Meditation for Seniors - Health Benefits You Should Know About

Everyone dreams of aging gracefully, like a fine wine, just getting better with time. However, getting “better” with time is rarely the outcome, as getting older does present its fair share of mental and physical health challenges and losses in itself. As you get older, your body starts to introduce you to its counterparts, called:

• Mood Swings

• Loss of Memory

• Aches and Pains

• Digestion Disorder

But what if there is a way to age better? What if getting better with time didn’t have to mean a health decline? Wouldn’t you want to know how to accomplish it? Meditation can help you be your best as you age. Continue reading to learn about what meditation is and the benefits that it can offer you.

About Meditation

Meditation can bring to the forefront of your mind images of solitude and spirituality, serene, candlelit spaces with relaxing tunes in the background. Research shows that more people in America are adopting the practice of meditation, and in fact, the practice of meditation increased from 4.1% to 14.2% from 2012 to 2017. When you practice meditation:

• Decreases Stress

• Slows Down Breathing

• Stabilizes Your Heart Rate

• Decreased Blood Pressure

• Improves Your Digestive Health

• Lowers Overall Tension Within Your Body

  
  

Meditation is a practice that relaxes and calms your mind and body equally and demands no fancy equipment. Meditation simply requires that you either sit or lie down, and relax your mind and body,

Benefits of Meditation for Seniors

Now, the great news is it isn’t too late to age gracefully, and mindfulness exercises are one of the best ways to accomplish that. The team at Jacaranda Trace understands that meditation comes with a broad range of mental, emotional, and physical health benefits and have put together a list of seven benefits, which include:

1. Meditation Can Help Impede the Progression of Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are aggressive illnesses that are prominent among seniors. Although prominent, the National Institute on Aging echoes that “Alzheimer’s is not a regular part of aging”. So don’t make it a part of your future.

Did you know that an estimated 50% of people over the age of 85 have been diagnosed with some type of dementia? On the flip-side, there are countless individuals who live well into their 90s and above with no signs of dementia ever present in them. Studies suggest that mindfulness meditation can help you better manage anxiety, stress and depression.

2. Mental Health Benefits

Meditation has been proven to improve short and long-term memory, as well as fighting against cognitive decline. Meditation has also been shown to decrease stress in seniors, allowing them to better focus.

3. Developing a Focused and Sharp Mind

Meditation stimulates your brain's memory centers - and with hearing loss being one of the main unwanted “side effects” of getting older, improving your memory and cognitive function is crucial as you age. Evidence suggests that mindfulness helps maintain both long- and short-term memory functions.

One of the many amazing benefits of practicing mindfulness for seniors is the ability to heighten your mental attentiveness while staving off mental decline.

Routine meditation can trigger your brain’s physical structure to change. For instance, the amygdala region, which is linked with producing negative emotions like worry, stress, and anxiety usually shrinks, while the regions tasked with personality development, self-awareness, and planning increase. This results in improved focus, creativity, and cognitive function in seniors.

4. Can Reduce Inflammation

A study by SeniorPlanet.org shows how people who practice meditation have benefited from a reduction in inflammation. The study consisted of people aged 55 to 85, and had a duration of eight weeks.

5. Promotes Good Digestive Health

According to a report by MindWorks.org and the EOC Institute, practicing meditation, especially for seniors, may promote healthy digestion.

6. Relax and Be Calm

Sometimes, you just need to breathe, just set aside a little time to simply smell the roses. Consider taking a walk or connecting with a loved one. Mindfulness for seniors offers a calming effect as opposed to the awful side effects that come with prescription drugs. Meditation also helps seniors to relax, retain a clear mindset, and devise thoughts more effectively.

Are There Different Types of Meditation?

There are various forms of meditation, so we have put together a list of 10 of the best meditation practices for seniors. You can find out more information about each of these types:

1. Zen Meditation

2. Kundalini Yoga

3. Mantra Meditation

4. Spiritual Meditation

5. Transcendental Meditation

6. Loving-Kindness Meditation

7. Movement Meditation (Yoga)

8. Breath Awareness Meditation

9. Body Scan or Progressive Relaxation

Mindfulness activities like meditation can promote healthier brain function and can be done from the comfort of your home. Don’t forget to take a peek at our blog over here.