If you haven’t made a practice of meditating because the whole idea conjures up images of Birkenstocks, tree-hugging, and granola, then it’s time for you to leave the 1960’s mindset behind and embrace modern meditation. Yes, there’s an app for that.
The health benefits of meditation are widely recognized among all areas of medicine and science. As medicine, science, and technology advance, meditation matches their pace. Meditation refuses to be tossed aside like some relic from the days of forgotten health fads. Instead, meditation has modernized. Guided meditations are just a YouTube video, app, podcast or website away. That, and the fact that all those resources are free, really means just one thing -- no more excuses.
Just in case you have been too busy with your fast-paced, perpetually-stressed life and somehow missed the memo on the health benefits of meditation, below is a quick recap.
What Stress Does… | What Meditation Does… |
| Increases heart rate | Decreases heart rate |
| Increases blood pressure | Decreases blood pressure |
| Increases respiratory rate | Diminished respiratory rate |
| Causes a higher pulse rate | Lowers pulse rate |
| Increases oxygen consumption | Decreases oxygen consumption |
| Increases blood lactate | Decreases blood lactate |
| Increases muscle tension | Decreases muscle tension |
| Produces cortisol | Reduces cortisol |
| Production of noradrenaline | Reduces noradrenaline |
Now that you’re up to speed, I want you to take part in the Great American Meditation Experiment. Okay, I made that experiment up. I just want you to make a commitment. I want you meditate for an average of 15 minutes a day for two weeks straight using any or all of the resources below. On day one, I want you to rate your stress levels on a scale from 1-5, with one being not stressed at all and five being highly stressed. Then, on day 7 and day 14, rate your stress levels again. The goal of this experiment is for you to recognize that just 15 minutes a day of meditation can greatly reduce your stress levels. I feel certain that you will see a huge return on your time investment.
Get Started…
YouTube Videos:
Websites:
Fragrantheart.com
Audiodharma.org
Podcasts:
Mary and Richard Maddux Meditation Oasis (iTunes)
Apps:
Take a Break – Guided Meditations for Stress Relief (for iPad & iPod)
Buddify (available for iphone & Android)
Albums:
Sleep Easily: Meditations by Shazzie (iTunes)
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