How Meditation Supports Your Fitness

At Fitstop, we believe in living long, healthy and happy lives and something that contributes to this is not only physical fitness but also mental fitness. A simple way to start implementing some mental fitness training into your routine is through MEDITATION.

Meditation is a practice that has been around for thousands of years and has become particularly popular in recent years. It involves focusing the mind on a particular object, sound, or simply your breath, to calm the mind and promote relaxation. 

Here are 5 benefits of meditation backed by credible sources:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology found that mindfulness meditation helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. This is because meditation has been shown to change the brain's neural pathways and alter the body's response to stress.

2. Improves Sleep Quality

A study published in the Journal of Sleep Research found that practising mindfulness meditation can improve sleep quality, particularly for people with insomnia. This is because meditation has been shown to regulate the body's natural sleep cycle and promote relaxation.

3. Enhances Emotional Stability

Meditation has been shown to increase activity in the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that mindfulness meditation can help reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve overall emotional well-being.

4. Boosts Concentration and Focus

A study published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that mindfulness meditation can improve focus, attention, and working memory. This is because meditation has been shown to increase activity in the regions of the brain responsible for attention and focus.

5. Supports Physical Health

Meditation has been shown to have numerous physical health benefits, including reducing blood pressure, boosting immunity, and reducing chronic pain. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that mindfulness meditation can lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. 

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to meditation, and it is backed by credible research. Regular practice can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, enhance emotional stability, boost concentration and focus, and support physical health. 

For some simple examples of how to implement meditation into your weekly routine, make sure you follow @fitstopfitness!