In the pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, there are a million paths you can choose to walk down. Some people love to run, others lift weights and some people swear by yoga. A million paths for a million people. The good news is, as long as you’re on one of those paths, you’re doing the right thing for your body and yes, your mind. Today’s path is a bit alternative, but nevertheless it targets the area that far too few of us actually exercise: Our minds. That’s right, meditation is on the menu today.
Whether you’ve tried it or not, you’re probably aware that meditation is actually a bit trickier than it seems. The sad reality about meditation is, despite studies that show just how effective it can be, a great deal of people fizzle out. This is probably the most common problem people face when jumping into meditation, and the easiest to overcome.
As I said, recent studies show that meditation does a lot more than just calm you down. New research using in-depth brain scans shows that:
“Zen meditation could help treat attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (so-called ADD or ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorder, major depression and other disorders marked by distracting thoughts.”
As you well know, your mind controls everything, especially your body, so the more control you have over it, the better off you’ll be. What’s more, some research is showing that meditation might even help reduce the presence and effects of diseases like Alzheimer’s.
As we take great strides to healthier lives, we can’t abandon the muscle that makes it all possible, our brain. Not sure where to start? It’s simpler than you might think … start by devoting 10-15 minutes each day to doing nothing but focusing on your breathing. Find a quiet place. Sit and focus as you inhale and exhale. If thoughts enter your mind, let them drift back out and find your breathing again. Simple, but effective. Let us know how you’re doing!
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