Meditating has even more benefits than you might expect!
Today’s modern stresses and strains mean mind, body and soul need more care and attention than ever before. Guided meditation can answer all these needs and even more besides!
As the stress mounts, your breathing becomes strained, and the anxiety builds. You know it’s time to put yourself into the driving seat of your life. Time to begin focussing on what will help you gain optimum health.
In this blog we take a closer look at guided meditation. You will discover what it is and how it works. Plus, it can help you with everything from decision-making to getting a good night’s sleep. We’ll show you how to access our special courses and explain the science behind this ancient but relevant technique.
Your mental health and your bodily wellbeing are crucial to a happy existence. Isn’t it time you found a calming app that brings out the best in your mind, body, and soul?
Benefits of Guided Meditation
Yes, meditation can be a solo effort. If you’ve established a regular meditation habit and know what you’re doing – great job, keep going!
But if, like many people, you’re a little unsure how and where to begin and even why you should, we’re here to show you!
1. Stress reliever.
The effects of meditation on stress are well documented but here’s why it works. Spending time in a calm and meditative state reduces the inflammation in your brain caused by the hormone cortisol, which produces chemicals called cytokines. It’s a build-up of these chemicals that lead to inflammation. Calm and peace works against the damaging effects of stress.
But there’s more. When you’re stressed, your sleep quality diminishes, you’re more likely to have high blood pressure and feel foggy headed. Meditation can help resolve these unwanted side effects.
2. Promotes emotional resilience.
As you feel calmer and energised, you’re already focussing on what you need. You’re emotionally better equipped to deal with whatever life throws at you.
3. Increases happiness and well-being.
Following a sustained effort spent meditating, you’ll experience a sense of well-being. Your mood improves and that feeling of positivity is something you’re free to use when you need it most.
If you’re someone who experiences anxiety, you’ll grow to love the feeling of well-being that helps you manage some of those symptoms.
4. You’ll experience enhanced focus.
The discipline of daily meditation teaches your mind to stay present for longer periods of time. In a world of distraction around every corner and a screen in every pocket, increased focus and attention can become your superpower.
5. Helps you become more self-aware.
When you’re more aware of what drives you, your motivations and desires, you’re better able to understand others. You’ll learn what triggers you to think certain things and act in certain ways. You can then apply those insights in the moment to interactions with friends, family, and colleagues.
6. You can see progress
Begin your meditation journey with a guide, and you’ll soon see progress. There’s also no need to put in any guess work about how to carry out a meditation practice. Follow your coach’s lead and relax, learning key skills that will last a lifetime. No need for a script for guided meditation, just a willingness to listen and practice.
Getting Started With Guided Meditation
You could be looking for a meditation app for sleep or to relieve stress and promote relaxation. You might want to practice greater mindfulness. Whatever the reason, you’ll need to start somewhere. And here’s a great place to make a change and start a daily habit.
First, figure out the best time and place for your individual set of circumstances. You might not naturally be a morning person, but often this is the best time to get your practice in. Make time before work, the school run or whatever you do before your morning begins in earnest.
An evening practice also has its benefits, especially if a stressful day means you’re looking for a constructive way to unwind. There are no rules and twice a day, if it works for you, is great.
“Remember that you are always in the driving seat of your life.”
Katie Leask
Then, you’re ready to begin. Lose any expectations. If you’ve never done mediation before, keep an open mind and remember this is a journey. Your first meditation is likely to look vastly different from your 20th or 100th!
We suggest beginning with our introduction to guided meditation on the app. It’s got something for everyone, from the beginner to the more experienced. As a download on your phone, it’s so easy to access and take around with you.
What to Expect From Guided Meditation
You’ll be asked first of all to sit, relax and find a comfortable position. Again, remember to listen to your body. There’s no right or wrong way to be comfortable and if your body struggles to stay in a certain position, don’t force it! The lotus position isn’t for everyone.
Your instructor will then take you through a series of visualisations and breathing exercises, designed to help you scan, focus, and deal with any stresses. You’ll find yourself becoming increasingly relaxed. Not bad for a few minutes’ work!
One of the challenges anyone new to meditation finds, is being able to stay present for extended periods of time, to practice mindfulness. It’s not a skill that’s required of us so much in our hyper-connected, fast-moving world. And it doesn’t come easy to a lot of people, so don’t feel it’s just you struggling.
The trick here is to build up. If you need to, take a break, and then get back into it. Over the days and weeks try and build up to longer and longer stretches of deep focus. You’ll be surprised at your progress.
One fantastic way to monitor your progress is to keep a journal. Write down how you feel before and after each session, good and bad.
In fact, keeping a journal is a wonderful way to track how you’re feeling about life in general. It can be a practical tool to help you recognise patterns, triggers, and areas to be grateful for.
The Takeaways
Meditation has so many positives it’s hard to know where to start. So many areas of your life are enhanced by a habit of daily practice.
Starting something new can be intimidating. When you’ve never done it before, the wealth of information out there can be overwhelming. Don’t let that you put you off. Choose our appand start slowly. As you grow and develop your proficiency, you’ll also grow in confidence. You’ll be able to incorporate more complex visualisations and stay in a meditative state for longer periods.
It’s all in your control.
Please take a look around the website, read a few of our other blogs and download the app.
If you are still struggling, drop us a line. We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you’ve got. We have a team of experts and they’re here for you!
Take care
Studio Think Team
