Proven Benefits of Meditation
Meditators experience better health than others over a wide range of conditions.
Significantly more subjects in the relaxation group reported improved relationships, general health, and enjoyment of life.
Meditation has been shown to contribute to the development of life purpose and satisfaction which reduces depression and anxiety, the psychological end products of the stress response.
Meditation has been shown to have a positive impact on heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen consumption and metabolic activity, distribution of blood flow, muscle tension, and the alleviation of pain.
Meditation helps people observe and identify the characteristic thought patterns with which they respond to outer circumstances. Feelings from the past are often released. As these patterns are explored, people learn that it is possible to develop new ways of responding to outer circumstances.
Meditation has been shown to help reduce alcohol consumption and drug abuse.
Meditation brings about a reduction in artery wall thickening, reduced heart rate and blood pressure, decreased respiratory rate and oxygen consumption, increase regularity and amplitude of –EEG activity, reduced blood lactate level and other metabolic effects, along with the subjective experience of peace, relaxation, and contentment, and an increased responsiveness to stressful events with quicker recovery. While these effects are also characteristic of eyes-closed rest, or sleep, the majority of studies have found these effects to be greater in meditation.
Meditation modifies the depression of cellular immunity associated with stress.
Regular meditation has reduced plasma cholesterol and the number of cigarettes smoked.