What Exactly Is Mindfulness Meditation and How Can I Try It?

woman meditating in bed

Fromhealing crystalsandenergy worktorecovery trainingandfoam rolling, wellness andself-carehave never been buzzier. You’ve likely heard of mindfulness meditation, but maybe you’re not sure exactly what it entails—or whether it could be beneficial for you. Here’s the deal.

What is mindfulness meditation?Developed by Buddhists more than 2,000 years ago, mindfulness meditation is basically a technique that helps you be present with whatever is happening. According to乔恩·卡巴金, PhD, a molecular biologist and meditation teacher, mindfulness is an “awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, nonjudgmentally.” Proponents say that mindfulness meditation can contribute to stress reduction, improved sleep, heightened focus and increased creativity, just to name a few.

How do you do it?You could start with a guided program from the meditation appHeadspace(Calm是另一个很好的选择),会吗l lead you through quick ten-minute sessions that help you start becoming extra aware of your body and breathing while sitting in a comfortable position. If the idea of sitting still for ten minutes sounds like hell to you, ease into a mindfulness practice by tryingmindful running, basically, running while making a concerted effort to clear your mind and focus on your breathing. Oh, and there’smindful eating, too.

Does it actually work?Recent research is promising. According to a 2018 study published inBMJ Open,anxiety may increase the risk of developing cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. But study authors suggest that meditative practices like mindfulness (which has been shown to help control anxiety)could potentially reduce this risk. A smallHarvard study in 2018also found that people who meditated over an eight-week period had a striking change in the expression of 172 genes that regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms and glucose metabolism. And that, in turn, was linked to a meaningful decrease in their blood pressure.

Turns out sitting still doesn’t have to be lazy; it can actually be super healthy.

8 Easy Ways to Teach Your Kids Mindfulness and Gratitude



sarah stiefvater

Sarah Stiefvater

Wellness Director

Sarah Stiefvater is PureWow's Wellness Director. She's been at PureWow for ten years, and in that time has written and edited stories across all categories, but currently focuses...
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