What Happens to Your Brain During Mindfulness Meditations

Mindfulness meditations involve maintaining an open presence and a non-judgmental awareness of sensory, cognitive, and affective experiences as they arise in the moment.

Mindfulness meditation practices also have a focus component. These practices typically begin with focusing the attention on an object, like the breath, and gradually replacing that focus with an open background of awareness without an explicit attention.

Studies examining brainwave patterns during Mindfulness meditation practices have found increased frontal theta power as well as increased frontal theta communication. Theta waves are between 4-8 hz and are associated with the subconscious mind, moments of creativity, and retrieving certain types of memory.

This makes Mindfulness meditations great for:

• Finding calm awareness in the present moment

• Reducing judgement

• Increasing awareness of bodily states

• Increasing regulation of emotional states

• Creating distance of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors

• Learning to let go

Mindfulness meditations can help those who have:

• Anxiety

• Chronic stress

• Depression

If you’d like to try a Mindfulness meditation, find guided practices, enroll in a class, or work one-on-one with a provider.