Sleepless nights do not discriminate. And if you’ve ever lain awake thinking about commitments to work, school, family and friends, you’re familiar with what a challenge it can be to turn all those thoughts off at the end of the day and relax, let alone fall asleep.
Enter meditation. Research indicates that practicing meditation may result in a slew of health benefits, from lowering blood pressure to easing the symptoms of anxiety and insomnia.
If you’ve never tried meditation, or think it sounds intimidating, the good news is that it’s easy to get started. We’ve partnered with Sleep Number to present a beginner’s guide to relaxing, meditative practices ― and you can start tonight.
Why Meditation?
“During meditation the brain emits alpha waveforms, and these are associated with relaxation,” says Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist. “We also see things like a slowness in both breath and heart rate, which contribute to a more relaxed physical state.”
While there are many types of meditation practices, most of them call for the same four general elements: a quiet place to practice with limited distraction; a comfortable posture (sitting, lying or even walking are typical); focused attention on an object, your breath or a specific word or phrase; and, lastly, an open attitude. (MORE)
Source Huffington Post
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