New Delhi: On December 21st, the world will celebrate a special day dedicated to meditation, thanks to the United Nations. This is the first time a global day has been set aside to focus on this powerful practice that helps people find inner calm and balance. Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, Founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, in an interaction with News9Live, spoke about the effects of meditation on heart patients in the long run.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a simple way to calm your mind and feel better. It’s not about making your brain empty, but about watching your thoughts without getting upset by it. Meditation can help heart patients in several important ways when practiced regularly over months and years:
- Better Blood Pressure Control: Regular meditation helps lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When you meditate, your body relaxes and blood vessels open up, making it easier for blood to flow. Over time, this can help keep blood pressure at healthier levels, which is crucial for heart patients.
- Stress Reduction: Long-term meditation practice helps lower stress hormones like cortisol in your body. Less stress means less strain on your heart. Heart patients who meditate often report feeling calmer and better able to handle daily pressures.
- Improved Heart Rate: Meditation teaches your body to maintain a steadier heart rate. This means your heart doesn’t have to work as hard, which is especially beneficial for heart patients. Regular practice helps prevent sudden spikes in heart rate during stressful situations.
- Better Sleep Quality: Many heart patients struggle with sleep, but meditation can help. Better sleep means your heart gets proper rest and recovery time. Studies show that heart patients who meditate regularly often sleep better and longer.
- Lifestyle Changes: People who meditate regularly often become more aware of their body’s needs. This awareness often leads to better choices about diet, exercise, and other healthy habits that support heart health.
- Lower Inflammation: Long-term meditation practice has been linked to reduced inflammation in the body. This is important because inflammation can worsen heart problems. Less inflammation means better heart health over time.
- Emotional Benefits: Living with heart disease can cause anxiety and depression. Regular meditation helps manage these emotional challenges, making it easier to stay positive and focused on recovery.
Bheej Dhyan or Seed Meditation tests your auto-response system. To illustrate with an example, auto response is when you hear a random alphabet and are asked to write down the first thing that pops up in your mind. These responses are already recorded in your brain and simply manifest as and when a corresponding situation arises. This is very similar to how we are habituated to reacting in anger or sadness at certain incidents in our lives. Seed Meditation controls and transforms this automatic response system that lies within you.
Swaas Dhyan or breath meditation is a practice where you remain focused on your breathing for the stipulated amount of time. Without altering the natural rhythm of breathing the concept of this meditation is to simply observe your breath and gently keep your mind focused on it.
Safety Tips for Heart Patients:
- Choose comfortable sitting positions
- Avoid holding your breath for long periods
- Practice at times when you feel most stable
- Keep meditation sessions short at first
- Stay in touch with your healthcare team about your practice
- By making meditation a regular part of your routine, you can support your heart health alongside medical treatment. Remember that benefits build up gradually over time, so consistency is key. Start with just a few minutes daily and slowly increase as you feel comfortable.
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