Which type of meditation is best for you? This quick reference guide to meditation will help you better understand just some of the various forms of meditation.
Why meditate? Meditation has been part of human life for thousands of years. It’s only recently that science caught up with the practice showing that it calms the anxious mind, lessons worry and even improves blood pressure and heart health, memory, longevity, gastrointestinal health, headaches, brain and mental health.
Anyone can do it. It’s simple, costs nothing and doesn’t require any expensive equipment. And despite the pictures in the media, you don’t have to wear fancy yoga clothes or sit crossed leg in a pose. Meditation can happen anywhere – while walking, riding in a car or bus, waiting in line – anytime during the day, even for a few minutes helps reduce stress and calms the mind.
Benefits of meditation include:
- Invokes fresh thoughts during stressful situations
- Helps manage your stress
- Focuses on the now instead of future worries that may not happen
- Improves creativity and problem solving
- Reduces negative emotions
- Helps with patience
- Lowers resting heart rate and blood pressure
- Improves sleep quality
Download this ten-second read infographic to begin your meditation practice. If you need some support help you begin or improve your meditation practice, our partners at HeartMath have a free set of meditation guides to improve your health.
This article is provided by the Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, partnered with the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. INM’s mission is to transform healthcare in America by increasing both public awareness of naturopathic medicine and access to naturopathic doctors for patients. INM believes that naturopathic medicine, with its unique principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness that overwhelms existing health care systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain their optimal lifelong health. INM strives to achieve this mission through the following initiatives:
- Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of naturopathic medicine
- Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
- Research – Expand quality research of this complex and comprehensive system of medicine
This article is by Kimberly Lord Stewart, content and marketing director for the Institute for Natural Medicine. Her favorite meditation spot is while walking in the forest. Stewart is an award-winning editor, food and health journalist and best-selling author of Eating Between the Lines, the supermarket shopper’s guide to the truth behind food labels (St. Martin’s Press).
