Modern research has brought a great awareness to the many benefits of daily meditation. Today it is recommended that everyone tries to incorporate meditation into their daily lives!. People who can benefit greatly from meditation, who are often overlooked, are seniors! If you’re reading this, chances are that you might not be aware of how exactly meditation can benefit seniors. Let’s dive into it!
WHAT IS MEDITATION AND THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION
Meditation is a practice that trains your brain to have greater awareness, attention, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. The ability to control your mental state of being is invaluable! The mind-body connection branch of medicine deals with how negative thoughts and emotions can affect your physical and mental health. Seniors have an ever increasing risk for physical and mental health problems, so focusing on developing and sustaining the mind-body connection can play a huge role in their longevity and quality of life.
Meditation is not about “sitting in lotus style, chanting meaningless words”. Instead, meditation is about simply finding a quiet place, sitting for a few minutes and breathing slowly and deeply, and starting the process of relaxing. Guided meditations by an instructor or app can give you direction with your mental exercises and help you to find true relaxation. Meditation trains the mind to remain focused and aware of drifting into unwanted thought patterns. For that reason, it can really help senior’s cognitive abilities involving concentration, memory, and attention.
6 WAYS MEDITATION BENEFITS SENIORS
Potential to delay the onset of Alzheimers and other dementias.
Increases energy and improves immune system function by reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels.
Reduce and control blood pressure.
Decreases muscle tension and aches often associated with feeling stressed or anxious.
Improves mood by stimulating “feel good” hormones which can decrease senior depression.
Meditation can be taught in Senior communities, giving seniors another way to socialize and decrease loneliness while using and stimulation brain function/activity.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP
You can start a meditation program at any time, even without a doctors OK. You can help your senior loved one start their routine today as well. There are many different places to find guided meditations and meditation help. Here at Personal Choice Services we are ready to help you start and navigate this new aspect of senior health! Call our office today to receive quality help and direction.