Zoom on meditation

Meditation is a thousand-year-old practice that is becoming more and more popular. This is an efficient way of entering a state of deep relaxation. It has been the subject of scientific articles for several decades now, but what are its benefits?

This practice is often linked to religion or spirituality, but this is not always the case. In fact, it is also used in therapy, with two main techniques: cognitive therapy through mindfulness and stress reduction through mindfulness. Meditation invites the individual to focus on the present moment, often with the help of breath control, in order to remove the apprehension of the future and the weight of past emotions.

Scientific studies have shown a multitude of effects: improved pain tolerance as well as depressive and anxiety symptoms, development of neural plasticity and of the left prefrontal cortex, which is important in the regulation of emotional and cognitive processes. A recent article even showed that a psychological follow-up reinforced by daily meditation sessions allowed patients with opioid abuse to regulate their medication intake.

In addition to its impact on cognitive dimensions, the practice of meditation also impacts physiology. Indeed, several studies have shown that this practice would have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health, on the expression of genes having a role in inflammation, cell aging, and metabolism. However, the effects on gene regulation were visible after no less than 8 hours of meditation ... So, when will be your next session?