Those who have been practicing meditation as a part of their daily Chinese medicine ritual, are already aware of the various health benefits that come along with the practice. Aside from the known benefits of reducing stress, fostering clearing thinking and increasing the capacity for empathy and compassion, there are additional health benefits. The benefits of meditation as part of a Chinese medicine in Bethesda practice range from physical, mental, and even emotional benefits to one’s health.
Talking about meditation and the many benefits that come along with the practice is the easy part; finding the time to carve out of your day to implement the practice is a little more challenging. However, if you are able to find the time and implement the practice of meditation in your daily life, you’ll start to see and experience the benefits for yourself. Check out the list of the various health benefits that come from daily meditation below!
Physical Health Benefits
During meditation, the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain that deal with reasoning, planning, and processing sensory information slow down. When they are slowed down, and not receiving a plethora of stimuli, the nervous system is then able to rest. This, in turn, results in total relaxation and improved function throughout the entire body. Additionally, on a physical level, meditation can help with:
- Lowering high blood pressure
- Lowers the levels of blood lactate found in the body, ultimately reducing anxiety attacks
- Decreasing tension-related pain throughout the body, including tension headaches, ulcers, insomnia, muscle and joint problems
- Improving the immune system
- Increasing energy levels
- Increasing serotonin production, which in turn improves mood and behavior
Mental Health Benefits
Meditation allows the brainwave patterns to enter into a relaxed alpha state. In this state, the body as well as the mind are able to relax and enter a state of deep rest. Meditation is also a practice of self-care where one is able to connect with their inner self, resulting in higher self-esteem, and the ability to make decisions that accurately align with a person’s true feelings and desires. Other mental health benefits of meditation include:
- Decreased anxiety
- Improved emotional stability
- Improved creativity
- Heightened intuition
- Increased clarity and peace of mind
While it is possible that you will experience the benefits of meditation after your first meditation session, just imagine how great it would be to experience these benefits on a daily basis. While it only takes a few minutes to integrate meditation into your daily life, once you’ve established the habit it will become the highlight of your day—a few minutes that you look forward to everyday! For those who are just beginning their Chinese medicine journey in Washington DC, try incorporating meditation into your life daily, and start to see the many benefits that come from connecting to your inner self.