If you are like me you experience a meltdown more often than you would like to admit. I am always trying to add to my plate, however, I get completely overwhelmed and come to the realization that I can't do everything. When it comes to health and wellness most people put the majority of their focus in to what more they can do. How much further can I run? Can I lift a heavier weight? Can I eat more vegetables? All of these are fantastic deposits in to the Bank of Wellness. However there is an often forgotten side to being healthier, meditation. Stillness. Now this doesn’t mean you have to sit under a tree and chant OMMM for hours (though it would be cool if you did), meditation is finding a quite space in your home or work where you can sit and breath. Sometimes you may reflect on your thoughts and sometimes you may drift into the land of nothing. The point is that meditation forces you to focus on, well, you. By doing this you are going to incur a whole host of great health benefits. Here are just 10 of the big ticket payoffs that you will see:
1. Stress Management
2. Deeper level of physical relaxation and reduction in muscle tension (which is a must if you are on a strenuous workout schedule)
3. Reduction of Blood Pressure levels
4. Improved flow of air to the lungs
5. Enhances immune system
6. Improved performance in athletic events
7. Relaxes the nervous system (which everyone needs in a bad way)
8. Improved memory and learning ability
9. Increased Job satisfaction
10. Increased work productivity
Again, everyone’s definition of mediation is different. For some it can be done while going for a walk, for others they can do it sitting at their desk. However you choose to do it, just start small in build your way up. Take 5 minutes at first to calm your mind and once that becomes easier you can go for longer. And in time you will be a meditative master and have the ability to move things with your mind (disclaimer: the part about moving things with you mind may or may not happen).
