We’ve all heard of meditation before. The technique is deep mental reflection used for relaxation, heightened energy and developed well-being. Meditation has existed for centuries, but just recently have researchers begun to truly understand the benefits it can give us.

What used to be considered a strange and unreliable exercise has now grown in popularity to impact all of society; Oprah, NFL players, even the U.S. Marine Corps have tried it.

Truth is, meditation is powerful. If you’re still unsure whether or not the practice is worth looking into, check out these top ways meditation can help improve your life.

Mental Merit

• Decreased levels of anxiety.
• Improved processing of information.
• Preserved brain matter during the aging process.
• Heightened concentration ability.
• Stronger memory retention and recall.
• Better problem solving and decision making abilities.
• Increased clarity and peace of mind.

Physical Fitness

• Strengthened immune system.
• Lowered blood pressure.
• Heightened energy level through an inner source of energy.
• Decreased tension-related pains, such as headaches, muscle and joint problems.
• Improved breathing and heart rates.
• Slowed aging process.
• Lessened premenstrual and menopausal pain.

Emotional Excellence

• Increased serotonin production for improved mood.
• Expanded levels of optimism and awareness.
• Improved emotional steadiness and harmony.
• Enhanced self-esteem and self-acceptance.
• Decreased levels of depression.
• Heightened resilience against pain and adversity.
• Prevented self-destructive emotional activities, such as eating or smoking.

When it comes to meditation, these benefits are only the tip of the iceberg. The practice has been shown to drastically improve quality of life, and studies have just begun to research it.

Try it out for yourself by taking a short time each day in the morning or evening to practice deep breathing, quiet mental activity and self-reflection. Let your thoughts go without having to react to them. Once meditation becomes a part of your daily routine, you’ll see its benefits become a regular part of your life.

So next time you’re feeling stressed out, physically exhausted or emotionally deprived, try meditating for a little while. You may be surprised at just how great you’ll feel.