Meditation is a valuable tool that must be part of every person’s daily life. Recently, the scientific community has been disclosing meditation's secret benefits and possibilities. It’s proven, and many people got the mental and physical advantages of meditation.
But,
the question I’ll discuss today is: can meditation make you physically
stronger? Meditation can’t make you physically strong directly. But,
it can help you with many mental factors that lead to more muscular physical
strength. Meditation definitely has the power to make you emotionally and
mentally stronger, reduce stress, and make better emotions and behavior.
In this
post, I’ll talk about many points regarding meditation. For example, you’ll
learn what meditation is, its physical, mental, and spiritual benefits, the
process of different types of meditation, and many more.
Learning the process of meditation is vital to get the expected outcome.
I’ll help guide you to learn it quickly.
So, let’s start!
What Is Meditation?
Before
I step into the question: can meditation make you physically
stronger? It’s important to know: what is meditation? In recent
terms, meditation is known as “Mindfulness.” It’s a process to remove the image
of stereotypes surrounding meditation.
Indeed,
meditation is a simple way to keep more focus on your own by closing all
worldly thoughts. It allows you to control your mind to make it calm. It’s a
mind-body balancing method that creates a deeply relaxing state of your
mind.
Meditation
can be an excellent tool for people with hectic lifestyles in the recent time
of the world. You can ease the mental and physical stress of the eventfulness
of life without any adverse reaction. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger meditates
in the 70s to manage the anxiety that comes from his increasing fame.
Can Meditation Make You
Physically Stronger – A WebMD Analysis
“Most US people don’t sit for meditation. But, this body-mind complementary method is helping thousands of people worldwide. People are using meditation to ease their chronic pain and stress, enhance heart health and anxiety, boost immunity and determine issues during pregnancy. You can alleviate the stress-related condition that has worsened through meditation.” – Herbert Benson.
Herbert
Benson is an MD in cardiology and well-known for meditation research on the
health effects. He researched for decades on meditation and was the founder of
Benson
says, “The calming response from meditation assists you to decrease metabolism,
improves heat bits, and lowers blood pressure. Also, meditation develops brain
waves and breathing. Meditation sends a message to the body through the mind to
relax muscle tension and tightness.”
Does
meditation make you stronger? More
scientific evidence indicates how meditation works for the human body and mind.
People meditating regularly has increased brain activeness found from MRI scans.
“The scans were performed in the areas like heart rate and metabolism. Some other studies on Buddhist monks showed that meditation makes long-lasting changes in their brains. The research was conducted on body parts involved in working memory, attention, consciousness, and learning perception. Meditation has a repetition calming strength at its heart. While ignoring thoughts, focusing on your breath, and repeating any phrase, a mantra, makes a natural relaxing response.” – Stan Chapman.
Stan
Chapman has a Ph.D. in psychology and works at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. He adds, “It doesn’t require a
therapist to learn meditation. But, it’s like a tennis skill that needs regular
practice to do it perfectly. In time, you’ll be able to create these
meditative, relaxed, and faster states. Meditating several times in the day
will make you feel more relaxed throughout the whole day.”
Health, Mental, And
Spiritual Benefits Of Meditation
Meditating
is simply a great way to get health and mental benefits. Even you can’t
underrate its spiritual values. So, let’s learn different benefits of
meditation:
Health Benefits Of Meditation
Does
meditation help with physical fitness? While performing meditation, makes some changes in your
health. All body cells get more energy, producing peace, joy, and enthusiasm.
Here
are some other health benefits that you can get from meditating:
- Regulates blood pressures
- Reduces anxiety attacks to lower the blood lactate levels
- Decreases any stress-related pains like tension headaches,
insomnia, ulcers, and joint and muscle issues
- Improves behavior and mood by improving serotonin production
- Strengthens the immune system
- Distributes energy to cells that develop the energy levels
Mental Benefits Of Meditation
Does
meditation make you mentally stronger? Regular
meditating transforms your brainwave pattern into the alpha stage and supports
healing. Meditation makes you stronger and freshens
your mind with beautifying and delicate.
