We’re constantly flooded with dire news about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which brings so much uncertainty. Our daily routines have experienced disruption, and we might be locked at home and possibly dealing with the loss of a job. It’s a lot to deal with, but what can you do to manage the uncomfortable feelings of anxiety and stress? The answer is meditation. A powerful tool, meditation is a great option that takes minimal effort but can yield excellent results in lowering your body’s stress reaction. Yoga Health & Fitness Benefits invites you to add meditation into your life through the following guidance.
Meditation and Yoga as a COVID-19 Treatment
Studies show that practicing meditation and yoga can improve our sensory health; doctors have also reported success in placing COVID-19 patients into a posture similar to a yoga asana to boost their respiration. Moreover, a task force was recently created to advocate for meditation and yoga as a potential treatment for COVID-19 because of the potent anti-inflammatory, and anti-stress immune-boosting properties of these health modalities.
The Power of Meditation and Yoga
The most evident hands-on benefit of meditation is that it regulates the survival response of our nervous system. The concept of a pandemic records as a real-time threat to our way of life, raising people’s chronic stress levels to a full-scale boil. The situation creates a massive amount of mental turbulence that keeps us on edge, which can be simmered down with meditation or yoga.
Studies and numerous reports show that meditation is one of the best solutions for an anxious heart and mind. The practice reduces stress hormone production by lowering your heart rate, promoting deeper breathing, and normalizing blood pressure. Meditation and yoga also increase your body’s neurotransmitters of well-being, releasing dopamine, serotonin, GABA, and endorphins.
The most apparent benefit of these practices, however, is that they promote relaxation by melting the tension and stress away, allowing you to have restful sleep at night. Several studies have also suggested that meditation levels up your consciousness, eases heart diseases, builds compassion, and helps strengthen your immune system.
How to Get Started on Meditation
If you’re just starting, meditation might seem intimidating; however, if you know the basics, you can easily practice it anywhere and at any time. There are many types of meditation, but they all have a common goal of bringing up feelings of relaxation and inner peace. You can do a few things to make it easier if you’re just starting out, but it’s essential to let go of any ideas about the practice and fully enjoy the moment.
Set Up a Quiet and Comfortable Place
If you don’t have a special place for your meditation practice, it is beneficial to find one in the house where you are reasonably sure you won’t be disturbed. Make sure you remove the clutter and clean your home – and your meditation space – because an uncluttered and neat home removes tension and helps soothe your mind throughout the day and during meditation. By venting your place a few times a day, you’ll create the ideal setting for a relaxing and fulfilling meditation practice. The breeze coming through the windows will make you feel relaxed and refreshed after a long day and bring about positivity.
Explore Different Forms of Meditation
Some of the different types of meditation include mindfulness meditation, mantra meditation, guided meditation, yoga meditation, and more. If you don’t have a preferred method yet, make sure to try several forms to find the one that best suits you.
Follow the Breath
When starting with meditation, it is easier to attach your mind to the breath. Don’t try to manipulate the breath in any way – simply observe it, just as you’d follow a table tennis ball bouncing from one side of the table to the other. This way, your mind and body will balance, making it easier to relax.
Once you create a meditation space and start to use it daily, you might wonder how you even got by without it. Even in these uncertain times, having a dedicated corner for meditation encourages you to do it often, all while reaping numerous health benefits and finding that inner peace you need.
If you’re ready to add to or expand your yoga practice, consider the different types of yoga available. See our recommended products below.