If you are concerned about your health, there are many steps you can take to become well informed.
You read up on the latest findings. You take care of yourself. You spend countless hours trying to figure out which diet is right for you. You watch what you eat. You limit sugar and alcohol. You exercise. You walk. You have a gym membership. In short, you do things, take actions, and think about how to get and stay healthy.
Now, add to your regimen meditation. Before you scoff at yet another to-do, consider the following:
Meditation is reaching people in the West at an unprecedented rate in wide ranging and practical terms. It balances the body, mind and spirit, and now the medical community is beginning to catch on, saying that meditation may decrease the risk of heart disease and stroke.
The Health Benefits of Meditation
There now is evidence leading scientists to the conclusion that meditation actually may decrease the risk of heart disease. According to the latest research, people who practice meditation are significantly less likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or die within five years.
“The research is suggestive but not definitive,” said Dr. Glenn N. Levine, chairman of the group of cardiovascular disease experts who reviewed recent science to determine whether meditation could help reduce heart disease risks. “Overall, studies of meditation suggest a possible benefit on cardiovascular risk, although the overall quality, and, in some cases, quantity of study data is modest,” said the scientific team’s statement led by Dr. Levine in the Sept. 28, 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Finding the Right Meditation Practice for You
Learn what type of meditation practice is right for you, and develop a daily practice. The benefits of mindfulness are many. Physiologically, you are changing your brain activity and slowing down your heart rate. You also are lowering your blood pressure and breath rate. Adrenaline levels and cortisol levels lower, resulting in reduced feelings of stress and anxiety. Over time, meditation makes your body happier.
Here is a list of the most popular meditation styles for your consideration. Please note that the descriptions offered here are minimal and intended to just give you a notion about what they have to offer.
Focused Meditation
Work with any of the five senses. This is a great modality to use to relax your body. Working up from your feet, tensing and relaxing each body part and doing a body scan instantly will reduce your stress level and even help you get to sleep.
Transcendental Meditation or TM
This practice teaches you to use a specific phrase or mantra and/or sound to help you clear your mind and manage your thoughts.
Mindfulness Meditation
Present moment awareness is often used when describing this modality. Training usually begins with your breath. Following your breath, inhale gently and naturally. Then, exhale with all of your attention on your breath. When you notice your mind wandering, the secret is to gently remind yourself to come back to your breath. Over time, this gets easier. Mindfulness meditation is the basis for the development of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training. This six-week course is a great way to get started.
There are other modalities with a more spiritual or devotional grounding that are widely available. Developing and maintaining a sitting practice of at least 10 minutes a day will reap physiological, emotional and even spiritual benefits over time. Stresses and problems will not vanish, but any inability to be present in what is going on around you will.
Home Care Assistance seeks to optimize the wellness of seniors and bring energy, independence and joy in this special phase of life. Our programs define our approach to in-home senior care. The Cognitive Therapeutics Method is a complement to our Balanced Care Method and is another multi-pronged approach to healthy aging, specifically focused on the brain.
At Home Care Assistance, we believe in extending healthy years, and we work with our clients to help them achieve health and meaningfulness in longevity. If you need support caring for a loved one suffering from dementia or any other cognitive decline, call us. Our trained caregivers can provide support to fit your schedule and provide peace of mind.
We understand aging, and we can help your loved one age in a healthy manner. Caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available for daily and hourly respite care for your loved one to help you protect your health and focus on yourself, too.
Contact Amanda Butas, certified dementia practitioner, and your Mesa client care manager, at (480) 699-4899 to see how our caregivers can help your loved one thrive. You also can visit us at our new office next to Bed Bath and Beyond, located on Power and McKellips roads, at 2031 N. Power Road, Suite 103.