Our
mind gets nourishment from it and becomes clean when we feel unstable,
emotionally disturbed, or overwhelmed.
Below
are some more mental benefits of meditation:
- Decreases anxiety
- Improves emotional stability
- Develops creativity and intuition
- Increases happiness
- Provides peace and clarity of mind
Spiritual Benefits Of Meditation
As
meditation isn’t a religion, anybody can practice it. You can meditate
regardless of being a follower of any religious faith. While meditating, you’re
in an open, limitless space with joy and calmness.
When
performing this, you discharge into the surroundings and synchronize to the
planet/creation. If you know about yourself, you’ll start discovering more
about yourself. Ultimately, you’ll love
yourself.
Some spiritual
benefits of meditation are as below:
- It brings fundamental personal transformation.
- Internal peace and stillness
- Less reactivity
- Sense of inner happiness
- Unhealthy stress reduction
- Strong belonging sense
- Clarify the purpose of life
Benefits
Of Meditation For Students
Like
other benefits of meditation, students also can get some of them from simple
and regular practice. Let’s check out some effects of meditation
on the body for students:
- Increases confidence & IQ level
- Provides more clarity and focus
- Improves overall health
- Develops mental strength
- It helps to avoid destructive addictions
- Enhances social skills
- Extends compassion & empathy
How to Meditate –
Some Proven Ways Of Meditation
Meditation
is a personal affair. You’ll have to learn the appropriate meditation that fits
you well. Let’s learn some different types of meditations below:
The
Six Steps to Meditation
Follow
the below basic steps to get an optimal outcome:
First Step – Sit Correctly
It’s
not compulsory to sit on the cross leg or a floor. A comfortable cushion or a
chair is good to go with. Feeling relaxed is the essential thing in this first
step. When you start meditation, you must not feel bad or think about your leg
cramps. But, don’t put your back on the chair that may make you too comfortable
to fall asleep.
Second Step – Keep A Timer
The duration
of meditation might be from 5 to 30 minutes. But, you must avoid
checking your watch or phone to check the time constantly. Using a timer will
eliminate this issue to allow you complete concentration on meditation. You can
set the alarm on your mobile phone or anything similar that will let you know
when the time ends. Remember; use something that makes a gentle alarm, not
something that makes an alarm, and you jump up!
Third Step – Be Comfortable
You’ll
sit by closing your eyes and a bit forwarding your head when you start
meditation. It’ll help you open the chest to get deep breaths. You can keep
your back upright in this position. Remaining motionless is the crucial point
to getting comfortable. It doesn’t mean you feel so comfortable sleeping rather
than meditating.
Fourth Step – Focus On Breathing
It’s
time to focus on nothing else but breathing. For the best result, continue
breathing in and out using your nose rather than your mouth. Simply concentrate
on breathing, but don’t try to analyze it.
Fifth Step – Hold Your Mind From
Wandering
Your
mind might be wandering, which is natural. If it happens with you, just refocus
on the breathing task. It’s the most vital step and factor in meditation to get
the expected results. The entire purpose of this step is to control,
mindfulness, and have clarity.
Sixth Step – Repeat
Overdoing
doesn’t bring good meditation results. Ideally, you can
do it for 5 to 30 minutes daily. Also, you can do it for one or two hours at
the same time per week. Avoid making it longer than recommended to get the best
result from meditation, and maintain the schedule regularly.
Zen
Meditation
Many meditation techniques exist, like a mantra, movement, mindfulness,
spirituality, loving-kindness, and more. Zen meditation benefits you
in many ways you’ll realize soon after starting it. Before you start the
process, I recommend you begin with a vital sitting and count breathing.
Here is the process of Zen meditation:
- Get ready for 10 – 15 minutes to forget the outer world. Get a
timer and set the alarm as per your need.
