Meditation can benefit the whole body and improve overall health and well-being, according to wellness enthusiast and creator of Well&Co. Debra Gudema.
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, September 12, 2022 — Meditation is well-respected as a way to reduce stress and center the mind and body It can lend focus to upcoming tasks and even serve as a way to stay healthy and well; Debra Gudema, a meditation enthusiast, shares.
A meditation practice can be as simple or ritualistic as a practitioner wants, with the best way being the one most easily maintained. Any meditation practice can help develop internal awareness and even combat the effects of certain chronic conditions.
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How to Meditate
Meditation takes many forms. For many casual practitioners, guided practice with verbal cues, soothing music, and prompts for imagery helps with tapping into other senses, such as smell and touch.
Guided meditations are available from various sources, including mindfulness coaches, yoga teachers, and self-help leaders, and are easily accessed through music streamers like Apple Music and Spotify. Many YouTube channels also offer a free series, and workout coaches via fitness platforms like Peloton also lead sessions as an accompaniment to their fitness classes.
After a period of guided meditation, it can become easier to lead solo sessions without a guide by tapping into the same verbal cues or developing an ability to access the same feelings of awareness without as many prompts, Debra Gudema advises.
Mindfulness meditation is also easier to jump into as a new practitioner. With this form, one becomes more aware during meditation. Thoughts and feelings can flow freely during practice, and they are accepted and passed on without judgment. There is no deep analysis, only acknowledgment.
If interest allows, additional techniques, such as mantra meditation, Qi gong, Tai chi, and Transcendental meditation, can be pursued.
How to Boost Wellness
While meditation cannot take the place of medical care, it can help lend perspective when dealing with the stresses of a chronic condition, according to Debra Gudema. It’s not a one-size-fits-all practice, but many can find some form of relief in meditation practice.
According to the Mayo Clinic, research suggests meditation can help manage long-term and chronic conditions like asthma, chronic pain, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, tension headaches, and sleep issues. Many conditions that develop partly because of excess stress are much more likely to benefit. Other conditions, such as certain mental health issues, could be amplified through unstructured meditation practice outside of a doctor’s recommendation.
Consider starting small and using meditation to focus on how the body feels good and what is working. In acknowledging all that is well, accepting unwell things becomes easier. Meditation can also create a calming feeling that helps alleviate health concerns like localized pain or headaches.
With regular practice, other chronic conditions, such as IBS or high blood pressure, can improve due to the cumulative benefits of a daily reset. These include lowering resting heart rate and blood pressure, improving sleep, and increasing tolerance.