Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Benefits Of Mindfulness Training And Meditation

By Jerry Nelson


Most people have heard the term living in the now or living in the present moment. In most cases, this refers to the concept of Mindfulness Training. For, mindfulness is the psychological process which focuses on bringing attention to actions and experiences going on in the current moment in time.

While meditation is most often the tool used in mindfulness practices, there are also other training methods. The concept of the practice derived from sati, an ancient and significant aspect of Zen Buddhism and Tibetan meditation can often be found being practiced at Zen and yoga centers. Beginning in the 1970s, clinical psychology started adopting a number of applications related to the practice in relation to treating different psychological conditions.

In the 1970s, a group of clinical psychologists started using the practice to treat psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, alcohol and drug addiction. As a result, a number of senior citizen centers, veterans halls, prisons, hospitals and schools now incorporate meditation into exercise and other routines. Whether part of an ongoing monthly calendar event or, a special event, these meditative sessions have shown promise when it comes to weight management, athletic performance, healthy aging and other areas.

Clinical studies and trials have shown physical and mental health benefits in healthy children, adults and individuals of all ages whom were injured or ill. Research studies have also shown positive results with regards to the relationship between mental health and mindfulness. Like with the ability to calm psychiatric orders such as psychosis, there are many areas of the mental health community which are now incorporating meditation into daily routines.

Worry and rumination are other areas in which the practice has shown great promise. For, studies have also shown the practice having the ability to halt the development of ODD, ADD, ADHD and other behavioral issues when caught early. As such, studies and trials in this area are now underway to determine whether or not the practice may be able to prevent these conditions in the future.

To get the most out of a meditative session, it is best to sit or lie down in a quiet room. Whether sitting in a chair with back support or sitting cross-legged, most individuals feel this is the best position for meditation. Whereas, there are a number of different methods individuals can use during the session which can help create a sense of mindfulness, these include breathing techniques, body scanning and mental exercises.

By simply becoming aware of breathing patterns and rhythms, one is often placed into the present moment. Whereas, if using body scan techniques, meditation is focused on different areas of the body while noticing sensations in each area. Other techniques involve focusing on actions, feelings, thoughts, sensations and sounds which are present in the moment.

It is often recommended that newcomers to mindfulness and meditation begin with sessions of ten minutes or less per day. While this is the case, there are different types of meditation in which individuals attempt to clear the mind, contemplate and reflect on specific situations. Whereas, others prefer to sit outside in nature such as sitting by or in a creek, river or stream while allowing the sound of the running water to wash away any negative thoughts of experiences.




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