In recent years, scholars have dedicated time to understanding how reflection actually harms the human brain and what are the main benefits that this practice brings to our lives. So what is the data "behind" this relaxation exercise?

Brain transformation

In 2020, an analysis published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging reported that practicing constant reflection can lead to changes in the brain. According to the file, 4 consecutive weeks of commitment with a daily average of 30 min of exercise are capable of physically modifying the mind and brain.

The analysis chose 2 sets of competitors who had never meditated to examine the data. While half continued without reflection, the other half placed themselves in a reflection-based stress reduction program conducted at the University of Massachusetts in the United States.

those who introduced reflection into their lives showed improvements such as:

• Decreased blood pressure;

• decreased insomnia;

• optimization of signs of depression;

• Easier to manage anxiety.

MRI study

Over the course of following the 16 contestants, the researchers collected MRI images of each person's brain composition 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after participating in the plan.

The brain scan caused the scientists to observe an increase in gray matter density in the hippocampus in the meditating set and a decrease in gray matter density in the amygdala compared to the other set.

In a nutshell, the hippocampus is involved in introspection, memory and learning, while the amygdala interacts with bodily nerve stimuli such as the "fight or flight" response.

Therefore, scholars have pointed to a causal interaction between the growth of relaxation and reflection through structural changes in the brain. Although the data are still superficial and the sampling insufficient, this is one of the first works to highlight the real advantages of the practice.

Intense reflection

Adults opt for the practice of reflection to escape stress

Various territories around the world have seen a growth in the number of reflection practitioners in recent years. In 2017, the US National Health Survey found that the proportion of reflective adults tripled between 2012 and the year the file was released.

While this may be considered a natural practice for many people, so-called mindfulness exercises can cause a lot of problems for others. This is a criterion that has extended throughout history. According to the religious writing Bhagavad Gita, considered one of the greatest traditions of spirituality on the planet, “it is easier to maintain control of the air than of the mind”.

To make the long awaited strong reflection, the individual in question must release the negative energies and embrace the body's senses. Thus, reflection is nothing more than training for the individual to abandon internal judgments and learn to surrender to the subconscious without the resistance built up by everyday life.

More on this subject:

How Guided Meditation Works

How to meditate and reduce stress and very important to have a healthier life

* The content of this publication has been written for informational purposes only. At no time can they serve to facilitate or provide diagnoses, treatments or suggestions from a professional. Consult your trusted specialist in case of doubt and ask for their acceptance before starting any method.