Tap Into Neuroplasticity And Trailblaze New Helpful Thought Patterns
It's no secret that we all have some bad habits. Maybe you bite your nails when you're anxious or stress eat when things get tough.
Whatever it is, we've all got something we could stand to improve about ourselves.
And while changing any old habit can be difficult, breaking a really ingrained and harmful one can feel downright impossible at times. But what if I told you that there was a way to change those negative thought patterns and behaviours for good?
That by harnessing the power of neuroplasticity through meditation, you could literally rewire your brain to think differently?
You see, our brains are constantly changing in response to our thoughts and experiences – this is what neuroplasticity is.
And research has shown time and time again that meditation can actually help us take advantage of this natural ability by increasing positive neural activity and connections while reducing negative ones.*
Table of Contents:
Neuroplasticity: What Is It and How Does It Work?
The Science Behind Neuroplasticity and Meditation
How Meditation Can Help to Mental Trailblaze New Helpful Thought Patterns
Tips for Getting Started with a Meditation Practice
FAQs in Relation to Neuroplasticity Through Meditation
How does meditation help neuroplasticity?
Can you rewire your brain with meditation?
How long does it take for meditation to rewire your brain?
Conclusion
Neuroplasticity: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This ability allows the brain to adapt and change in response to experience.
Meditation is one way to tap into neuroplasticity. When we meditate, we create new neural pathways by focusing our attention on a specific object or thought.
Over time, with regular practice, these neural pathways become stronger and more permanent, and we begin to experience changes in our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
The benefits of meditation are vast, and there is growing evidence to support its efficacy in promoting mental and physical health.
Meditation has been shown to improve mental clarity and focus, reduce stress and anxiety, promote emotional balance, and even boost immunity. And because neuroplasticity is a lifelong process, it's never too late to start meditating!
Meditation is one of the best ways to tap into neuroplasticity and improve your overall mental and physical health! Click To Tweet
The Science Behind Neuroplasticity and Meditation
This means that our brains are constantly rewiring themselves in response to our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Meditation is a practice that allows us to focus our attention and become aware of our thoughts and feelings in the present moment. Research has shown that meditation can help to improve our mental and physical health in a number of ways.
One of the ways that meditation may be beneficial is by promoting neuroplasticity.
Some of the benefits of meditation that are thought to be due to its promotion of neuroplasticity include:
Improved mental clarity and focus
Increased self-awareness
Improved emotional regulation
Increased ability to cope with stress
Improved physical health
If you're interested in trying meditation for yourself, there are many resources available to help you get started. There are also a number of apps that can help you to meditate, such as Headspace and Calm.
Meditation is a great way to promote neuroplasticity and improve your overall mental and physical health! Give it a try today! (Click To Tweet)
How Meditation Can Help to Mental Trailblaze New Helpful Thought Patterns
But what some people may not know is that there are things we can do to help keep our minds healthy and strong.
One of those things is meditation. Meditation has been shown to help improve mental health in a number of ways.
It can help to reduce stress and anxiety, increase focus and concentration, and promote feelings of calm and relaxation.
But how does meditation do all of this?
One of the ways is by promoting neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt in response to new experiences.
When we meditate, we are essentially providing our brains with a new experience to learn from. Over time, with regular practice, our brains learn how to respond to stressful situations in a more calm and productive way.
This is because we are teaching our brains to create new, helpful thought patterns. We are what we refer to as "mental trailblazing". It just might be the boost your brain needs.
Key Takeaway: Meditation can help improve mental health by promoting neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change and adapt.
Tips for Getting Started with a Meditation Practice
Meditation is a great way to de-stress, relax and focus the mind. When you meditate, you are training your brain to focus and become more aware.
Studies have shown that meditation can actually change the structure of your brain, making it more resilient to stress. If you're new to meditation, it can be tricky to know where to start.
Here are some tips to help you get started with your own practice:
1. Pick a Quiet Spot:
When you're starting out, it's important to find a quiet place where you won't be interrupted. This can be hard to find if you have a busy lifestyle, but it's worth taking the time to find a place where you can really focus.
2. Set a Timer:
It's easy to get lost in thought when you're meditating, so setting a timer can help you keep track of time. Start with a short amount of time, such as 5 or 10 minutes, and gradually increase it as you get more comfortable with the practice.
3. Sit Comfortably:
You don't need to sit in lotus position to meditate, but it's important to find a position that is comfortable for you. If you can, sit with your spine straight and your eyes closed.
You can also lie down if that's more comfortable for you.
4. Focus on Your Breath
One of the most important aspects of meditation is focusing on your breath. As you inhale and exhale, pay attention to the way your breath feels.
This can help you to focus your mind and keep you in the present moment.
5. Don't Worry About Doing It Perfectly:
Meditation is not about doing it perfectly. There will be times when your mind wanders and that's OK.
Just gently bring your attention back to your breath and continue meditating.
