We are about to welcome a particularly intense month, stressful for many. A stage in which meditation can give you a hand to face those moments when we need find calm and rediscover ourselves. But perhaps you have never tried it and, what’s more, you have certain prejudices about this technique that limit you when it comes to encouraging yourself to meditate. Therefore, we wanted to speak with Tony Espigaresan expert in meditation and personal transformation, about what he considers to be much more than a simple relaxation technique or a spiritual practice. In his opinion, it is available to everyone and has a transformative power that goes beyond what many imagine. And to dispel erroneous beliefs that prevent people from experiencing its benefits, debunk five common myths about meditation.
False myths about meditation
But before delving into each of the myths, we ask ourselves a question that we convey to the expert: why do you think there are still so many false beliefs or myths related to meditation. “For a long time, meditation has been associated with the mystical or spiritualwhich has made many people perceive it as something reserved for a few. But meditation is for everyone”, he points out.
“Today, thanks to science and collective experiences such as community meditations, many of these beliefs are being broken. Meditation is an accessible and universal tool to live with greater balance and connection“, he details to us.
- Myth 1: ‘Meditating is leaving your mind blank’. It is, in his opinion, one of the most frequent errors, believing that meditation requires emptying the mind. “Our brain generates between 70,000 and 90,000 thoughts a day. The objective is not to eliminate them, but to learn to redirect attention and observe them from a higher perspective,” says Espigares. Several studies show that meditation activates the prefrontal cortex, helping to regulate emotions and promoting mental clarity.
- Myth 2: ‘It’s only for spiritual or religious people.’ Although meditation has spiritual origins, its benefits are not restricted to those who practice a religion. “Today we know that meditating reduces stress, improves the immune system and increases mental health, regardless of personal beliefs,” says Espigares, based on research from Massachusetts General Hospital that confirms the decrease in activity in the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with stress.
- Myth 3: ‘You have to meditate sitting in silence for hours.’ “Meditating can be done in many ways: sitting, walking or even lying down. It is not about a posture, but about a state of connection,” Espigares clarifies. The key is to create a space where energy flows and the mind relaxes. More than a specific activity, he describes it as a lifestyle: “Living in meditation is living aligned with what we really love.”
- Myth 4: ‘Meditating is just for relaxing.’ Meditation may begin with the search for relaxation, but its effects go much deeper. Espigares explains: ‘Meditating improves neuroplasticity, changing the structure of the brain and enhancing key areas such as memory and decision making.’ For him, meditation is a ‘hidden superpower’ that unlocks human potential and connects with the inner essence.
- Myth 5: ‘It is an individualistic practice.’ Although meditating alone is beneficial, doing it in a group amplifies the results. ‘When we meditate as a community, we generate a collective energy that enhances the experience,’ says Tony. According to the HeartMath Institute, group meditation can synchronize so-called cardiac coherence, a synchronization between the cardiac environment and emotional states that can improve overall health, performance, and well-being.
Why you should try meditation
How would the expert convince someone who has never meditated to try the benefits of this technique? The first thing is to be clear about the benefits of meditation and the expert describes them to us perfectly. “Meditation is a simple practice, but with a profound impact. In just eight weeks, science has shown that it can generate real changes in your brain and your internal chemistry, improving aspects such as management of stress, anxiety and general well-being. You don’t need to be an expert or spend a lot of time; With a few minutes a day, you can start to notice results in a few weeks,” he says.
How would you convince someone who has never meditated to try the benefits of this technique? Part of meditating is giving yourself space for yourself, to reconnect and live in a more conscious and balanced way. “To convince someone, I would share real stories of people who have experienced profound transformations thanks to meditation. I remember, for example, a woman with chronic depression who came to our meetings. After years of medication without results, he began to meditate, embrace his shadows, and live more present. Today he lives fully and his transformation even inspired his family,” he tells us.
Additionally, it details that meditating in community enhances these benefits, because group energy amplifies the experience and helps you go deeper faster. “It is a gift that not only transform your mind and your bodybut also your life,” he tells us.
Main benefits that meditation can give us?
- Exit survival state: Meditation reduces stress, lowers cortisol levels and helps you get out of the autopilot in which many of us live. It is a way to reconnect with yourself, generating calm and plenitude.
- Mental clarity and focus: By meditating, you train your brain to be present, strengthening neural connections and improving your ability to concentrate, memory and decision making.
- Connection with the subtle: Beyond the physical benefits, meditation connects you with your essence and with something greater. It is a state of love and unity that transforms the way you perceive life.
“Meditating can also be a tool to release blockages, cultivate from within what you want to see outside, and live in a state of plenitude and love. It is much more than relaxing; it is a path to an extraordinary life,” he points out.
Is everyone ready to meditate?
The expert is clear: “Absolutely, everyone is prepared to meditate. Science shows that we all have the innate ability to enter meditative states.” Of course, everything involves a process. At first, meditation involves focusing your attention on something simple, like your breathing or a visualization. But over time, you transcend your identity limited by ego, environment and time. That’s where you connect with something bigger: an infinite source of creativity and possibilities,” he tells us.
When you reach the deep meditative state, your brain and heart come into coherence, transforming your internal chemistry and bringing you to a harmonious state. “This process is accessible to everyone, regardless of your previous experience. I always say that meditating is like training a muscle“At first it’s hard, but with practice you enter that state of flow where the transformation happens,” he tells us.
Many ways to meditate
We asked the expert if he thinks there can be as many ways to meditate almost as there are people and his answer is also clear: “Yes, definitely. Each person finds their own way of meditating according to their needs and preferences. Some people prefer to repeat mantras, others use breathing or the visualizations. All of these techniques are valid if they help you transform your energy and reconnect with yourself,” he tells us.
And he tells us about an option like group meditationwhich takes on an even more powerful dimension. “Shared energy helps you deepen and sustain the practice. But the most important thing is that you find a technique that allows you to change your energy and that every time you finish meditating you feel that internal change,” he comments.
“Those who have experienced the benefits of meditation know that they can always return to that internal space, even if external demands disconnect them for a time. Meditation is not just a habit; it is a form of remember who you are and live in love with life“concludes the expert.