Even Hummingbirds Meditate

Hummingbirds have very high metabolisms and are incredible flyers. To stoke their super metabolisms, they eat often. Their diet consists of insects and nectar. These behaviors are easily seen by the casual observer, but the hummingbirds ability to slow its metabolism at rest, torpor, is their best kept secret.
According to worldofhummingbirds.com, http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/sleep.php, the hummingbird finds a comfortable roost and enters a type of hibernation. The bird can lower its metabolism to 1/15 of the normal rate. An active hummingbird's heart can beat as much as 1200 times per minute. By contrast, in torpor the little bird lowers its heart rate to around 50 beats per minute. Breathing slows dramatically as well. Hummingbirds are able to achieve the deep restoration that they need for survival. Hummingbirds enter torpor because of their survival instinct, but humans can choose to enter a meditative.
The benefits of a regular meditation practice are cumulative, but meditation can also be used as an on the spot tool. When I had routine outpatient surgery; I used 20 minutes of meditation to still my mind and calm my pulse rate. It works.
The web site, I Need Motivation, lists 100 physiological and psychological benefits of meditation. Some physiological benefits include: 1) lower oxygen consumption 2) decreased respiratory rate 3) increased blood flow and slowed heart rate 4) reduction in anxiety due to lower levels of blood lactate and 5) improved immunity.

Meditation has psychological, physiological and perhaps, even spiritual benefits. An unknown author once said, "Prayer is talking to God, while meditation is listening." Everyone can benefit from a little more listening. Be well.

If you would like a more formal, informative article on various methods of meditation and how to begin, check this Mayo clinic link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070/NSECTIONGROUP=2