Meditation overview
Despite many of us having come across the term ‘meditation’, very few of us actually know what meditation involves and the benefits it can have on the human mind and body. Some people believe that meditation is just mental concentration and others think that it is to think or imagine something which can give us peace and tranquility. Especially in today’s modern fast paced society, it is important to take some time out from our stress laden lives and meditation is an excellent way in which to help the mind slow down and stop the incessant activity of our minds.
This modern stress can build up in our bodies and can lead to physical illness and disease, so it is important to try and stop it in its tracks and not allow stress to becoming chronic and prolonged. Meditation can help with this stress overload and calm and relax our minds and body almost like a reset switch. It actually has a physiological benefit on our bodies by reducing the stress hormones and even lowering the heart rate and blood pressure for example.
The idea behind meditation is to consciously relax your body and focus your thoughts on one thing for a sustained period. This occupies your mind, diverting it from the problems that are causing you stress. It gives your body time to relax and recuperate, and to clear away stress hormones that may have built up. It has been shown that meditation techniques have a very real effect on reducing stress.
Meditation is not just sitting still in one place and thinking about something in particular with our eyes closed. It goes beyond that. Meditation is a state of profound, deep peace that occurs when our minds are calm and silent yet we are fully alert. Meditation is not about concentration, which focuses the mind on a
particular object or idea for long periods of time. Meditation is being in a state of awareness.
There is a basic process to follow when beginning meditation and these steps are :
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Sit quietly and comfortably.
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Close your eyes.
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Start by relaxing the muscles of your feet and work up your body relaxing muscles (a technique like Progressive Muscular Relaxation can be useful for this).
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Focus your attention on your breathing.
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Breathe in deeply and then let your breath out. Count your breaths, and say the number of the breath as you let it out (this gives you something to do with your mind, helping you to avoid distraction).
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Do this for ten or twenty minutes.
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years and basically grew up and developed in the Eastern cultures. Over the centuries, these meditation and relaxation techniques have been developed and refined with the specific purpose that the ordinary layperson can help themselves achieve a state of mental peace, clarity and self-awareness and relief from modern day stress. Anyone can do meditation,
regardless of age, sex, religion, background etc.
Just 10 – 15 minutes of meditation a day can help alleviate stress and a range of
other health benefits such as :-
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Reduces anxiety attacks as it lowers the levels of blood lactate.
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Builds self confidence.
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Increases serotonin which influences moods and behavior. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, headaches and insomnia.
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Enhances energy, strength and vigor.
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Helps keep blood pressure normal
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Creates a state of deep relaxation and general feeling of wellbeing
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Helps with P.M.T.
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Increases concentration and strengthens the mind
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Helps reduce heart disease
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Helps with weight loss
There are a wide range of benefits in the regular practice of meditation and it will lead to a deeper state of self-awareness and relaxation. You will become calmer and more in control of everyday stressful situations enabling you to cope better. You will generally become a more relaxed and happier individual with regular meditation which only requires a few minutes each day.