Where does meditation come from?

I already mentioned the Himalayas here. Indeed, meditation is mainly associated with eastern countries - India, Nepal, China, Japan, but historical artifacts depicting people sitting in the Turkish posture with closed eyes have also been found in Europe, and there is even evidence of Slavic yoga and meditations, and therefore probably hardly we can determine their exact origin. Since the beginning of its existence, humanity around the globe has been interested in the transcendental, the origin and origin of life. Various techniques and rituals were practiced with the aim of inducing altered states of consciousness or removing ego obstacles in order to achieve unity with the Universe.

However, it is much more important to realize that the motivation for practicing yoga and meditation has changed considerably since their beginnings. Modern man no longer practices yoga or meditates necessarily in order to achieve enlightenment or a higher level of consciousness. The motivations are more of a practical and health nature - relief from stress and pain, improvement of sleep, release of emotional pressure and others.

On what principle does meditation work?

Meditation relaxes the body's response, the paralytic nervous system, the opposite of what happens in a stressful situation. This means that breathing and pulse rate slow down, blood pressure and energy consumption are reduced, down to the level of energy consumption during sleep, which helps us release tension in the body. However, we may not succeed immediately. Here too, regularity, determination and will are important. During meditation, alpha waves work, which, according to research, help increase creativity, the ability to learn, sleep and immunity.

The relaxation response manifests itself in the body, such as the slowing down of cell aging and the production of endorphins - hormones of happiness, which is why, thanks to meditation, we have a better mood and a great prevention against depression and irritability (be careful, people who have been diagnosed with depression and/or take medication should start meditating without consultation with doctors and should not self-medicate by meditation).

Meditation and its effects

• Slowing of breathing

• Slowing of pulse and heart activity

• Lowering of blood pressure

• Dopamine production and mood improvement

• Improving sleep

• Increased immunity

• Increased creativity

• Better pain management (studied on people with chronic pain)

• Improvement of cognitive abilities - concentration, ability to learn, solve problems

• Patience

• Empathy

Since meditation affects the nervous system, it affects absolutely all systems and functions of the body, and we could continue listing the benefits for a while. For a change, let's now change to those benefits that touch more on our experience and perception.

In meditation, the main intention is to be aware of thoughts, without further elaboration. Simply, notice them, but do not solve them. Such an approach creates the necessary space in the mind to realize that it is the impermanence of thoughts, their impermanence, and also that we do not necessarily identify with or find each thought. Subsequently comes the ability not to react to everything that happens around or in us. Some things are important and need attention. Sometimes, however, it is appropriate to simply not react and perceive that people's reactions have nothing to do with us.