When people mention the word meditation I used to have an image of sitting cross legged on a mountain top dressed in a robe with less hair than I have now.

However, meditation or mindfulness, as it is now more often referred to, is much more than repeating the word ‘Ommmm’ and traveling to the upper reaches of your consciousness and it has many benefits other than being at peace with your inner self.

Practiced for over 1000 years and predominantly an Eastern tradition it started being introduced to the West in the 1970’s as something that ‘may help to reduce stress’.

Over 8000 studies later there are more positives than negatives about finding about 10 minutes a day to just press pause, focus on your breath and relax.

Some examples of study findings:-

• After 8 weeks of mindfulness there was an increase in grey matter density leading to improvements in emotion, learning and memory control.
• In 2015, after 6 weeks of mindfulness, reduced insomnia and fatigue levels.
• A reduction in anxiety and stress which led to an increase in immune response – two groups received the flu jab and the group who had practiced mindfulness showed a greater antibody response.
• Reduced flight or fight response – the amygdala, part of the brain that controls this, decreased in size and thus reduced the effect of the flight or fight response under stressful situations.
• Decrease in pain response (so not a decrease in physical pain but making the mind and body able to respond better to painful situations).
• In a targeted group of 65-80 year olds, mindfulness boosted the hippocampus which aided improvement of memory function.

I completely understand that it isn’t for everyone and there are some words of caution that ‘meditation’ shouldnt be practiced by people who have undergone a lot of psychological trauma without first getting medical advice, or practicing under the watchful eye of a medical professional but for the majority of us it will do no harm and may indeed benefit us.

So we have seen what the studies can show us and with hundreds of apps, online tutorials, classes, yoga, pilates all claiming the benefits which list:

• Improved Sleep
• Boost Immune System
• Pain Reduction
• Improved Memory
• Better Mood
• Increased Creativity
• Improved Focus and Concentration
• Lower Stress
• Improved Memory 😉

and a whole lot more….

My Experience

When I first started Kinisi I had a bit more time on my hands and I did practice mindfulness more regularly using the Calm app which is very good for guided mindfulness – and no I don’t sit cross legged in a robe on a mountain top, but as work has got busier I found that this dropped off.

However, doing research for blogs and newsletters and reading more articles on the benefits of mindfulness I will be endeavouring to get back into the habit and just find a quiet space for 10 minutes, closing my eyes and breathing. 

With an app they talk you through it, and although I do occasionally get a bit self conscious doing it you begin to realise you aren’t trying to switch off from the real world you are just trying to find a bit of balance and take 10 minutes out of a busy life.

Give it a go for a week and see how it goes.

If you want to ask about my experiences doing it then please do not hesitate to ask.

Thanks for reading.

Paul