Yes, it is! Join us now to find out what happens in your brain when you meditate! 

Where do you stand when it comes to meditation? Have you tried it? Many people don’t know this, but this process of just sitting and breathing mindfully can change the structure of your brain! Wondering how can meditation change the brain? In that case, you came to the right place! 

Different types of meditation have existed for thousands of years now. However, until recently, it was not common to meet plenty of people who practice it in different parts of the world!  Do you know someone who does?

We didn’t really until we went to a self-defense meeting six or seven years ago! Honestly, we were a bit shocked because we expected only to learn Kung Fu, Muay Thai, and other martial arts. But the thing was that, although we did practice those things, the training included yoga, tai chi, mediation, etc., too! 

At first, meditation seemed awkward, you know!  Why would we spend time just sitting and doing nothing, we thought. What the heck is the point of it?  But as we kept on attending these meetings, our perspective started to change!  What made us see things differently? 

Well, we have noticed that all the people who have been practicing meditation for some time have an incredible sense of calmness, compassion, and self-awareness. They appear as if traveling on some kind of cloud of tranquility above the storm of anxiety most of us feel all the time. We noticed that they also have better dating sites. This realization inspired curiosity, so we started to read and research to learn more about meditation. Somewhere along the way, we learned that meditation changes brain structure!  Honestly, in the beginning, it sounded like some kind of science fiction! Okay, meditation can help you relax, but how does it change your brain chemistry? It sounds ridiculous! But it isn’t!  Further investigation showed that mediation changes the brain indeed! Of course, it is not something that happens after a session or two! But a long-term, properly done meditation has physical, tangible effects. Now we know that this is incredible for many of you! So we decided to write an article about what actually happens and how long does it take for meditation to change the brain. If you are the least bit curious, you will enjoy this text!

Meditation Changes Brain Structure 

Before moving on to explaining how to practice meditation to change your brain, let's see what is happening.  It is known that meditation renders a calming effect on the brain.  People who practice meditation regularly are far less anxious or stressed than those who don’t. But what does it mean to claim that meditation can change your brain? Well, as surprising as it may sound to you, various studies have shown that practicing mindfulness can change brain structures.  A study we found in Psychiatry Research showed, based on the scan analysis, that eight weeks mindfulness training program increased cortical thickness in the hippocampus. According to the scientists working on these issues, increases correlate to improved emotional regulations. Decreases, on the other hand, are attributed to increased risks of the development of negative emotions. 

Studies suggest that different kinds of meditation change eight specific areas of the brain, which are related to the regulation of emotions, meta-awareness, memory processing, body awareness, etc. Dr. Kristin Naragon – Gainey, who was in teams that conducted some of the studies, says that there is no denying that regular meditation greatly changes aspects of brain functioning. It not changes the areas of the brain but also the way they communicate with each other.

How Long Does it Take 

Many people told us, “Okay, I got it! But how many hours of meditation to change the brain are necessary?” It is essential to know that a single session of meditation can be enough for you to start feeling better.  Some studies showed that people experience better mood, decreased stress and blood pressure after one session. More long-term effects, such as increased focus, start kicking in after several weeks. But if the question is only related to the ways to change brain meditation, then you should know that you need to practice meditation to change brain waves for about eight consecutive weeks before you see any results. 

Once you decide to start changing brain chemistry meditation, keep in mind that consistency is critical for best results.  You won’t notice any drastic changes if you practice meditation, say once in a month or two!  This is not to say that you have to do it every single day either! But, the research shows that you need to practice 10 – 20 minutes at least three times per week if you want to enjoy all the benefits. 

How to Make Most of Meditation

• For many people, the idea of sitting and doing nothing for thirty minutes seems impossible. But no one told you that you have to meditate that long. Start with short, five minutes sessions, and do them once or two times a week.  Setting a goal to practice meditation every day or for a long time is farfetched for beginners and is likely to fail. 
• Designate a calm and safe space. Technically, you can meditate in the middle of the street if you want! But most people search for a quiet place where they can feel safe and focused. 
• Concentrate on breathing.  If you are starting to practice meditation, you should know that the easiest way is to focus on your breathing.  It is not uncommon for the mind to wander when you are a beginner. Breathing will help you refocus in this case.
• Try guided meditation. Many people find that it is challenging to quiet down their thoughts in the beginning.  In that case, you can try a guided meditation. You can find some YouTube videos, download the app, or join a group. 

Let’s be clear about something! Although meditation changes the brain, it is not a cure for any disorder or disease! But it can be beneficial if you practice it regularly! What does it mean? Well, any meditation, and especially mindfulness, can help you cope better with daily stress you experience at work, anxiety, etc., by helping you focus on here and now and your needs! Have you practiced meditation so far?

About author

My name is Rebecca Shinn. I am a consulting psychologist who occasionally writes articles for blogs. I hope this helps make psychology more accessible. I am fond of running and traveling.