Mindfulness Meditation Can Improve Your Health and Soothe Pain
© Susan Todd-Raque
If you read my most recent article it was about slowing down, or more familiar phrase, to “stop and smell the roses”. Exercise and nutrition can help and here is one more tool to have at your disposal that can help to improve your mental and physical health, meditation.
There are many ways to meditate. The philosophies of life, from when meditation began, go as far back as 563-483 B.C., include Daoism, Buddhism and Zen. While each of these philosophies has different techniques of meditating, a common theme is that all of us as human beings, regardless of culture, share a life force and energy capable of healing from within. Once considered two separate approaches to well being, Western and Eastern medicine continue to merge for the betterment of all.
When I thought about how to explain meditation practice in this article, what came to my mind is there is a difference between the practice of meditation, and what most people think of when they think of meditating. The difference is similar to taking a stroll, and a full-fledged workout. When someone takes a stroll around the block, they are certainly getting exercise; however, the health benefits are different than the full workout. What I am learning is there is a difference between the benefits to one’s health from contemplation, like the occasional stroll, versus the practice of meditation, like a full workout.
What is most exciting is learning how to teach others to use the regular practice of meditation in their lives and to begin seeing the many health benefits it can have. Research suggests mediation has had positive outcomes in helping anxiety, depression and, yes, even chronic pain. Frontline molecular cell research is beginning to find that even cells get inflamed, and communicate this distress with other cells, causing further inflammation. I am seeing more and more individuals suffering from chronic pain. Whether it be diabetes related, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis or chronic back pain, my knowledge base is growing that pain medication is not doing the job. And, for some people, they are on so much pain medication, it is affecting their thinking and emotional well-being.
Anyone can learn the practice of meditation. But in this time of everyone wanting instant results, meditation takes patience, practice and belief. It has been difficult for me but I am beginning to see results. I have seen my cholesterol go down significantly with exercise and nutrition. I am looking forward to my ability to smell more and more roses as my more regular practice of meditation increases. You, too, can make a difference in your physical and mental health by directing your mindful energy to heal.
