Title : How to strengthen your immunity during the coronavirus pandemic: Exercise, meditation, sleep and stress management (CNN Health News)
Meditation
If you haven’t tried mediation, now might be a good time to start. A recent review involving 20 randomized, controlled trials including more than 1,600 people suggested that meditation may help keep our immune system functioning optimally.
A stressful circumstance like what we are experiencing now can negatively affect the immune system, but “a consistent meditation practice can help us better respond to stressful situations,” explained Ellie Burrows Gluck, a Vedic meditation teacher and the founder and CEO of MNDFL, a meditation studio in New York City that also offers live-streamed, at-home practices with meditation experts at MNDFL TV.
“Life is messy, and although meditation isn’t a cure all it can help us to remember to breathe and that we’ll never be able to clean it all up,” Gluck said.
To start meditating, simply bring your full attention to your breath. Sitting with uplifted posture may help, and eyes may be closed or open. When you notice your mind wanders with thoughts like, “What am I going to have for lunch?” come back to your breath without judgment.
Gluck says once you’ve been practicing for a while and have learned how to choose between your breath and your thoughts, you can “apply that same mechanism of choice to [your] response to stressful situations.” Most studies show you need to practice a minimum of 10 minutes a day for 8 to 10 weeks to see the benefits over time, Gluck added.
When meditating, it’s a good idea to aim for consistency when it comes to the style of meditation; the time of day and length of your practice; and your surroundings. You might choose your favorite spot on the couch or a designated corner with a meditation cushion, Gluck advised.
Nowadays, people worldwide are dealing with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in one way or another. Some have said that there has never been a pandemic at this level and that this is the first time people have panicked since World War II. Who would have imagined that Disneyland or Broadway would be shut down? Airlines have halved their operations, and all businesses except the most basics such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and gas stations are closed. It would seem that such things would not be plausible unless it were a wartime situation. The virus, which originated in China, threatens even Korea, Japan, Europe, and now the United States.
It is said that the rate at which COVID-19 spreads is much higher than other Coronaviruses of the past. It is also understood that there is a correlation between a virus and a person’s immunity to it. Doctors have said that when a virus first enters our body, if our body’s immune system is healthy, it makes enough antibodies to overcome the virus and protects our body. However, when the immune system is weak, we cannot produce antibodies that can protect us from it.
This article, which I referenced explains the correlation between meditation and a healthy immune system. In order to have a good immune system, of course, there are basic exercises, healthy meals, vitamins and nutritional supplements that are needed, but our mind is also a factor that cannot be ignored. No matter how well we manage and care for our body, if our current state of mind is anxious, lethargic, unhappy, and depressed, our body’s immune system remains very weak and is susceptible to all kinds of diseases and viruses. In other words, if a virus penetrates, the body cannot produce antibodies to fight it. Recently, there have been many news stories about pop stars and movie stars recommending meditation during these uneasy times.
World-renowned pop star Camila Cabello, famous for her song “Senorita,” said that she overcame the psychological distress caused by this Coronavirus through meditation. Famous singer Lizzo also posted on her Instagram that she learned how to meditate for 30 minutes during this anxious time. The great thing about meditation is learning how to handle your mind. Just as we learn how to drive a car, if we learn how to empty all of our negative minds through the method of discarding, our body’s blood and energy will circulate properly, our health will be in its optimal state, and our inner beauty will be reflected externally and make our outer beauty truly shine. The immune system in our bodies can be maintained in the healthiest state.
I hope we can all overcome this unforeseen situation by meditating to strengthen our immune systems during this difficult time. Through this meditation method of discarding our stress minds, we can be our best. Let us all overcome this crisis wisely, and let us all become stronger and better.
