10 Surprising Facts About Meditation

Many of us are already aware of meditation and its incredible benefits. Learning to meditate can help us to achieve a better quality of life, in the sense of improving our overall mood and lowering our stress levels. Meditation has been around for an extremely long time, but there might be some aspects you are not familiar with. If you want to know more about the art of meditation, then here are 10 surprising facts.

1. It makes you more alert

Regular meditation helps to enhance your brain function, so your concentration is vastly improved. Several studies have been carried out to test how meditation affects your concentration, and many have demonstrated that those who regularly meditate are more alert than others.

2. It makes you smart

Harvard University Medical School recently published a study revealing that regular meditation improves grey matter density within the brain. This helps to expand on your ability to learn new information and preserve it. It can also assist in controlling your emotions too.

3.  Anyone can do it

All ages can benefit from meditation. You don’t need to be a specific age, gender, or even be a spiritual person. The beauty of meditation is that it has no limits. Some schools around the world now teach their students how to meditate as its advantages can work for everyone.

4. You can meditate anywhere

While meditating in a quiet space is highly effective, some are able to meditate in any location. You can meditate while walking, travelling on public transport, or while sat at your desk. Do what works best for you.

5. There is more than one way to meditate

Many people believe that there is only one form of meditation, but there are actually many techniques. From simple breathing methods to mantra meditation, the ones you choose to explore will depend on what suits your needs.

6. You can’t control your thoughts

While meditation aids a healthier emotional state, you can’t control your thoughts. If you are going to meditate, it’s completely natural that your mind will wander to other aspects. Letting your thoughts be free is all part of meditation. The more you practise, the more positives you will see, but the key is to accept your thoughts and not push them away.

7. A few minutes of meditation can benefit

If you don’t have a lot of free time, meditating for just a few minutes can restore your life. For those new to meditation, just five minutes can really help.

8. It’s linked to mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation is a popular technique. While meditation and mindfulness are linked, they’re not completely the same.

9. It can boost your overall health

Though meditation has astonishing benefits for the mind, it can also help to boost your immunity, lower your blood pressure, and reduce tension in your body.

10. You can use audio

Using audio during meditation shapes an efficient program. Whether you prefer soft music or an audio podcast, beginners or those who struggle to focus can progress. For a free brainwave meditation audio, try Zen12 and gain an hours’ worth of benefits in just 12 minutes.