The COVID-19 global pandemic has impacted every one of the 8 billion people on our planet in one way or another. Some have gotten sick, whereas some are managing a major job change. Many have lost a loved one. It’s in these tragic times that we learn how important it is to take serious care of not only our physical health but also our mental health.
The status quo — the standard way of thinking — has had to adapt to COVID-19, and it starts with the way we handle fear, stress, and anxiety.
Our world thrives on competition; that global mind state can only lead to high-stress situations. The constant bombardment of stimuli keeps us in a perpetual state of fight or flight, and few situations are more stressful than a global pandemic that has killed millions. However, there is a path through — one that can make not just COVID-19 more manageable, but life in general, as well. It’s called meditation.
What is meditation?
Meditation is the practice of stilling and silencing the mind. Yoga International states that meditation is a technique that can help cultivate a higher state of awareness, one more focused than our normal, everyday consciousness. A regular meditation practice typically occurs once or twice a day for at least 10 to 30 minutes. Some people sit in silence, others in prayer. Some walk, some dance, and some repeat a calming phrase over and over. According to Healthline.com, there are more than nine ways to meditate.
For people who want to cultivate an inner awareness and more positive outlook, transcendental meditation, with its emphasis on mantra, might be appealing. For Christians who want a deeper experience, the Centre for Action and Contemplation recommends Christian contemplation and centring prayer. For people who want to quiet ruminative and self-critical thoughts, especially about past regrets or future worries, Mindworks.org suggests focused meditation.
What are the benefits of meditation?
Study after study has shown that meditation can have a profoundly positive impact on both our physical and mental well-being. Take yoga for example. This popular form of moving meditation can help the mind by staying focused and alert, while allowing the body to let go of stress, tension and chronic pain. Weknowyoga.com shows that powerful yoga practices, like yin yoga, can actually soothe both your mind and body. By learning how to release pain, from achy joints to sad memories, your mind and body can work together to heal.
But yoga is only one way to practice meditation—every kind of meditation technique has benefits. The International Journal of Hypertension published research stating that meditation has been shown to reduce anger — and not just the emotion. Meditation changes the way our bodies physically react to anger, too. In fact, blood pressure and muscle tension can be greatly reduced with meditation. Scienceofpeople.com says that even just sitting in silent meditation for 15 to 30 minutes a day can improve the following:
● Your overall sense of well-being.
● Your empathy for others.
● Your openness to multiple perspectives.
● Your focus and memory.
● Your relationships.
● Your creativity and decision-making abilities.
● Your cardiovascular and immune systems.
● Your pain levels.
Most importantly, meditation can help you find synchronicity. Have you ever felt like your life lacks meaning, purpose, or fulfilment? Chances are your life is full of those things — it’s just hard to feel that way because you are mentally and physically out of flow. If those feelings are overwhelming, hypnotherapy, energy medicine, in addition to a regular meditation practice, can also be helpful.
How can I get started?
Meditation is the easiest habit to start, even if all you can spare is two minutes, many websites host a plethora of short guided meditation sessions for free. The key is to find a time and format that fits into your life exactly as it is, then grow from there.
Start simple. If meditation is completely new territory for you, consider using an app like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer to get you comfortable with the basics. If you want to understand meditation from a physiological and physiological, expand your practice with books like Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind and Living Your Yoga.
Next, create a soothing yoga space that is comfortable and free of negative energy. You can add yoga cushions, aromatherapy, and music if that helps you settle into a meditative mindset, but all you really need is the ability to plant your feet on the ground and take a few deep breaths.
Meditation is helpful in any season of life, but especially during stressful times like a global pandemic. Once you know what meditation is and how it works, you can create your own practice and start seeing the benefits. Build up your confidence and compassion during the global pandemic with a meditation practice that fits your life and lifestyle.
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