PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF YOGA AND MEDITATION Meditation literally grows your brain … both in volume and thickness. This doesn’t just make you smarter; it increases your memory, attention, self-awareness and self-control alongside a whole list of other desirable qualities. Meditation increases blood flow to your brain … the brain can’t function without a strong steady flow of blood to it. The stronger and steadier the flow, the better the brain functions. Meditation reduces cortisol production, a stress-induced hormone that suppresses the immune system and can make you feel anxious nervous and unsettled for no real reason (other than having too much cortisol in your system). Meditation reduces blood pressure and heart rate , which alleviates unnecessary pressure on your heart and arteries. Meditation increases neuroplasticity . This is the brains ability to organise itself, adapt to demands and enables you to become more efficient in the learning process. Meditation increase