 The Benefits of Meditation on Human Physiology
Physiology refers to the study of the main functions of our bodies, such as the way we breathe, eat, move, etc. It’s a science that has been researched since ancient times by every major ancient civilization. In fact, the study of physiology eventually led to the creation of human body related sciences, such as anatomy and medicine.
Although modern medicine and its methods are the most widespread ways to treat problems related to physiology, as of late, many people are reverting to using very ancient methods that offer a different, more natural alternative. Among those, meditation is becoming one of the most popular ones.
Meditation has also been around for centuries and it has been practiced and encouraged by every major spiritual leader. Meditation is also practiced to some degree by most religions and it’s even a part of most martial arts practices.
In fact, martial arts meditation is a good example of how meditation can improve the body’s physiology. Although the image of the monk that meditates before a fight has been used in an exaggerated way in some movies or TV shows, it’s based on real life meditation by martial artists. Since meditation tends to eliminate stress, anxieties, and fears, martial artists who practice meditation get physiology related benefits. That is, in addition of having a sharper and more focused mind, of course.
One of the most important physiology related effects of meditation is a decreased metabolism. In turn, this results in a slower breathing pace, a decreased hearth rate, and a decrease in blood pressure.
The slower breathing pace tends to stabilize the respiratory quotient (the ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide), which in turn leads to a more responsive body when the time of exercise comes. In addition, practitioners’ blood flow is redistributed, with most of the blood flow being redirected to the brain.
The body’s physiology is also affected in other ways. For instance, the increase in skin resistance to electrical current is yet another effect of meditation. This phenomenon was discovered through the use of a method called Galvanic Skin Response, or GSR. Through this method, a much more stable skin electrical activity was detected in practitioners than in non-practitioners, and in turn, this translates into a much faster recovery from negative emotions. Experiments with GSR have shown that people with a higher skin resistance are more resistant to anger, fear, and anxiety that people with low skin resistance.
Of course, all of these changes in the body’s physiology contribute to a more relaxed and well-being feeling in the individual. For example, the endocrine system is known to reduce the levels of certain blood chemicals, such as lactate, during meditation practices. High levels of lactate lead to anxiety and stress, while their reduction make the practitioner feel peaceful and at ease.
So, as you can see, meditation definitely has several advantages in our bodies’ physiology. And the benefits mentioned are just some of the ones you can get. You can always talk with your guide or trainer if you want to know what techniques you can use to achieve specific results.
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