We are well aware, stress is all around us. We are constantly experiencing it on some level, every day. And even though we deal with it in our own individual ways, overtime, this stress puts a serious toll on our bodies and our minds. Here is how to start a meditation practice and I share my personal journey discovering the benefits of meditation.
MY MEDITATION JOURNEY
I will never forget the night I began meditating. My year had been overwhelming, rigorous, and honestly…sometimes unbearable. At the time I was in the middle of graduate school, studying and practicing anesthesia, balancing life as a mother of two, navigating a divorce, and striving to keep my mind and body well amidst it all. Ultimately, I was overloaded. Most days felt like I was in survival mode; but I needed to keep going.
I came across an article one night as I was laying in bed that listed a few benefits of daily meditation:
- Increased mental clarity
- Reduced anxiety
- Enhanced memory
- Lower stress
- Stronger immunity
- Decreased depression and anxiety
- Increased feelings of empathy and compassion
- Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
- More restful sleep
- A greater sense of relaxation in the mind and body
- Increased ability to meet a situation with freshness and insight
- Happier mood throughout the day
“I need ALL of these!”, I said to myself. Every…single…one of them. Actually, there are well over 140 reasons we can benefit from only a 5-20 minutes meditation each day!
MEDITATION & AYURVEDA
According to Ayurveda, meditation practice is one of the most powerful tools one can use to balance the mind and restore the body. It is a time when we are able to rest, reset, and fully connect with our true Self. Meditation leaves us in a space where we can feel renewed and transformed.
“Meditation is a vital way to purify and quiet the mind thus rejuvenating the body.” Deepak Chopra
It strengthens compassion, patience, and wisdom, allowing the deep inner glow that shines stronger each day. Those who meditate regularly look younger, more radiant, and peaceful while also having slower heart rates and a lower stress level. They report feeling calmer and more focused throughout their entire day.
So there I was, in that moment, making a commitment to myself. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through my phone that night, I added a free meditation app to my phone. I chose a 20 minute meditation, closed my eyes, and followed along while I sat.
That first night, I struggled. I felt physically uncomfortable sitting for an extended period of time. My mind kept wandering. I was restless. But the end goal in continuing this practice allowed me to keep going. Committed, I did this again the next night…and the next…and the next. Just 20 minutes.
Over the next week, I began to notice how physically sitting in the meditation felt comfortable. My mind wasn’t racing as feverishly it had the week prior, and I began to drift deeper into a trance-like state. It actually felt enjoyable! I also began sleeping deeper at night than I had in years. I stuck with it.
One particular morning about 3 weeks later, I witnessed a huge shift. I was on my morning commute to the hospital at 5am about to present a lecture to an auditorium full of anesthesiologists. Remember, I was still only a student. I had a difficult case to follow and was paired with a difficult mentor that day. Cue the stress. Not only that, but I had a huge exam the following day I was not feeling prepared for.
But that morning on that drive, I felt completely calm. I actually felt immense joy and peace as I gazed into sunrise over the highway. None of the events in my external world phased me, which would have been unheard of one month prior. It felt like I was a completely new and improved person; clear-headed, unphased, ready for whatever the day would offer me. My daily meditation practices were not only serving me in the moment, but now throughout my entire day.
OUR PERSONAL DIMMER SWITCH
Think of it like this: when we live in a world of stress, which most of us do, our dimmer switch is set pretty high. Even at times when we aren’t actually in a stressful situation per se, the chronic stimuli in our lives overly stimulates our sympathetic nervous system, straining our bodies and exhausting our minds. Daily meditation, even for just 5-10 minutes a day, naturally lowers that switch, keeping our minds at peace, allowing our bodies to heal, and helping us flow through life more gracefully.
If you’re curious about finding a meditation style that works for you, check out Finding Your Mediation Style , grab some of YouVeda’s Essential Oils, and treat yourself to some moments of stillness. You deserve it.
Author: Carolyn Crews (YouVeda Wellness Contributor)
