One of the most important health benefits of meditation is how it releases stress from our bodies. Practiced regularly, it will lead you to a deeper level of relaxation and contemplation.
This offers you multiple health benefits as well as psychological benefits.
This is a partial list taken from Meditation for Dummies by Stephan Bodian p33.
Physiological Benefits
- Decreased heart rate
- Lower blood pressure
- Quicker recovery from stress
- Fewer heart attacks and strokes
- Reduced cholesterol levels
- Reduction in the intensity of pain
Psychological Benefits
- Greater enjoyment of the present moment
- More loving harmonious relationships
- Less emotional reactions
- Fewer intense negative emotions
- Heightened clarity
- Reduction in both acute and chronic anxiety