Benefits of Meditation for Students
Oftentimes, kids function at an alarmingly high level of stress. Whether it’s because of academic pressure, juggling extracurricular activities, interpersonal relationships or family troubles, they are always burdened by anxiety. As per the 2022 reports, a study claimed that 63.5% of Indian students suffer from academic stress. In such situations, both parents and teachers should come together to find a solution so the children can breathe easy.
Meditation is one such way to reduce stress and manage school pressure. In this write-up, we discuss the meaning and benefits of meditation for students. Keep reading to learn more!
Meditation is essential for students’ well-being, it helps them keep their minds at peace. Daily meditation can help people to become more focused towards work or studies. Hence, incorporating meditation into day-to-day life is beneficial for students’ mental and physical health. Sometimes schools can be very stressful and depressing but if you meditate before you start studying you’ll feel more relaxed and peaceful.
What is Meditation?
India has a long history and strong association with meditation as a practice. Dating back thousands of years, our Vedas have referenced it. Meditation is interconnected and encompasses spirituality, culture and philosophy developed during ancient India.
If we discuss the meaning of meditation, in simple terms, it’s a practice to clear the mind, increase focus, and concentrate on the present. Through various techniques, an individual can maintain mental and physical well-being. It is essentially practised to achieve a peaceful and tranquil mind.
Now the question arises whether it’s suitable for kids?
Meditation is considered safe for kids, as they can benefit from it if done diligently. As we mentioned above, students have to face a lot of pressure as they constantly juggle various commitments. As a parent or teacher, you should definitely introduce meditation in the daily schedule so they can relax their brain and train them to concentrate and stay in the present. Let’s learn about the benefits of meditation for students in the section below.
Morning meditation enhances creativity and innovation, while simultaneously making students more empathetic and open to the people as well as the world around them. It further encourages students to have a peaceful mental state, energises their bodies, and helps them tackle negative emotions such as fear, anger, and depression. Thus, students need to tap into the power of meditation.
What are the Benefits of Meditation for Students?
Mental health has become a much-talked-about topic in the world today. Even in India, several important conversations are happening, with a special focus on the mental health of students. Since it has made its way into people’s morning schedules, the importance of meditation for students is immense.
Some of these benefits are listed below.
Focus
One of the primary benefits of meditation is an increase in focus level. Typically, students have short attention spans and get distracted easily. To reduce this, meditation is an excellent tool to increase concentration.
Academic Performance
Meditation positively affects the academic performance of students. If practised regularly, they can achieve better focus and concentrate on their studies for a longer time. Parents will definitely notice how their child can retain the information for a longer time.
Self-Esteem
Conceptually, meditation encourages self-acceptance and acknowledging gratitude. Meditation as a practice instils self-awareness, which helps students become self-assured and confident. With a strong sense of self-worth, they will be able to regulate their emotions effectively.
Time Management
Since meditation helps in reducing stress and anxiety, they will be able to prioritise their task and manage their time effectively. All the above-mentioned benefits will eventually lead to better time management skills.
Mental Health
Mediation is primarily about decompressing and letting go of all the worries. With reduced stress levels, enhanced concentration and ability to control emotions, meditation boosts the mental health of students.
Clarity
Last but not least, meditation helps in clearing the mind. It is noted that with regular practice, an individual can attain mental clarity. The students will learn from this, as meditation can enhance comprehension. They will also be able to answer the questions in a more structured manner.
A Beginner’s Steps to Meditation
For those who have always been intrigued by meditation but do not know where or how to start, I’ve created a step-by-step guide. Meditation is very simple and comes easily with practice.
Step One | Find a Quiet and Comfortable Environment.
- Once you have found a place where you can meditate without interruption, put away any distracting electronics and dim the lights.
- You can sit on the floor or in a chair, preferably with your feet on the ground and your back straight. However, if you are more comfortable lying down, you are more than welcome to do so.
- There is no one way to meditate.
Step Two | Close your eyes.
- Take a moment to close your eyes and relax your body.
- Remain still and let your body become loose and less tense.
Step Three | Find your breath.
- Now that you’re starting to relax, become aware of your breath. Feel the sensation of breathing.
- Focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale deeply. Feel the air passing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Notice your chest expanding and contracting.
- Be aware of physical sensations throughout your body.
Step Four | Do not try to stop thinking.
- In the beginning stages of meditation, it is normal to have a lot of ‘chatter’ in your head. You may feel a plethora of thoughts racing about.
- Do not actively try to stop thinking, or you’ll defeat the purpose of quieting your mind by giving it another task.
- Allow your thoughts to flow through your mind. Like a river, they will continue flowing if you don’t try to stop them. Acknowledge your thoughts and know that they are there, but do not engage them. Let one thought flow to the next.
- Return back to the focus on your breath. Whenever you find yourself drifting away, return and find your breath.
Step Five | Calm your mind and focus.
- You can either continue to focus on the breath or use a mantra such as “Aum” or a prayer that you are used to.
- Maintain focus on either your breath or mantra.
Step Six | Practice
- You can end your meditation whenever you feel fit. The minimum recommended time is 15 minutes, but results can still be seen with less.
- Do not be discouraged if you found it difficult the first few times. It may take a week or more for your mind to break habits that are as old as you.
- Continue to practice every day, and I promise that you will feel the results.
It’s best to start meditation with a guided audio track to help you focus before you learn to meditate on your own.
Meditation can become a useful tool to bring tranquillity and calmness to your child’s busy life. We hope this blog has explained the various benefits of meditation for students and how this simple act can have a positive effect if pursued regularly. Offering them a much-needed break, meditation allows them to relax, unplug and unwind in between their fast-paced schedule.
School of Yoga and Naturopathy, at OSGU, Hisar believes in the power of meditation and its effects on the students. The school encourages parents and teachers to include meditation in kids’ lives.
This school has a wide range of yoga and naturopathy courses, just check out or call us at +91 8607899999.
