Mindful Practices can support stress levels and blood sugar.

Did you know? 

Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques have been shown in studies to be effective in reducing diabetic-related complications in people with diabetes.

According to a 2018 trusted study, 29 people with diabetes received mindfulness education sessions, while 30 in the control group did not. The 29 who received coaching improved their mental health and diabetes management significantly, including fasting blood glucose levels and glycated hemoglobin.

Being in the Present Moment & Advantages of Meditation

In today’s world, it’s easy to become stressed. Unfortunately, this stress can be harmful to our general wellbeing, ultimately impacting our ability to move forward in a healthy manner. People are often preoccupied with events that have already occurred or ones that yet to occur.

Stress can cause blood sugar levels to rise, muscles to tense, fertility issues, sleep disruptions, and much more. Meditation is an effective tool that can be used to reduce the stress and anxiety that we all experience. But first, we must learn how to live in the present moment rather than in the past or the future.

Being in the Present Moment

The practice of mindfulness begins in the present moment. It is difficult to benefit from meditation if the mind is not in the present. Meditation, on the other hand, can aid in this process. Nonetheless, living in the present moment is critical for minimizing the effects of stress and getting the most out of meditation.

Consider how easily we can become distracted when we reflect on the past. Stress is caused by things that cannot be changed or that have already occurred. The same can be said about the future: worrying about what will happen in the future can trigger a stress response in the body.

That said, the present is most crucial. The present unconcerned about the past or the future. The present exists. You only have control over the present.

Being in the present moment will teach you to appreciate the little things in life. You will stop taking your time for granted and begin using it to the best of your ability.

Instead of dwelling on the future and worrying about it, make it a goal to strive for. Consider the past to be a learning experience.

The Benefits of Meditation

When practiced correctly, meditation can bring you into the present moment. It can help you calm your mind and refocus your thoughts. It can help you reduce stress and anxiety you may be feeling in your life. As a result, it will benefit other areas of your life.

Consider the following meditation benefits and how they may be able to help improve your life:

• Meditation can help you better manage your anxiety and reduce stress levels.
• Meditation can help you sleep better at night, improving energy levels throughout the day and supporting general health.
• Meditation can help you increase your attention span, allowing you to focus better on your tasks.
• Meditation can help you become more self-aware, which can help you overcome various challenges in life.

These advantages cannot be overstated, because once you can live in the present moment and learn how to manage your stress and anxiety, you will begin to notice a positive effect on your overall health.

Unique Differences of Meditation

Every meditation is unique. Yet, they are all beneficial to your health. Some meditations require deep breathing, while others require you to focus on regulating your breathing.

Similarly, some meditations require you to stand, while others require you to lie down. Some techniques utilize mantras, while others do not.

Consider how the following meditations differ from one another:

• Shamatha Meditation. This meditation is centered around your natural breathing. It focused on your quiet, regular breathing rather than a mantra or deep breaths. This helps you to grow your personal awareness.
• Kundalini Meditation. Deep breathing is utilized in Kundalini meditation. It also makes use of mantras and body movements to help quiet the mind and relax the body.
• Kumbhaka Pranayama Meditation. Kumbhaka Pranayama meditation focuses on deep breathing in a different way. While Kundalini breaths should be relatively equal and only focus on inhaling and exhaling, Kumbhaka is different. Breaths are held for the same amount of time as they were inhaled, but the exhalation is twice as long.
• Zhaunqi Meditation. This form of meditation is unique in the same way that Shamatha is in that it focuses on your natural breath. The goal of this meditation is to soften your natural breath. This is accomplished through the use of specialized hand positions.

So, while these meditations may be similar, they are also distinct in their own right. This is why it is critical to experiment with various meditation techniques. One meditation may be more effective for you than another, or vice versa.