We talk a lot about mindfulness and meditation here and sometimes it may seem a little out there, we know. Why is a trading site focused on market education so concerned about some sort of wishy washy new age stuff? And we get it. Lots of people we know feel the same way when they hear one of us talking about the importance of mindset or meditation or any of these things. And while it may look a little hippy, there is real science behind the benefits of meditation. Think about it, how many major religions that have been around for centuries advocate for quiet contemplation or some other form of meditation or prayer? Every religion I personally have heard of has spoken to the benefits of meditation. And why do we think this is? The answer has to be something beyond it is new age junk. For meditation to survive all of human history there has to be something more, and you know what? There is; way more. Even if you aren't religious or spiritual, even if you are a complete agnostic, no belief in anything you can't see, smell, touch etc. you can find the benefits of meditation in actual scientific research and findings.
Benefit 1: Increased Grey Matter
In a study published by Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging with a team of Harvard led researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital they found that after just 8 weeks of daily meditation, subjects showed increased grey matter in the hippocampus section of the brain. Results were found via MRI scans done before and after the 8 week session of meditation. The hippocampus is the section of the brain that controls learning as well as empathy, introspection and self awareness. None of these results were found in the control group. Though the study was brief, it is suggested that with longer periods of time dedicated towards daily meditation in additional areas of the brain associated with self awareness, empathy and learning. This alone is huge! Scientists were able to measure tangible results in as little as 8 weeks from something as simple as daily 20-30 minute meditation practices. Chances are half the herbal supplements you take in hopes for their desired results have half as good of a track record as meditation.
Benefit 2: Increased Alpha and Theta Brain Waves
Research has also shown that meditation instantly increases alpha brain waves. With as little as one session of meditation you should feel an increase in alpha brain waves following your meditation session. What are alpha and theta brain waves? They are two of the five main brain waves we have: alpha, beta, delta, theta and gamma. Each type of wave occurs in different periods of our life depending on what we are interacting with. Why we want to increase our alpha brain waves is that these are the waves that form when we are not focusing on anything too hard in particular. Theta brain waves occur when you are extremely relaxed or sleeping. In the study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicines it was found that meditation increased both alpha and theta brainwaves at a higher rate than normal relaxation. Meaning meditation is akin to drinking a sports drink after you work out to rehydrate faster. Sure water will get you there as well, but the sports drink will nourish you quicker and deeper than the water ever could.
Benefit 3: Improved Default Mode Network
The default mode network is a relatively new concept in which we see a connection of parts of the brain working together to create a network. It is most active when we are thinking or daydreaming and less active when we are paying attention to someone else. If you are someone who suffers from ADHD or loses the ability to concentrate when you have a task at hand it is because your default mode network is overly active. A quiet default network means that we are able to get through a task without being distracted or procrastinating. Though there are medications to help with this, a study published by the Library of Medicine showed that with daily meditation we can improve our default mode network showing participants in the study to be able to perform tasks at hand quicker and with fewer mistakes after a meditation session than before.
So there you have it, three scientifically proven reasons why everyone should start adding meditation to their daily routine. Of course there are benefits beyond these three listed both medically and emotionally but these are the three that really jumped out at us as amazing and quantifiable reasons why everyone should start the practice of mediation and keep it throughout