26 benefits of Mindfulness Meditation Practice

“How you gon’ win when you ain’t right within”

— Lauryn Hill

For thousands of years, mindfulness and meditation practices have been used all over the world to improve mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual  well-being. Research in the fields of psychology and neuroscience confirm the effectiveness of meditation and mindfulness for healing, cultivating inner calm, and building resilience. 

What are some of the benefits of practicing mindfulness meditation?

Mental & Emotional

1. Builds focus, motivation, self-discipline, and concentration

2. Boosts cognitive functioning & healthy cognitive aging

3. Improves memory retention and recall

4. Supports emotion regulation & relieves stress, anxiety, irritation, and depression

5. Improves mental clarity & quiets the “chatter” or “static” in your brain

6. Enhances creativity

7. Improves ability to work through stressful situations

8. Increases concentration of grey matter in the brain

9. Reduces reactivity of “fight-or-flight” responses

10. Induces relaxation in present moment

Physical

1. Releases tension held in the body

2. Assists in pain management and reducing inflammation and somatic discomfort

3. Assists in maintaining healthy blood pressure and circulation

4. Improves sleep and reduces daytime fatigue

5. Boosts immune system

6. Improves breathing efficiency

7. Improves metabolism

8. Improves hormonal balance

Spiritual

1. Increases compassion for self and others

2. Improves connection with self and Devine

3. Builds self-knowledge

4. Improves empathy

5. Decreases feeling of disconnection from the body

6. Develops intuition

7. Promotes spiritual awareness

8. Promotes inner peace and contentment

This sounds great, but how do I do it?

There is no “correct” way to practice because the experience feels different for each person, so do what works for you. The key to an effective practice lies in your intention and non-judgement. Mindfulness meditation can be practiced in many ways, including, but not limited to the integration of mantras, chanting, prayer, movement, diaphragmatic breathing, or sensory integration, such as aromatherapy, taste, tactile stimulation, temperature control, visual observation, and sound. 

Ready to start your own mindfulness meditation Practice? Try these tips to get started:

To begin, we suggest that you gently invite yourself to the moment, set an intention for your practice, and allow yourself to welcome non-judgment and openness as you breathe into the moment through whatever mode and duration feels comfortable for you. 

Interested in a guided meditation? 

We invite you to participate in a FREE guided meditation offering from Mia Turner, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Certified Yoga Instructor.