The Power Meditation to Transform your Health + Life

Aug 28

“Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but recognizing that we are more than our thoughts and our feelings.” — Arianna Huffington

The Power of Meditation

Meditation is a powerful practice that bridges the body, mind, and soul, offering a path to reconnect with our true self. Along my healing journey, meditation emerged as one of the most transformative tools I've encountered. When I first began, I wasn’t sure which form of meditation to pursue, but I intuitively knew it was what my body, mind, and soul needed. I began meditating intuitively, doing chakra balancing meditations and later explored guided meditations and other methods. It was when I encountered Transcendental Meditation that my life truly changed.

Meditation nourishes The Five Elements of Embodied Wellness: the Physical, Energetic, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. Its ripple effect is extraordinary and compounds over time—the more you practice, the more profound the transformation. Physically, meditation supports the body by activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System, which induces a state of calm, allowing for deep healing and regeneration. Energetically, it harmonizes and enhances our energy. Mentally, it sharpens focus, reshapes thought patterns, and enhances concentration. Emotionally, it offers a safe space to process emotions and reminds us of their transient nature. Spiritually, meditation connects us to our soul and to a power greater than ourselves, helping us remember our infinite potential.

The Science Behind Meditation

“The mind thinks involuntarily just as the heart beats involuntarily.” ~Emily Fletcher

One of the most common misconceptions about meditation is that its purpose is to silence or still the mind completely. However, scientific research reveals that this is not the case. During meditation, the brain naturally transitions from an active Beta wave state—associated with normal waking consciousness—to more relaxed Alpha and Theta wave states.

Brainwave States:

- Beta waves are linked to active thinking, problem-solving, and alertness.

- Alpha waves occur when we are in a relaxed, reflective state, often experienced during light meditation or while daydreaming.

- Theta waves are associated with deep relaxation, creativity, and access to the subconscious mind, commonly experienced during deep meditation.

This shift in brainwave states allows the body to enter a deeply restorative state, facilitating healing on multiple levels.

Stress Release:

Research reveals that meditation activates the body's relaxation response, reducing the production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Instead, the body releases neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which promote feelings of well-being and joy. During meditation, the body releases stress in the form of thoughts, feelings, emotions, and sensations. If you experience a hyperactive mind or intense feelings while meditating, it’s simply a sign that your body is releasing accumulated stress. The beauty of meditation is that it supports you in relieving stress that has been stored in your cells and fascia from both the past and present.

Neuroplasticity:

Another fascinating aspect of meditation is its ability to enhance neuroplasticity—the brain's capacity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. Regular meditation has been shown to increase the density of gray matter in areas of the brain associated with learning, memory, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. In essence, over time, meditation can literally rewire the brain, enhancing our ability to manage stress, improve focus, and cultivate a sense of inner peace.

Heart Rate Variability (HRV):

Meditation also positively affects Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which is the variation in time between each heartbeat. Higher HRV is associated with greater resilience to stress and better overall cardiovascular health. By activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System, meditation helps to improve HRV, contributing to overall well-being.

The Benefits of Meditation

The benefits of meditation are innumerable. It fosters presence, peace, and awareness, allowing us to remember that we are the observer of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions—not defined by them. When we identify with our thoughts and emotions, it becomes nearly impossible to remember this truth. Meditation teaches us to question our thoughts, disrupting old patterns, and to observe our emotions, allowing them to naturally complete their cycle.

When I guide meditations, I often invite participants to imagine themselves as the vast blue sky, with thoughts, emotions, and feelings as clouds passing through. These transient experiences do not define us; they are simply moments moving through our awareness. The less we cling to them, the more rapidly they shift and transform, just like clouds in the sky.

Meditation for Transformation + Manifestation

Meditation is a powerful tool for transformation in any area of our lives. It is about believing and feeling the possibility of change before we see the evidence of it. We inherently know there is more to life, and by allowing ourselves to be inspired and guided by our future rather than our past, we unlock our potential. Meditation allows us to access emotions connected to our desired future, collapsing the time between where we are and where we aspire to be. The key is to connect with these feelings before the change manifests in our reality.

Meditation has become a non-negotiable part of my daily rituals and routines. After nearly seven years of practice, I can attest that the more we meditate, the easier it becomes, and the deeper the experience. Like any new skill, it takes time to learn and master the art of stillness and silence.

One of my favorite quotes by Rumi has stayed with me since I first read it: “The inspiration you seek is already within you. Be silent, listen.” It’s always fascinated me that “silent” and “listen” contain the same letters. To truly listen, we must be silent. Meditation invites a stillness that opens our capacity to not only listen but to hear the wisdom within.

If you’re ready to begin your meditation journey, here are some resources that I’ve found incredibly supportive:

Meditation Apps:

Books

Stress Less, Accomplish More by Emily Fletcher

The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma

Tips:

Try using earplugs to reduce audio stimuli + foster a deeper experience.

Use a light blocking eye mask to minimize visual stimuli.