those who are not. With constant meditation, you become relaxed and at ease, thus reducing the amount of pain you experience.

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Meditation is said to increase the production of the hormone serotonin. This helps regulate mood and behavior, making you a friendlier and more forgiving person. The increase in serotonin levels may also help alleviate depression, headaches, and insomnia.

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You become more aware of your thoughts and feelings through the regular practice of meditation. Meditation helps open up your awareness of the "self." Instead of blaming circumstances and fate, you are now able to view and asses situations clearly. You stop being a victim of fate.

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Meditation encourages detachment from the thoughts and feelings that form during practice. Regular practice helps you apply this detachment to the small and big irritations of life. Remember that you are not being indifferent. You are just putting things in perspective and learning what is important and insignificant to you.

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With constant practice of meditation, you can learn to empty your mind and gain mental clarity. This state of emptiness and clarity is manifested in your daily life through an increase in focus and concentration. This will help you work and perform tasks more efficiently.

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In the total freedom and stillness of your mind, you will experience joy and peace without relying on external influences. As meditation becomes a regular part of your life, you will carry the feelings of inner peace and happiness with you everyday.

The mechanisms of meditation are not completely understood. However, it is clear among practitioners that they have reaped numerous positive benefits from regular meditation. Meditation is not reserved for the religious or the occult. You can start meditation today and experience its wonders for yourself. Do you meditate? How do you benefit from it?

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