Research and Benefits
of Mindfulness & Meditation for Adults
The science and research is confirming
the powerful and transformational benefits of mindfulness and meditation!
Lists below derived from the Sources that follow.
In as little as 8 weeks of practice, research data on adults show that the following benefits and changes may result…
IMPROVES/INCREASES:
- emotional regulation (less reactive)
- feeling of calm, inner stillness
- immune system
- gray matter in the brain (linked to compassion and self-awareness)
- awareness
- willpower
- focus and concentration
- cognitive function, memory, clarity of thinking
- creativity
- productivity
- learning
- empathy, compassion, self-compassion
- self-esteem, self-acceptance
- sleep
- healthy body image
- resilience
- happiness
- positive social connection
- mood and emotional intelligence
- decision making, problem solving
- manage ADHD – impulsivity and distractions
- energy levels
- certain metabolic risk factors, i.e., triglycerides, cholesterol ratios, blood sugar levels and blood pressure
- relieve IBS symptoms
- certain cancer symptoms and treatment side effects
Mindfulness changes the brain!
- Amygdala (Aroused when detecting and reacting to emotions, especially difficult or strong emotions such as fear. This part of the brain is less activated and has less gray matter density following mindfulness training.)
- Hippocampus (Critical to learning and memory, and helps regulate the amygdala. This part of the brain is more active and has more gray matter density following mindfulness training.)
- Prefrontal Cortex (The part of the brain most associated with maturity, including regulating emotions and behaviors and making wise decisions. This part of the brain is more activated following mindfulness training.)
source- Mindful Schools
REDUCES:
- stress, anxiety
- fears
- depression
- loneliness
- pain
- blood pressure
- inflammation
- heart risk
- insomnia
- stress-related eating
- impulsive tendencies
- PMS and menopausal symptoms
- helps prevent Fibromyalgia & Arthritis symptoms
- asthma symptoms
“Recent research provides strong evidence that practicing non-judgmental, present-moment awareness (a.k.a. mindfulness) changes the brain…”
~ Mindfulness Can Literally Change Your Brain
“By charting new pathways in the brain, mindfulness can change the banter inside our heads from chaotic to calm.”
~How the Brain Changes When You Meditate
“Meditation can relax you and regulate your emotions in the short term, but it can also change your brain permanently if you approach it as a form of mental exercise. Any type of learning is a highly individual process, with the common denominator being plain hard work. And science shows that if we invest our effort into reprogramming our brains, it can truly guide us towards a better life.”
~Neuroscience of Mindfulness: What Happens to Your Brain When You Meditate
Mindfulness with Teachers (research from Mindful Schools)
When teachers learn mindfulness, they not only reap personal benefits such as reduced stress and burnout15 but their schools do as well. In randomized controlled trials, teachers who learned mindfulness reported greater efficacy in doing their jobs16 and had more emotionally supportive classrooms17 and better classroom organization18 based on independent observations.