But first, let’s talk about the benefits of meditation. The list of benefits include:

• Increases in productivity
• Stress reduction
• Mitigation of stress-related diseases such as:
  
  • High blood pressure
  • Chronic pain
  • Headaches
  • Asthma
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Skin Disorders

Very importantly, it has been linked with a reduced loss of brain volume, in a study they found that “age-related gray matter loss was less pronounced in meditators than in controls.” Think of the implications for dementia and Alzheimer’s.

In another study documenting the health benefits of yoga and meditation they found that yoga and a meditative practice increased BDNF(Brain Derived Neurotrophic factor), CAR (cortisol awakening response), boosted the immune system and contributed to an overall increase in well-being.

BDNF does a whole host of things including helping you to lose weight, improve memory, help with depression, improves insulin response and the list goes on.

Cortisol is the glucocorticoid which is secreted by your adrenal glands located atop your kidneys. Cortisol is high in the morning and drops off gradually during the day. Some of the more important functions of this hormone is regulating your sleep/wake cycle, it’s a part of your fight or flight response and plays a role in regulating metabolism.

Your immune system, well, you know what that does – everything from fighting cancer to fighting the common cold. Keeping your immune system strong should, obviously, be a top priority.