Health benefits of meditation

Meditating can be of tremendous help to correct health conditions that are exacerbated by stress, such as nervous conditions, headaches, mood swings, back pain, and even hypertension. Some folks have found that meditation, when used in conjunction with medical treatment, helps them heal more rapidly from serious illness.

Given the emotional, physical, and spiritual healing potential of meditation, it makes sense that it is sometimes referred to as "the breath of life."

Meditation involves consciously controlling the rate of breathing, which will, in turn, decelerate the heartbeat and blood flow. As with sleep, this state of slowness allows the mind and body time to rejuvenate. Many people meditate to relax -- and even to reach a level of inner peace and tranquility. Because stress is tied to so many health problems, using meditation to ease it often heals physical ailments. With meditation, there is no separation between the mind and the body. With meditation, you will see a lot of physical ailments melt away.

When a baby breathes in, watch how its abdomen expands like a balloon, and when it breathes out, see the abdomen flattening. When we fall asleep at night, exactly the same pattern occurs. In fact, whenever we're truly relaxed, the body reverts to abdominal breathing.

Most folks, especially those who are anxious and tense, breathe incorrectly and less efficiently through the chest. To breathe properly, try sitting in a chair with your hand on your belly. As you pull air in, your belly should push out. Then, when you exhale, your belly should pull in.

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