Recent studies have proven meditation for pain relief is a powerful and effective way to relieve pain. One study even claims that meditation can have better pain relieving effects than morphine.
There are many reasons and causes for feeling physical pain such as an accident, depression and even blocked chakras. When one or more chakra is blocked it causes a disruption of the energy flow within our body which can cause illnesses and physical pain. To learn more about chakras and what they do click here. For more information on unblocking your chakras click here.
How Meditation Reduces Pain
The science behind why mediation relieves pain is complex, but here is a brief summary.
Pain is something that is made worse by our emotional state, and a natural pain relief can be achieved through changes in our emotional state.
Meditation enables us to better handle distress and helps us to be able to regulate our emotions. It also improves our coping skills.
Meditation provides a natural pain relief by changing the way our brain processes information. It also brings us into a relaxed state, providing a distraction and helps the pain feel less intense.
Paradoxically, meditation can bring pain relief by paying attention to the pain experience rather than ignoring it. A meditative state helps a person achieve something called 'detached observation', which is when the physical pain is separated from the emotional experience of the pain, resulting in pain relief.
Meditation helps people to transcend their pain by improving awareness and acceptance
They physical changes that come along with meditation contribute to the relief of the pain. Part of meditation is to gain an awareness if ones physical state. This awareness can lead to a change in our behavior that involve taking better care of our body. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, also called the 'Relaxation Response', results in a number of physical changes such as decreased muscle tension and even the release of pain relieving neurotransmitters.
Over all meditation have been proven to be successful as a method of pain relief. Here are some techniques to help you achieve pain relief through meditation.
How To Meditate to Relieve Pain
Begin by finding yourself a quiet place to sit or lay down away from as much noise and distraction as possible. Take a few deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth. When you are ready you may close your eyes.
Once you have closed your eyes, bring your attention to your breath. Don't try to breathe a certain way, allow it to happen naturally. Don't think about breathing at all, just breathe and observe. Notice your chest and your stomach raise and fall with every breath.
Notice your physical body. Feel the floor, couch, bed or whatever you are sitting/ laying on beneath you. Observe the way your clothes touch your body and then bring your attention back to your breathing.
It's OK if your mind begins to wonder. Allow yourself to observe your thoughts as they pass through your mind. Let them go and slowly bring your focus back to your breathing.
Then bring your attention back to your physical state. Preform a 'body scan'. Start from your head and work your way down to your toes. Be aware of how you feel. Your focus will be drawn to spot of tension in your body. Focus on those spots and feel the tension and your pain leave your body with every breath you take. Once you have finished bring your attention once again to your breathing. Observe it and embrace the feeling of complete relaxation. When you're ready, slowly become aware of your surroundings again. Reach your arms out in front of your body and stretch, then reach above your head and stretch again. Once that is done you may open your eyes.
This meditation can be done any time of day and can be completed within 20 minutes, although the recommended time is your age converted into minutes, for example 30 years is 30 minutes.
