Meditation can calm your brain and ease stress

Meditation focuses on breath and attention, and research cited in the article links regular practice to reduced stress and improvements in mood and quality of life.

Meditation is described as a practice that aims to calm the mind and relax the body. The article notes the practice is rooted in Eastern traditions and centers on breath and focused attention. Experts explain that mindfulness means attending to the present moment without judgment. Research findings and clinical examples are cited to show how meditation can affect stress, mood, pain and quality of life. Key points: - Meditation emphasizes breath, focused attention and awareness, and is associated with the concept of mindfulness. - Styles mentioned include mantra meditation and other forms that can be done alone, in a group, or with guidance. - One study cited used 10-minute guided sessions five days per week for four weeks and reported increased self-compassion and decreased depression. - A six-month mindfulness-based stress reduction program for people with systemic lupus erythematosus was reported to improve quality of life, pain tolerance, illness perception and depression. - Experts quoted in the article say benefits often appear over time and that consistency matters more than session length. - The article refers to resources such as guided-meditation apps, including Calm and Headspace, and a five-part series created with the U.S. Surgeon General. Summary: Meditation is presented as a low-cost practice linked in cited studies to reduced stress and improvements in mood and quality of life. Experts in the article emphasize that benefits typically accumulate over time and that regular practice is more important than session duration. Undetermined at this time.