Meditation Creates Awareness – Awareness Creates Rituals – 1 Of 2

Part 1 of 2.

Like any thing we do to enhance our lives, such as exercise and healthy eating, it is best if we have a routine that involves consistency. If we do things sporadically we usually do not see results. You’ve probably seen this at your local fitness centre; the parking lot is always full in January just after New Year’s resolutions, however a few months later the gym is not nearly as busy. If we exercise regularly only one or two months per year, we really will not see the benefits.

The same can be said for meditation. This is one of the reasons it is called a practice, as we have to practice everyday in order to see the real benefits.

In today’s world of constant motion, most of us have some stress in our lives. Stress is a physical response to not getting our needs met. This could be as simple as being stuck in a traffic jam, waiting in a line-up or more complex such as work and family demands.

Stress has an enormous physiological effect on the body. When our body is under stress our heart rate increases, our blood pressure goes up, more cortisol is released, metabolism slows down, blood vessels dilate, breathing is shallow, and our muscles tighten. It’s easy to see how too much stress – or chronic stress – can lead to many illnesses and disease.

When looking at benefits of meditation in regards to stress, there are many. The first benefit to meditation is that it does the exact opposite to the stress response.Numerous medical studies show that with meditation your heart rate decreases, your blood pressure goes down, your breath deepens, your muscles relax and you start to notice your body ease into a state of relaxation. Meditation has numerous health benefits and is one of the best antidotes to stress.

The second benefit to meditation is you start your day off with peace, calm and more clarity to your day. If you start your morning off with a meditation, your whole day will take on a different trajectory. You will notice you will be able to make better decisions in your day, not feel rushed and feel more calm throughout the day.

The third benefit to meditation is that is creates awareness in your life. When you are aware, you are able to make better decisions…through this you are able to create rituals; the good ones.

Part 2 – Rituals – next week.

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