- Choose a quiet room that gives an environment without any
distractions.
- Put a pillow on the floor, and set a cross-legged
position on it. If you have difficulty crossing your leg, simply cross it
as it’s possible without pain. Ensure your back is in an upright position.
- Put your diaphragm at relaxation and keep your belly free to
move.
- Keep your sight straight ahead. It’s better to close your eyes
but leave your mind open for more focus.
- Set your hands on the knees or in the lap of one another, and
keep facing up your palms.
- Now, start with a bit harder part. Allow all thoughts to come
into your mind, and don’t judge them.
- Use your nose to breathe instead of your mouth and fill your
chest. It’ll expand your belly, and then breathe out slowly. One.
- Repeat the above step again and count every breath.
- If any distractions or thoughts arise, restart counting from
one. You’ll face this issue in the early stages of meditation.
- Avoid judging your own, and don’t be impatient. If you get
frustrated, say, “I such at this.” Allow the thoughts and let them go.
Restart your counting without leaving. And, most importantly, don’t be
hopeless.
Do it
for 15 minutes, but I assure you that this will make you feel closer to 2 – 3
hours. You’d be dying at the fourth minute to get up to do something. It can
make your mind crazy. And chances are you’d allow your mind to think about the
past weekend party or the hectic project you’re working on at the office.
It’s
OK, but don’t judge; let them go, and restart your counting again. This is Zen
meditation basics. I’ve been practicing it for the last few years. If you can
go through the first session, congratulations; you’re all set to get benefits
as you know how to get the most out of meditation. It’ll
make you more relaxed, feel calmer, and clear-headed throughout the day.
Energy
Exploding Meditation During Workout
Here
is how to meditate for the explosion of energy
during a workout:
First Step – Breath slowly
but deeply and feel your inner energy for 15 seconds.
Second Step – Realize and feel energy flow throughout your body for
15 seconds.
Third Step – Imagine the
energy activating and revving this up for 15 seconds.
Fourth Step – If ready,
release the developed energy immediately and perform the workout/exercise.
Faster
Recovery Meditation After A Workout
It’s
another workout-related meditation with almost similar and straightforward
steps. Here is how to meditate for faster recovery after a workout:
First Step – Breath slowly
but deeply and feel your inner energy. Do it for 1 minute.
Second Step – Realize and feel the flow of energy throughout your
body. Do this for 1 minute.
Third Step – Imagine that
the energy is activating to cleanse your body. Do it for 1 minute.
Fourth Step – Think that this
energy is radiating your inner body increasingly for 2 minutes.
Fifth Step – Now, redirect
this energy to your body parts that need healing. Those are the areas you
trained during exercise or workouts today. Do this for 5 minutes.
Remember,
this is the process of healing parts that keep you more muscular. When you heal
quicker and ultimately, you’ll be physically stronger faster.
Meditation To Improve
Your Sex Life
Can
Meditation Help Improve Your Sex Life? Scientific
studies proved that you could improve your sex life through meditation. As sex
involves body, mind, and spirit, you can connect better with your partner by
performing regular meditation.
Top 5 Benefits Of
Meditation For Sex Life
- You can improve your libido just by meditating for 20 minutes
regularly.
- Meditation improves blood circulation to get a better erection
for long-term sexual performance.
- You’ll get the ability of your mind’s chatter to turn down and
concentrate on lovemaking for longer sessions.
- Meditation lowers the cortisol level to get into a better mood
for sex.
- You’ll be happier, making you more confident about your inner
strength.
How To Meditate For Better Sex Life
Sex
meditation allows you to try it with your partner as a helping solo. Here are
the steps you need to follow:
Start With A Daily Mindfulness Practice
Before
you want to get the result of meditation in your bedroom, you must practice
regularly. There are many meditation methods you can follow. For example, you
can start with a 14-day meditation challenge that is more suitable for
beginners. Also, you can start with apps such as Headspace and Calm. All those will
help you to be skilled in focusing on the breath, the moment, and your inner
sensations.
