The importance of meditation is being realized more than ever now in this fast-paced world, as one is perpetually caught up in the rat race, chasing targets and schedules, leading to pressure, stress and strain – an inalienable part of our daily lives. The popularity of meditation is on the rise, as awareness of this technique is spreading, along with discovery of its health benefits.

Physical and mental stress have the effect of disturbed sleep, increases depression, irritability and anxiety which cause health setbacks like BP, sugar, fatigue and lack of concentration, directly leading to adverse impact on happy family and social life.

Meditation must be practiced to make our minds tranquil, and to enhance the quality of our lives. Meditation develops concentration, calms the mind, reduces stress and anxiety, instills self-discipline, and results in healthy sleep patterns, all of which put together lead to a balanced and happy individual.

Meditation increases self-awareness by helping us to develop a stronger understanding of ourselves. It helps to gain awareness of our thoughts, and recognize such thoughts that may be negative or detrimental. It diverts our minds to being more constructive and positive. The benefits are immense, ranging from lengthening attention span, to reducing age-related memory loss, generating compassion and helps fight addictions.

All the above benefits have the impact of improved sleep, thus relaxing the body, and dissipating tension, giving rise to improvement in physical and mental health. Meditators experience reduced pain and reduced BP, consequently lowering the risk of heart attack and stroke.

There are various styles of meditation. Find out the one you like by trying out different styles, and narrow down on one that suits you best. Try participating in a group, as it invreases chances of success through a supportive community. The greatest plus of meditation is that it can be practiced anywhere for a few minutes daily without the requirement of specialized equipment.

Dr. Sonia Sikka