Evolve > Mindfulness >4 Ways Meditation Helps You Relax
Meditation is a great way to spend time with yourself and allow your mind and body to gain some clarity. Meditation has many benefits, including reduced stress and anxiety. You can practice meditation anytime, anywhere. It also helps you feel relaxed and more positive.
4 ways meditation helps you relax
- Reduces cortisol production
- Helps you stay in the moment
- Normalises your breathing rate
- Releases tension
Reduced cortisol production. When you meditate, you take some time out to give your mind a break. As a result, your body and mind calm down and get back to balance. A result of this is reduced stress and anxiety which leads to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) levels and increased serotonin and endorphins levels in your body. Serotonin and endorphins are feel-good hormones which boost your mood and help you feel more relaxed and at peace with everything around you.
Stay in the moment. In today’s fast paced lives, you are constantly stimulated and it’s difficult to take a break from all the thoughts in your mind. Meditation involves keeping your attention in the present moment. You focus on your breath, a thought or any object. As a result, you can let go of any thoughts and take a break from a racing mind. This short period of time when your mind is blank allows you to be in a calmer state, and a result, you can relax.
Normalise your breathing rate. Many meditation techniques involve breathing to reduce stress and anxiety, and help you fall asleep. These breathing techniques include 4-7-8 breathing, box breathing and belly breathing to name a few. By practicing these techniques, you allow your breathing rhythm to relax, your heart rate to reduce and your body and mind to calm down. As a result, your entire body and mind is in a relaxed and balanced state after meditation. That is why breathing exercises or even simple deep breathing is a good way to calm down and relax yourself when in a stressful situation.
Release any tension. When meditating, you often focus your attention on your body and notice the sensations in your body. You are able to locate any discomfort or tension in your body and allow it to naturally let go and feel better. By doing a body scan and easing your tension, you’re relaxing your body and healing it. As a result, you can balance your body and feel relaxed through meditation.
Meditation is relaxing and allows you to reduce stress, anxiety and anger while helping you improve sleep quality and focus. If any one of these is out of control, it can negatively affect your physical and mental health. Hence, meditation keeps you healthy and balanced and you should try to cultivate it into your everyday life!
Evolve’s guided breathing audios and guided meditation on stress will help you relax and release any stress within minutes! The Evolve app is now live globally on Android & Apple, click here to try for free!
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