It is a well-known fact that physical exercise is vital for well-being, you must exercise your arms, legs and your core to enjoy maximum benefits that your body has to offer. We miss out an important body organ when we think of exercise, the brain.
Your seat of power receives a rush of oxygen and happy hormones when you engage in physical exercise. Are there specific techniques to exercise the brain, make it sharper, faster and compliment mental capabilities?
Of course, meditation. The benefits of meditation surpass any brain game, puzzles or activities. The mere act of meditating rejuvenates the body and the mind. Although the mind is intangible, for the sake of better relatability, most of us identify it to be within the headspace and in the brain. The mind is believed to occupy space within the brain, which is why the terms, ‘Mental activity’, ‘Mental Prowess’ are often used.
Meditation is hailed to be the next big thing, the game changer on all fronts. Character development, personal growth, coping with mental health disorders, breath work for physical ailments, Neuroplasticity, brain development…
But how does meditation give your brain a workout? Science-backed studies prove that meditation rewires your brain to break old patterns and step forth into new and interesting possibilities. Easily visible in MRIs and EEGs, the clear differences between a meditator and a non-meditator shows up in brain scan reports.
Meditation opens your mind to newer pastures, concepts, ideas and happenings. The brainwaves which are activated during meditation are ones which facilitate deep relaxation and mind, body and soul healing.
Meditation not only changes the brain but also influences the way we subjectively process each emotion. Thus helping us change the way we perceive the world and those around us, how we process new information and experiences and the decisions that we take about them.
Research also shows that a consistent meditation helps regulate the neurotransmitters in the brain, largely beneficial for individuals who suffer from mental issues like depression, anxiety and other mood disorders.
Meditation and introspection work as a great coping technique stabilising mood and creating a vortex for newer possibilities, mental relief and clarity.
Meditation contributes to increased mental prowess. A few minutes a day can grant you better attention spans, ability to focus on your tasks at hand and allow you to achieve faster results, using your practice as a stepping stone to successful behaviours. A healthy mix of Yoga and meditation can do wonders to change your life, with a happy world view and perspective towards life.
Here’s how to exercise your brain in a few simple steps.
- Sit down in silence and try to observe your thoughts for a few minutes first thing in the morning.
- Do not associate emotions with them, just let the thoughts come and go.
- See if they seem to have any connection to your body, (that is) do they make you feel a certain way physically.
- Practice a guided meditation to wake your brain up in the morning and one to promote deep relaxation in the night.
- Try to cultivate your own meditation practice. If you are a novice, it may not come to you as naturally, the trick is to just stay with it. The chaos is a predecessor of the calm which comes after the storm.
- If you aren’t a regular meditator, then it is likely that your mind has a lot of clutter and it will show up in the form of chaos.
Meditation is a practice which helps you reap benefits all around. A holistic approach towards development, positive self-regard and of course, heightened mental effectiveness are just some of the effects.
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