Did you know that throughout history, the connection between the mind and body was understood and accepted as a part of the human condition. But in the seventeenth century, French philosopher Rene Descartes introduced the concept of “mind-body dualism” – that the mind and body are two disparate entities operating separately – and this became the basis for modern medicine! Oh dear…

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Online & Face2Face Beginners Meditation trial session
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Those clever people from way back when had much better ideas than the French guy, and one of the ancient remedies for health and wellbeing, popular particularly in Eastern cultures, is meditation!
Fortunately, today, scientific research on the benefits of meditation for mental health is beginning to show what has long been known and experienced by those who practice meditation regularly.

We’ve put together a list of some of the benefits of meditation. Your mental health will thank you – the science says so.

Based on a wide range of ideas from medicine, psychology, spirituality and philosophy, mental health can be defined as the sum of a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Basically, it’s how we think, feel, and act.

Mental health is a lifelong journey, changing during different periods of life, or even from day to day, depending on circumstances and stressors. Think about your mental health right now. Is it good, poor, or somewhere in the “so-so” spectrum?

Meditation for Mental Health

When we sit to meditate, we are looking after ourselves in ways that might not at first seem obvious. The benefits of meditation are numerous and varied, and supported by science!
Meditation can improve your mental health by enhancing focus and concentration, improving self-awareness & self-esteem, reducing stress, clarity, compassion and calming frantic thoughts.

But there are even more ways meditation can benefit the mind… 

#1: Managing Depression
#2: Dealing With Anxiety
#3: Developing a Natural Stress Stabiliser
#4: Managing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
#5: Dealing with Addiction, Cravings, and Emotional Eating
#6: Increasing Mental Strength
#7: Managing Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
#8: Minimising Social Anxiety
#9: Decreasing Worry
#10: Reducing Feeling of Loneliness
#11: Overcoming Insomnia-Related Issues
#12: Controlling Phobias and Fears
#13: Managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
#14: Reducing and Changing Negative Self-Image and Beliefs
#15: Developing Healthy Coping Mechanisms
#16: Decreasing Habits of Overthinking
#17: Managing Pregnancy-Related Mood Swings
#18: Overcoming Postpartum Depression

Many and varied excellent reasons why you should practice meditation, and the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll be able to feel the benefits. Meditation is not a quick fix; it’s something you build into your lifestyle, and with practice, it can actually change the brain and provide excellent support for mental health.

PS. Sound Baths are also great for Mental Health

The science is still catching up to understanding how sound heals, but the research is hugely positive. A review of 400 published scientific articles on music as medicine found strong evidence that sound has mental and physical health benefits in improving mood and reducing stress. One study found that an hour long sound bath meditation helped people reduce tension, anger, fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

References: https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/urban-survival/201907/the-healing-power-sound-meditation & https://www.headspace.com/meditation/benefits & https://www.meetreflect.com/blog/meditation-mental-health-benefits/