Though meditation is usually recognized as a spiritual practice, it also has many health benefits. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation as away to lower blood pressure, help asthma people in easier breathing and generally to relax the everyday stresses of life. In spite of its rich history and traditions, it is only during the past three decades that scientific study has focuses on the clinical effects of meditation on health. Health care professionals who were often dissatisfied with the side effects of drug treatments for stress related disorders defined meditation as valuable tool for stress reduction. The benefits of meditation with its impact on our health can be classified into three categories :

• Physiological

• Psychological

• Spiritual

Various physiological conditions that are benefited by meditation are :

Psychological Benefits of Meditation:

Meditation is a humble process that gently return us to the now of our lives and allows us to wake up and reevaluate the way we live our lives. Meditation increases self confidence and feelings of connection to others. So, its good enough to make depressed people feel better. Many meditation exercises are forms of visualization that are highly useful in healing old traumas, learning to forgive and enhancing self-esteem. Thus, handling repressed memories and helps in enjoying life better.

Spiritual Benefits of Meditation:

Meditation help us to settle down to deeper levels of quietness and awareness. The longer an individual practices meditation, the greater is the possibility that his or her goals and efforts will shift towards personal and spiritual growth. Many individuals who initially learn meditation for its self regulatory aspects experience an increased sense of compassion, care and concern for others.

EFFECTS OF MEDITATION 

Following are some common effects, benefits or experience of meditation.

Meditation brings a sense of relaxation and peacefulness. It controls anger and short temperament of which most people are victims in the stressful environment of today.

Your concentration improves. You are able to do your task more efficiently and skillfully.

A concentrated mind brings to surface many new and innovative ideas. You may visualize answers to some of your intricate problems while you are meditating.

Feeling a greater sense of purpose in life.

Responding to an inner desire to do the right things for its own sake rather than under legal or moral compulsion.

Experiencing an increased sense of compassion, care and concern for others.

Appreciating the hand of God at work in the universe, especially in the beauty and harmony of nature.

Feeling a desire to detach oneself form the materialism and consumerism of modern life.

When the meditation is very profound and deep, one may experience many subtle changes in oneself. These may include complete absorption with the self, the dormant power inside, telepathy, opening of third eye and so on.