What is Meditation?
It can be said that meditation is a kind of focused attention. Classic meditation techniques start with focusing the attention on breathing. Meditators, and complementary health practitioners have known for a long time that conscious breathing can help increase relaxation and decrease pain.
How does Meditation work?
Meditation is a period of time set aside every day to quiet the mind. Meditation is a way to slow down, chill out and be at peace with yourself. When your mind is peaceful you are free from worries and mental discomfort, and you experience true happiness. True happiness only comes from within. If you train your mind to become peaceful you shall be happy all the time even when you are having a really bad day!
Meditation recharges you and helps you get in touch with your inner self. It also empowers you to accomplish things in the daily world by connecting you to the power of the universe.
There are many forms of meditation. While the forms vary, they all use concentration techniques, which help us to stop our thoughts. When the mind is calm, like a lake without any ripples, you can experience total peace and empowerment.
Whichever approach you choose, you will find that each meditation session brings a little more clarity and power into your life.
Meditation takes practice so don't expect too much too soon. If you find your mind wandering away from your meditation don't get frustrated. Simply bring your mind gently back to whichever technique you are following. Trust yourself and believe in your meditation.
Meditation can eventually become a part of all aspects of your daily life. Meditation should eventually permeate your whole life. (Don't worry, this takes time to accomplish!) So if you focus on unhappy things, you will become unhappy, and conversely, if you focus on happy things, you will become happy!
In practical terms therefore, mindfulness is all about being positive! It is a fun game you can play every day. Throughout the day, pay attention to the thoughts you think, the emotions you feel, your reactions, and so on. When something negative comes along, rather than reacting, engaging or indulging in that negativity, consciously move your mind to something positive. For example, if you have a negative thought, replace it with a positive one. In much the same way that your body needs to be worked out in order to become strong, your mind is like a muscle - you have to work it out in order to strengthen it! Eliminating negative thoughts and emotions from your mind is like physical exercise - it's a good habit to get into! Eventually, you will find that you feel better and happier throughout the day, because you will not be allowing yourself to be brought down by any negativity you may encounter. Then at the end of the day, you will discover that you have more energy for the evening.
What is Meditation used for?
With regular practice meditation can help:
Reduce stress levels, Lower blood pressure & cholesterol levels, Strengthen your immune system, Calm your mind, Increase your relaxation, Reduce your pain, Enhance your enjoyment of life.
Side effects
Feeling happier and more contented with life!
A typical treatment
Try this simple technique at home every day
Begin by sitting comfortably, with your back fairly straight but also relaxed. Energy flows up the spine, so we try to create a straight pathway for it.
Take a few deep breaths, relaxing a little on each exhalation. Notice how your body feels as you sit.
Now turn your awareness to your breathing. Notice the rise and fall of your belly or chest as you breathe, or the sensation of the air entering or leaving your nostrils. Let your attention focus softly but steadily on your breathing. When your mind wanders off gently bring it back to your breath.
Continue to enjoy your breathing for five or ten minutes or longer. When you're done, stretch a little, then get up and go about your day.
Like any art, meditation has great subtlety and depth, and you can spend a lifetime cultivating and exploring the practice. But you can also gain enormous benefit from simply following this simple meditation for five to fifteen minutes day after day.