what is Meditation? over 30 meditation benefits, plus tips and tricks for beginners.

Meditation is getting more and more limelight these days. Scientific studies are proving the benefits of mediation and the world is responding as more of us are closing our eyes, for a small snippet of the day.

What is Meditation? 

Meditation is training your awareness, attention and boosting compassion. 

In the world we live in, it’s oh-so easy to get distracted. Things are constantly pulling us away from ourselves, whether it’s a long day at the computer, a demanding family life, or our mobile phone constantly pinging. So many people think that meditation is a waste of time, especially when we have NO time!

But meditation is the answer to so many of life challenges, as it guides us to a place of concentrated focus. This focus has the power to unlock our superpowers.

Sounds like magic right? Well it kind of is!

Meditation reduces stress like nothing else, it boosts our mood and positively impacts relationships, family life.

With SO many reasons to meditate, I have outlined below, my Top 30 Benefits of Meditation, to encourage you to get aboard the Zen Train.

Emotional benefits of Meditation

1. Lessens worry, anxiety & worry

2. Reduces stress and overwhelm

3. Boosts self confidence and self esteem

4. Improves resilience against pain

5. makes you more optimistic about life

6. Improves relaxation and awareness

7. Decreases emotional eating

8. Improves relationships and helps build strong social connections

9. Improves overall mood

10. Increases emotional intelligence

Benefits for the Mind from Meditation

1. Increases focus and productivity

2. Improves memory retention and recall

3. Helps you get in your creative zone

4. Improves your cognitive thinking

5. Better decision making skills

6. Improves problem solving

7. Helps ignore distractions (cute baby animal YouTube video anyone?)

8. Helps manage ADHD

9. Improves resilience against resistance

10. Improves overall strength of the mind

Effects on the Body of Meditating

1. Boosts immune system

2. Increases vital energy moving through the body

3. Slows down breathing and puts you into a calm state for most of the day

4. Reduces blood pressure

5. Lessens the effects of asthma

6. Lessens premenopausal and menopausal symptoms

7. Helps prevent arthritis and fibromyalgia

8. Guides the body into the parasympathic nervous system

9. Kick starts the metabolism

10. Improves self confidence and body loving!

But how to meditate?

I hear ALL the time that meditation feels overwhelming, confusing and how often people feel like a ‘failure’ when they cannot stop their thoughts. But I am here to tell you that stopping the thoughts is NOT the goal!

Does that feel like a relief?

It’s totally ok for the mind to wander in meditation. The mind is a ‘thought’ factory, it was designed to think and it’s just doing its job. Telling the mind to stop thinking would be like telling the heart to stop beating.

Some days the mind will be racing and busy, some days there will be more stillness, neither is good/bad/right or wrong. It just is. Therefore, when meditating, we simply become aware of how we feel, without judging the experience.

So I encourage you to start with 1 minute. Then build to 2 minutes when you feel ready. Eventually you’ll be sitting for longer periods of time and really feeling the benefits.

Also, there will be many pockets in the day when you pause, close the eyes and focus on the breath, e.g. when you’re waiting for your toast or morning coffee to brew, waiting in the car to collect the kids or during a quick trip to the shops.

All these are magical moments in the day, where you can turn inwards.

But what if I feel like nothing is happening in meditation? 

I know that the world feels like a busy place, where every minute counts. ‘Time is money’ is a mantra that we so often hear! But I promise you that every minute spent in meditation, will be earned back in terms of focus, clarity, productivity and inner peace.

Meditation matters. I promise it’ll help you live your best life!

Are you ready to try meditation?

Want to take the guesswork out of meditation and find the perfect style for you? Take the Meditation Quiz here

My signature 5-week meditation programme: The Meditation Academy