One of the key contributors to skin problems is stress accrued from pressure in various aspects of life, for instance, work, school or raising a family. The adverse effects of stress manifest themselves in different ways, among them being wrinkles, acne, breakouts, and blood vessel constriction. You can negate these effects by practicing meditation on a regular basis.
Meditation is the art of centering your minds and focusing on your breathing, every round of inhaling and exhaling, with the exclusion of other things in the environment or internally. Traditionally, people used meditation to offer a reprieve from stress, but it also has other benefits. In this article, we unearth how meditation can help enhance your beauty.
Slows aging process
A few moments of meditation gives the body a rush of prana energy which helps in repairing your body tissues and cells, thus maintaining a healthy glow on your skin. Furthermore, during this time, your body increases the uptake of oxygen, which helps rejuvenate your skin and induces a balance between body and mind.
Regular meditation reduces wrinkles and defeats aging even for people advanced in age. The benefits of meditation go beyond the exterior; it lowers your blood pressure, joint problems and aching muscles, hence leaving you healthier and feeling younger.
Healthy skin barrier
Increased levels of stress affect the outer layer of the skin- the epidermis- that is responsible for protecting your skin from harsh weather elements and bacteria. The epidermis keeps the skin moist and supple, but this mechanism may fail when we are under stress. The body loses plenty of water, and the skin is unable to repair itself. Meditation helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier which, in turn, protects the skin from dryness, inflammations, and other infections.
Better sleep
Meditation helps in the production of melatonin even as e advance in age. Melatonin is a hormone that promotes glowing of the skin, and it comes from the pineal gland that becomes active at night while we sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, melatonin induces sleep and keeps a consistent sleep cycle, which is ideal or relaxation of the mind and body. Meditating every day detoxifies the body and slows damage to cells so that our bodies can function even as we progress in age.
Mental control
During meditation, we learn that most of the stress we experience is a result of emotions caused by certain beliefs that become ingrained in our minds over time. These wrong beliefs create bad energy that affects your body’s health, and they manifest on the skin too. Meditation provides the opportunity to work on your emotions through self-awareness, personal growth, and mindfulness.
Resting your thoughts releases chi energies that allow your mind, body, and complexion to work at full capacity. Having a better grip on your thoughts and emotions will show through a healthy, glowing skin.
Boosts confidence
When we are stressed, the facial muscles tense up, and this may lead to discomfort or even pain. Meditation helps to relax the muscles on your face and lowers tension-related pain in your forehead and jaws. According to research by Stanford University, regular meditation reduces anxiety and enhances a positive outlook toward oneself. This feeling forms the basis of confidence. A round of meditation leaves you feeling refreshed and gives you a dash of confidence to tackle the day. Your new upbeat self will want to do fun activities like running.
Lowers cortisol levels
Cortisol is a steroid hormone that comes from the cortex of the adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for regulating a broad range of processes in the body, such as metabolism and immune response, anti-inflammatory, influence blood pressure, and controls salt and water balance.
Even with all these useful functions, high levels of cortisol are harmful to the body. When stress increases, the production of cortisol goes up, and this damages DNA and interferes with the repair. High levels of cortisol accelerate the breakdown of collagen, a protein that keeps the skin smooth and elastic. Prolonged breaking of collagen leads to thinning of the epidermis and this causes lines.
Conclusion
Meditation is great for your health and should, therefore, be part of your daily exercise regimen. This practice promotes a healthy skin without the overreliance on skin solutions from a bottle. If you wish to meditate in the office, pack comfortable clothing like yoga pants and a mat in your running backpack and sit in a quiet room for fifteen minutes. With regular practice, you will soon reap the benefits of meditation.
Author Bio:
Jessica Natalie is a health and fitness lifestyle blogger who is passionate about running and wants to spread the love on her blog Cause I Love Running.