Add Your Partner In The Meditation
Experts
recommend practicing meditation with your partner. They will sometimes suggest
you sit/stand back to back to do a body scan. Note if any parts feel relaxed or
tense when you mentally check how your entire body feels. Then, focus on
contact points with your partner regarding temperature, pressure, and texture.
Also, other things you may find in sex time.
Don’t Close Your Eyes
Keeping
your eyes while meditating can eliminate visual distractions. But, keeping your
eyes closed during sex may prevent you from connecting entirely with your
partner. You can refine it by finding mindful times by opening your eyes. You
can look outside through a window, a plant, or take in its other parts.
Focusing on beautiful things will help you out of your bedroom when you’re in
it. During the practice session, if you’re distracted by something else, try to
concentrate on your partner’s eyes and get you back from other thoughts to the
meditation.
Practice An Eye-Contact Workout
Sit
opposite at the quieter time of the day with your partner and connect with your
eyes (it's best if you do it with one eye). Do it for 3 minutes. It’s nothing
impractical to feel uncomfortable and giggles, but avoid talking at any cost.
When you feel more comfortable, you should look at each other, unlike in the
bedroom.
Imagine Sexy Thoughts
When
you find your mind is roving during sex, swap it and drop this thought.
Although getting erotic thoughts isn’t going to happen now, it’ll help you be
closer to your sexual experience. One of the significant sex-drive killers is a
mental distraction. You can focus on your mind to avoid distractions through
this step.
Slow Down Your Sex Session
Slowing
down our minds is quite challenging for constant stressors and social media.
That’s why I suggest you practice slower sexual activities. Get one session,
and here one person should be “Giver” while another one should be “Receiver.”
And focus on slow sexual contact or seduction. Train your mind, that will slow
down your body, and their balanced work will improve your curiosity and mental
focus.
Common Mistakes While Practicing
Meditation
You might have learned much about the excellent benefits of meditation. But, sometimes people don’t get expected success from it for some mistakes. Let’s know about some of the common meditation mistakes that you may encounter:
Mistake #1 – Irregular Meditation
You’re not practicing meditation consistently. It’s the first requirement of meditation, and you must never give up or be impatient until it becomes fruitful.
Mistake #2 – Over Expectation In Short
Time
Expecting too much in a short time can make you annoyed and prone to leave practicing meditation. Some more profound meditation benefits just come after consistent practice for months to years. Keep practicing, and don’t expect much within a few days.
Mistake #3 – Insufficient Preparation
Lack of proper preparation before practicing can prevent you from getting a better outcome. Instead, take some time to establish your intention, unwind your body, and calm your breath.
Mistake #4 – Changing Techniques
Jumping from one technique to another can kill the aim of meditation. You can try different, diverse techniques while starting. But, choose your best individual technique and don’t change it anymore.
Mistake #5 – Doubtful Meditation
Your meditation with doubt – it’s going right or not – can be happened to your over-analyzing mind. It can hinder your practice and happen in the most subtle forms. You must avoid over-analyzing because of extra care about the practice and a faster improving mentality. Always avoid analyzing your mental states; instead, focus on the meditation steps or process.
Mistake #6 – Lack Of Attention &
Intention
You give less attention and intention because of less dedication to meditation. If you need to focus on other office or household tasks, do them first, then do meditation. Sit comfortably and respect your practice as if you’re going to initiate one of the most vital tasks of the day.
Mistake #7 – Over Consumption Of Media
Consuming lots of media makes us restless, crave, angry, fearful, or reinforced. These days, social media, movies, TV, and games are the most challenging part of meditation. They were not issues just before a few decades. There is no better way to limit or avoid consuming too much media when you want to get a better result from meditation.
How Long Does Meditation
Take To Work For You?
