Research suggests that mindfulness benefits our bodies, not just our minds.
We've all heard about the benefits of meditation. It makes you less stressed, more focused, and less reactive but did you know that meditation can actually make you more healthy? It's true.
I know, I know. “Who has time for meditation? It takes time, and when I’m busy all I think about when I try to meditate is all the stuff I have to do, making me stress out even worse. What’s the point?”
But when we look at the data, who has time NOT to meditate? Studies show that regular meditators are more calm, less stressed, and when groups meditate the crime rates go down. Meditators are more productive, more creative, learn faster, and are generally more content with their life than those who don’t. People who meditate in a group are more likely to stick with it and have a higher sense of purpose and satisfaction than those who meditate alone.
Regular meditation has even been shown to dramatically improve physical health. First of all stress is one of the major contributors of myriad physical ailments. Since mediation is so great at directly helping reduce stress, meditation helps dramatically to make you more healthy.
CREDIT Adam Jones
Model: Niels Alpert
Scientific studies have shown that coronary disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and high blood pressure have lessened or otherwise depleted with the help of meditation. Get this: health insurance stats show that people who meditate regularly have a reduced likelihood of being hospitalized for coronary disease by 87 percent, and the possibility of getting cancer by 55 percent.
What about brain health and emotional health? People who meditate are psychologically 12–15 years younger. That’s nuts! (read the full article here)
But people gotta work all day, right? Who's got time to gaze at their navel? Well a chemical plant in Detroit initiated a meditation program for three years and reported some incredible results. The company reported absenteeism fell by 85%, productivity rose 120%, injuries dropped 70%, and profits increased 520%.
It looks like meditation makes sense for health and wealth. It makes people happier and live longer.
Click here for information about my 31-Day Meditation Challenge in January 2019!
Photo by Seneca Moore
Scott Moore is a senior teacher of yoga and mindfulness and lives in Southern France. When he's not teaching or conducting retreats, he writes for Conscious Life News, Elephant Journal, Mantra Magazine, Medium, and his own blog at scottmooreyoga.com. Scott also loves to run, play the saxophone, and travel with his wife and son. Check out his yoga retreats to places like Hawaii and Amalfi Coast , his online Yoga Nidra Course and his Yoga Teacher Mentor Program
