The Science Behind: Meditation (Cover-Ishita Baghel)
Why should I meditate? Are there any benefits of meditation? Do I just have to concentrate on a specific thing? Do I have to change my religion? Why become a different person? I'm sure many people had these questions in their minds that were never answered. That's why I am here to answer all the questions that you might have.
The brain is a complicated electrochemical organ of our body. In the brain, there's always some electric activity going on regardless of what you are doing. Scientists have been trying to learn how meditation affects the brain. "An eight-week study at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Center for Mindfulness seemed to indicate that after just two months of daily mindfulness – a half hour per day – not only had participants’ brains begun to change, but they already “felt more capable of acting with awareness, observing, and remaining nonjudgmental”.
When messages are sent between neurons, a current is created. These brain waves are also known as “neural oscillations.” There are five types of waves:
1) Gamma waves- They dominate our minds when we are learning. They boost the learning process. For example, some kids have exemplary grasping power because the Gama waves inside their brain work in harmony, while the kids who take time to learn have uncontrolled Gamma waves which could lead to anxiety.
2) Beta waves- They dominate our minds when we go through our everyday routine such as cleaning, working, and organizing.
3) Alpha waves- They dominate when we are occupied by activities that relax the mind and body: taking nature walks, listening to music, attending a yoga class, and of course meditating.
4) Theta waves- They are active during relaxation and, dreaming.
5) Delta waves- They are usually associated with deep and, dreamless sleep.
Meditation is not about changing yourself, it's about cultivating awareness and compassion. There's no such thing as absolute mediation. It's hard to get your mind at peace. The most important is to keep practicing over and over again until you get comfortable and find peace.
The benefits of meditation can be life-changing, but it's still important to remember that meditation feels different for every person who practices it. It has the power to enhance the psychological, emotional, and physical ability of those who practice regularly. People who include meditation in their lives have increased levels of happiness, patience, acceptance, and compassion.
If you have any questions or feedback let me know in the comments below.
Love,
Saumya
Sources: https://www.headspace.com/meditation
https://www.dummies.com/religion/spirituality/using-meditation-survive-21st-century