I am going to switch gears in this blog post away from chiropractic. Chiropractic is amazing at helping you to build better health. Most of my readers already know this. Another topic that is near and dear to my heart is encouraging people to meditate for better health.
Health is physical, chemical, mental and spiritual all in one. It is beneficial to work on all these areas of your life to have the best health possible. Chiropractic is all about the physical. In the craziness of the world, we could all use some mental health improvements. This is where meditation comes into play. Meditation can also be a spiritual experience, but that is not the topic of this post. I’d like to focus on the mental (and physical) benefits of meditation and then give you some tips on how to implement this in your routine.
This post is not meant to be a how-to article….but more of kick in the butt for you to learn more about it and start doing it. There are plenty of how-to resources available to learn how to start a meditation practice.
There are studies that show mediation can help lower blood pressure, lessen anxiety and symptoms of depression, help you sleep better, lengthen your attention span, and even help control pain. Who doesn’t want these benefits? And it does not take a huge investment of time and it’s free. It’s too good not to do.
The most common barrier I hear from people on why they don’t meditate is because they just can’t do it. They can’t turn their mind off. I have two responses to that.
- You are exactly the kind of person who desperately NEEDS to meditate.
- The goal is not to turn of your thoughts.
Let’s discuss point #2. The goal of meditation is to be more aware. Aware of your body, aware of your thoughts. Not to turn off your thoughts. Again check out some of the resources out there that help you with the how to.
Here are a few tips for beginners.
- Consistency is the key. I personally try to meditate at least 20 minutes every day. If you find you don’t have 20 minutes, even a 3 minute session can be very refreshing. Do it EVERY DAY!
- Do it first thing in the morning. I find later in the day my mind is racing with all the other things I need to get done. First thing in the morning I still have control over my day.
- Minimize distractions. Don’t have your phone with you, and position yourself in a way that your kids or spouse won’t interrupt. For me, this is also why I do it in the morning, before anyone else is awake.
- Give yourself some grace. It takes time to learn. your mind has been thinking for however many years you’ve been alive. It takes time, patience, and repetition. Some days will be better than others.
I hope this helps inspire you to try out meditation for better health. If you have questions please ask!
Check out these popular apps if you prefer a guided meditation or don’t know where to start.
