Everyone is searching for a way to stay healthier and younger longer. Almost all of adult onset illness is due to degenerative diseases that afflict us as we age. Anti-aging medications and supplements are all the rage, but did you know that taking a couple minutes out of your day for meditation can be just a potent as medication?
The truth is, stress has a lot to do with speeding up the aging process. And while aging is certainly a very complex issue, we know that prolonged periods of either mental, physical, or emotional stress causes us to age prematurely. Stress triggers a number of physiological processes within the body that can, over time, lead to illness, and, yes aging. Effectively, if you can control your level of stress, you add years to your life. You will look younger and live longer!
Research has shown that making small lifestyle changes can add up to 15 years to your life. You may be asking, “Well, what about genetics? What role does genetics play?” Dan Buettner, author and aging research expert says only 10% of how we age is determined by genetics. The other 90% is controlled by you and the lifestyle choices you make. It has been shown that groups of people who regularly use de-stressing and coping mechanisms such as meditation and prayer live much longer healthier lives.
According to the Journal of Neuroscience, a study conducted showed that those who regularly practiced Transcendental Meditation for 5 years or longer had a physiological age that was at least 12 years younger than those of their counterparts. Many of the subjects were found that have a physiological age of close to 30 years younger than their non-meditating counterparts.
The physical capacity of the human body is amazing. There is a clear correlation between your state of mind and state of body. Your mind affects your central nervous system, your endocrine system, and your immune system, virtually all bodily function. Keeping the mind calm and clear encourages those body systems to work efficiently, correctly, and cohesively. While the benefits of meditation are well known in the East, they are becoming more and more widely documented and appreciated in the West. Incorporating your own daily meditation routine can better your health and delay aging.
Here are some tips on starting your own daily meditation routine. First and foremost, meditation is about quieting the mind. Everyone has a different way of doing this. The tips below are meant to point you in the right direction. None of the below are rules that are set in stone; simply, they are guidelines for you to follow until you are able to settle into a routine that is the most peaceful for you.
1. Posture is important. Concentrating on this helps take your mind away from your daily worries. Whether you decide to sit on the ground or a chair be mindful that your spine is upright and your head is not slumped. A well balanced body leads to a well balanced mind.
2. Focus on the moment. If you find that your mind is drifting, bring yourself back to the moment.
3. Be in a place of silence and little distraction.
4. During your meditation, let go of any thoughts and emotions you are struggling with.
5. Don’t forget to breathe but let your breath be normal and comfortable.
6. Start out with short meditation sessions. Five to ten minutes is fine in the beginning.
7. Enjoy yourself. This is your time for renewal and relaxation.
For more tips on delaying the negative effects of aging visit my main anti-aging page: Anti-Aging Tips.
Go to this page