Here at Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh, we take our residents’ health, both physical and mental, as a top priority. Whether it’s participating in yoga or taking walks among the greenery, we highly encourage our residents to keep themselves mentally fit. That’s why we’re huge advocates for meditation. Your loved ones may not be automatically interested in the idea of meditation, considering it sounds boring as it involves sitting in silence, but it brings a whole lot of benefits.
Through numerous studies, meditation has been found to improve brain health and makes one feel calmer. Listed below are more benefits that meditation can bring for your loved ones, and how to get started.
Reduces Stress
One of the most common reasons why people incorporate meditation into their everyday lives is to reduce stress and anxiety. When our brain and body are exposed to stressful situations, our bodies would produce the hormone ‘cortisol’, which releases the inflammatory chemical ‘cytokines’. Research has shown that meditation decreases the production of these inflammatory chemicals, leading to happier emotions and lesser distress.
Promotes Emotional Health
Meditation allows us to feel more relaxed and find inner peace. By sitting upright and staying grounded during the process, we can achieve a sense of balance that allows us to have better focus, improved self-awareness, and a more positive outlook on life. For your loved ones who are feeling lonely or do not have an active social life, meditation can be helpful. Meditation has also been proven to improve problem-solving skills.
Reduces Memory Loss
As meditation keeps our minds going, this reduces the risk of memory-related issues from occurring. For patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, practicing meditation daily can also improve cognitive health. ‘Kirtan Kriya’ is a specific type of meditation that’s meant to stimulate the mind, which involves a mantra or chant and finger movements. According to multiple studies, ‘Kirtan Kriya’ can improve the performance of people with memory loss.
Improves Sleep Patterns
Insomnia is not a rare disorder. Half of the population has experienced insomnia at least some point in their lives. Meditation allows our bodies to relax and release tension caused by stress. As such, we’ll be in a more peaceful state of mind, leading to a better, more restful sleep at night. It’s no secret that good sleeping patterns can bring a host of benefits, including a stronger immune system, healthier heart, and sharper brain.
Ways to Get Started on Meditation
Your loved ones can adapt any kind of meditation to cater to their bodily limits. For example, if they have difficulty sitting on the floor, they can choose to sit in a chair or even lie in a bed. If they have difficulty hearing, they can turn up the volume to a meditation podcast. There are many ways to reap the benefits of meditation.
Attending a meditation class is one of the most straightforward ways to practice meditation. Fortunately for our residents, Aston Gardens at Pelican Marsh regularly holds yoga and meditation classes in our community. These are perfect opportunities not only for residents to get together and form connections, but also to improve their mental health.
