Soham Meditation Benefits - #3949

I’ve been feeling really anxious and scattered lately, and someone recommended meditation to help calm my mind. While looking into different techniques, I came across soham meditation and it seemed interesting, but I don’t fully understand how it works or its advantages. I want to know more about soham meditation benefits before I commit to practicing it regularly. From what I read, it involves focusing on your breath and silently repeating so while inhaling and ham while exhaling. How exactly does this practice create calmness or reduce stress? Are the soham meditation benefits immediate, or does it take weeks to notice a difference in your mental state? One thing I’m really hoping to improve is my sleep. I’ve been having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep through the night. Can soham meditation benefits include better sleep quality? If so, is there a specific time of day that’s best for practicing it to help with sleep? I’m also curious about its physical benefits. Does soham meditation help with physical issues like fatigue or even improving concentration at work? I’ve read that it balances the mind and body, but how does repeating a mantra achieve this? Another thing I’m wondering about is if soham meditation benefits are tied to spirituality. I’m not particularly spiritual, but I’d like to use it more for stress relief and focus. Is that okay, or is spirituality a big part of this practice? Lastly, I’ve never been consistent with meditation before. Does practicing soham meditation require a lot of discipline, or are there beginner-friendly ways to make it a habit? I’d love any tips on how to start without feeling overwhelmed.