You
learned much about the query: can meditation make you physically
stronger? You might have another question: when will you start getting
outcomes from meditation? Meditation takes about 8 weeks to start getting its
results.
During
this time, it works for your brain and performs some changes to make meditation
productive. Other researchers reported mixed results. But, most indicated the
time mentioned above to avail the benefits of meditation. Those benefits
include focus, better management skills, and improved emotional control and
regulation.
Another
study reported that a total 11-hour of regular meditation for a 30-minute
session for one month could reform your brain. Also, many theories and
researches are there about meditation’s ‘Magic Number’ of days and hours that
really takes effect.
However,
all those studies reported that consistent practice is crucial for getting all
types of meditation benefits. Also, they focused on regular meditation practice
for long-term impacts.
As a
result, there is no shortcut to reap success from meditation but through
regular practice. Above all, the benefits of doing meditation for
10 minutes can still give participants immediate and short-term success in increasing calmness and stress relief.
Frequently Asked
Questions – FAQ
Does Meditation Increase Muscle?
Meditation
can help you increase your muscle. It focuses on only one thing to make
awareness. As it helps you to focus on your present lift, you’ll be able to
keep more effort on your every bicep. Indeed, meditation gives you more
strength to push harder and lift more weight.
Does Meditation Improve Skin?
Meditation
increases oxygen circulation through our body. And it benefits of
meditation for skin. It also keeps the balance of our mind and body
while transforming cells and tissues of our body. It reduces wrinkles, improves
our skin condition, and decreases the speed of the aging process.
How Does Meditation Affect You
Physically?
Meditation
provides a relaxing response that helps our body to regulate blood pressure,
decrease metabolism, and enhances heart rate, brain waves, and breathing.
Muscle tightness and tension seep when our body gets a note to relax. Thus, it
affects the entire body.
Does Meditation Increase IQ?
The
results of a study proved that persons who meditated got an average of 23% of
IQ than non-meditated participants. As deep meditation reduces our brain
activity, we can concentrate more on the given topics. It’s because our brain
gets more strength to reorganize its own with reduced brainwaves. Thus, meditation
makes you smarter with an increased IQ level.
Which Meditation Is More Powerful?
There
are many meditation methods, most of which are beneficial if you practice
regularly. Personally, I suggest the Zen meditation style to make a fresh
start.
Can Meditation Make You More
Intelligent?
Meditation
has a link with mental and physical benefits. It can lower symptoms of
depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Also, it regulates blood pressure, decreases
metabolism, and enhances heart rate, brain waves, and breathing. When you can
control your mind and body in a balanced way, you’ll get more problem-solving
capability than others. It’ll make you more intelligent.
Can Meditation Heal Your Body?
Performing
regular meditation provides a relaxation response in our body. It reduces
inflammation related to stress and anxiety and gets better insulin resistance.
Also, meditation helps our body to produce more helper cells for a better
immune system. They fight against infections, heal our bodies, and keep us
healthy.
Is Exercise Better Than Meditation?
Meditation
and exercise have their particular benefits and working areas. For example,
trimming down chronic pains and other pain-related troubles is practical. On
the other hand, exercise is more effective in developing quality lifestyles
related to health, like HDL & LDL cholesterols and blood glucose levels.
Does Meditation Increase Testosterone?
Meditation
can increase testosterone levels if you practice it regularly and consistently.
It leads to better sleep and lowers cortisol levels. Both of them are essential
to improve our testosterone production.
Final Thoughts
Can
meditation make you physically stronger?
I already discussed the answer, and it can absolutely make you physically more
robust when you practice it regularly and consistently. Apart from providing
more energy, it’ll give you a better feel, look, and stress-free days.
Meditation
is something more than a simple relaxation method. It has proven to help people
improve deeper communication levels and overcome obstacles with themselves and
others.
Meditation
helps people in many mental factors that lead to more muscular physical
strength. It can strengthen you emotionally and mentally, reducing stress and
improving your emotions and behavior.
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