Key Takeaway: Meditation can help to focus the mind and make you more resilient to stress.
FAQs in Relation to Neuroplasticity Through Meditation
How does meditation help neuroplasticity?
Meditation helps neuroplasticity by promoting mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and observing one's thoughts and feelings without judgment.
This allows for greater self-awareness and understanding of how thoughts and emotions affect the body. Additionally, mindfulness meditation has been shown to increase grey matter density in the brain, which is associated with improved cognitive function.
Can you rewire your brain with meditation?
Yes, you can rewire your brain with meditation.
Meditation has been shown to increase neuroplasticity by altering the structure and function of the brain.
How long does it take for meditation to rewire your brain?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including the individual's brain structure and how frequently they meditate.
However, some studies have shown that meditation can lead to changes in the brain after just a few days of practice.
Conclusion
If you're looking to change a harmful habit or thought pattern, why not give neuroplasticity through meditation a try?
It just might be the key to finally breaking free from whatever it is that's holding you back. And if you need support from one of our meditation insturctors, reach out and we'd love to be part of your wellness journey!
We offer private yoga and meditation sessions, corporate yoga for employees, employee wellness programs and events. Through these services, we help people learn how to control their thoughts and emotions through neuroplasticity. This process allows them to change negative thought patterns into positive ones that can lead to a more fulfilling life.
How Yoga Benefits The Brain
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month and in this article I look at how yoga can help sufferers improve the quality of their lives and also how regular yoga and meditation practice may help to stem the onset of dementia diseases by improving overall physical and mental wellbeing.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are more than 55 million people living with Alzheimer's or another dementia worldwide. We all know someone who is affected, either directly or indirectly, by these diseases.
Whether they are a family member, a friend’s relative or someone in your social circle, knowing more about what can be done to help is valuable. Research into prevention and a possible cure progresses each year, but in the meantime there are things we can do to look after our brains to increase our ability to think clearly, improve our memory, concentration and attention.
Looking after our Brains
There is a gathering body of evidence supporting the benefits of exercise and a good balanced diet for brain health.
Exercise for Brain Health
The brain, just like any other organ in our body, benefits from regular exercise. For a look at how yoga affects different areas in the brain, take a look at this blog post: The Mindful Brain’s Response to Yoga and Meditation which looks at the science.
Physical activity improves memory and learning, and is good for our mood and stress levels. It contributes to a reduction in obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Exercise improves cardiovascular health and improves blood flow to the brain.
Nutrition for Brain Health
Here is a list of some of the many foods found to be beneficial for supporting brain health:
Fatty fish
Fatty fish (salmon, trout, albacore tuna, herring, and sardines) is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, a major building block of the brain. Omega-3s play a role in sharpening memory and improving mood, as well as protecting your brain against cognitive decline.
Berries
Blueberries and other deep-coloured berries are rich in antioxidants which act against oxidative stress and inflammation helping to improve communication in the brain.
Broccoli
Broccoli contains a number of compounds that have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, including vitamin K essential for memory.
Nuts
Nuts contain a whole variety of beneficial nutrients, including vitamin E, healthy fats, and plant compounds which are thought to improve memory.
Foods high in Vitamin C
Oranges and other foods that are high in vitamin C can help defend your brain against damage from free radicals.
Eggs
Eggs are a rich source of several B vitamins and choline, which are important for regulating mood and promoting proper brain function and development.
Other ‘brain foods’ include green tea, coffee, seeds and turmeric.
So do yoga, meditation and mindfulness help to ward off the onset of Alzheimer’s and other similar diseases? And can sufferers benefit from these practices as part of their ongoing care?
Results of Research Studies
While there is no cure for Alzheimer’s, there are research studies which suggest regular yoga and meditation practices may improve symptoms of the disease.
One study carried out by Dr. Dale Bredesen of UCLA and the Buck Institute which included yoga and meditation as part of a wide-ranging regime showed a reversal of cognitive decline in some patients with early Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment.
Although most of these studies were carried out on a small number of people, reviews of the literature indicate potential benefits of yoga for dementia sufferers.
Furthrmore, a peer review of studies into the cognitive benefits of yoga in healthy older adults concluded:
“Yoga-based interventions are associated with improvements in cognition in healthy older adults.”
Helen Lavretsky, M.D., M.S., director of the late-life mood, stress, and wellness research program at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA says:
“Chronic stress and related stress hormones could negatively affect brain structures important for memory and cognition, like the hippocampus. Chronic stress is also associated with inflammation in the body and in the central nervous system/brain that is linked to Alzheimer’s disease and other disorders of aging. Yoga can reduce stress hormones and inflammatory factors, and teach an individual over time how to cope more effectively and protect the body from going through the stress response.”
For both sufferers and caregivers in times of great stress, yoga and meditation provide a natural way of alleviating anxiety in challenging times bringing relaxation, better sleep and bringing a sense of calm.