9 March 5 Ways Meditation Can Dramatically Improve Your Life March 9, 2017 By Editor Wellness health, meditation and health, seniors 0 “Meditation is the tongue of the soul and the language of our spirit.” – Jeremy Taylor We all know about meditation, but only a few of us really take time out of our day to clear our minds and empty our thoughts. Perhaps these benefits of mediation, that are both mental and physical, will motivate you to try to work meditation into your daily life. Meditation lowers blood pressure. Multiple studies show that meditation induces relaxation, causing an increase in compound nitric oxide which allows blood vessels to open up and reduce blood pressure. In some studies, meditation was found to be a replacement for blood pressure medication as it worked for patients in the same degree. Meditation slows the aging process in the brain. A researcher at Harvard University, Sara Lazar, said, “Cognition seems to be preserved in meditators.” A study showed that meditators have longer telomeres, the caps on chromosomes indicative of biological age (rather than chronological). Researchers believe meditation has this effect through a reduction in stress. Meditation increases happiness in various ways. Studies show that meditation increases rain signaling in the left side of the prefrontal cortex, responsible for positive emotions, and decreases activity in the right side, responsible for negative emotions. The increased self-awareness and acceptance in meditators may be the cause for this change in the brain. Meditation improves concentration and memory. Studies show meditators gain heightened abilities to multitask, complete tasks under stressful situations, as well as recall information through an improved memory. Meditation improves sleep. Studies show that introducing meditation to insomniacs greatly improved their ability to calm their minds at bed time and get more sleep. Experts say that meditation allows for greater control of one’s mind, making it a great solution to those who can’t seem to slow their thoughts when trying to sleep. Related Posts Posture Check and Stretch Break Whether you sit or stand all day, checking in on your posture and adding in stretches to your day can help your overall well-being. The Debt We Leave Behind - How Individual Life Insurance Can Help Making sure our families are protected financially should the unexpected happen has become more and more of a necessity. Checkup Checklist - Get the Most Out of Your Next Doctor's Appointment Questions and topics to ask yourself and your doctor before your next checkup. Get the most out of your next doctor's appointment. ManhattanLife Annuities: Multi-Year Guarantee Annuities (MYGAs) If you're not quite sure how an annuity works, what a Multi-Year Guarantee Annuity (MYGA) is, or what your ManhattanLife annuity options are, we hope to help with this MYGA discussion. Find Joy in Art and Reignite your Creative Side Retirement offers a unique opportunity to explore new places, new talents, and even new things we didn't know about ourselves. With this newfound feeling of freedom, many of us look for meaningful, productive, or just plain fun ways to serve as an outlet. Save on Your Medicare Supplement Plan – ManhattanLife’s Year-Round Household Discount Applying for a Medicare Supplement Plan? Learn how you may be eligible to save with our Household Discount. Comments are closed.