What is Meditation and why is it beneficial to our Health & Well-Being?

Meditation has been utilized for thousands of years by various cultures and was recently "reintroduced" into modern Western culture during the past 50 years. It has gained quite a bit of popularity in the natural health circle because of its many benefits in reducing stress and achieving well-being. Although Western religion and spirituality has utilized forms of meditation in its practices, it was usually not the center of its belief. Most Eastern spiritual practices, such as Buddhism, Taoism and Hinduism, have made meditation the foundation of its philosophy.  Many Westerners have now adopted a meditation practice as a spiritual and mental tool that is beneficial in many ways in our modern society.

Meditation is a practice of stillness, inner awareness and "mindfulness", that of "letting go" so that the mind is able to release all thought and connect to what many call a higher consciousness. For some this is a spiritual journey, for others a way to reduce stress and get in touch with your inner self or sub-conscious. Some science also views it as a connection with the larger energy field of the universe. Whatever the case meditation is an inward journey & practice and requires only you as the individual to be present. Breathing is an integral part of meditation as is learning to let go of all thoughts and distractions.  It is slightly different than prayer as the goal is to let go of all thoughts, past and future and focus on the deep inner silence of the present. Prayer, mantras, chanting, singing and affirmations though can also be part of the meditation process. 

Meditation is a process of slowing down the mind & body and letting go of all thoughts that may occupy our mind and cause us worry, fear, anger, judgment or any other negative emotion. Some define it as a state of "emptiness".  By letting go we achieve a state of awareness that gives us both clarity and peace. We can then carry this with us in our daily lives making our normal experience much more meaningful and mindful. It has been proven that daily practice of meditation has many health benefits.  It brings a sense of understanding, compassion and deeper awareness to people who regularly practice it.

How do you practice meditation?

There are many forms of meditation that can be learned.  It is not a difficult practice and one can learn fairly quickly the basic techniques. It does take some practice and discipline to integrate it into your daily life. You do not have to follow a particular religion or have a specific belief to meditate. It is open to all people and all beliefs. Most meditation is done sitting down in a relaxed position.  There are also walking forms of meditation. Meditation can be any length, although having at least 15-30 minutes of focused time is ideal. Nature is a great medium for meditation and I encourage people to practice in a quiet natural setting whenever possible. It takes time to quiet the mind and remain in meditation, but there are no rules or time limits as to how you achieve this inner stillness & sense of peace. As you practice meditation you will learn that you can utilize it "on the go" and in quick moments of stress or indecision.

How to Meditate - A Quick Guide

This is a quick step-by-step method of how to meditate. Please note that I do not go into detail or explain the specifics of each step. There are also various styles and techniques that may differ or work on something more specific. Overall this will give you the tools to begin practicing. I encourage you to read more info on how to meditate and the benefits of this practice. (Note - a downloadable PDF version is available below)

Allow 15-30 minutes to practice meditation. Find a quiet location or put on some soft soothing music to help you focus. Quiet is best if possible, but use music if it will help.

1. Sit or lie somewhere comfortable. Be in a position where you won't fall asleep, but that is comfortable to you and will help you relax. (Some instructors focus on the importance of posture, this is something you can study, but for now as a beginner just chose a position that is comfortable and relaxing)

2. Begin by focusing on your breathing. Focus on the rhythm of the in and out breaths, Practice deep breaths. Get a relaxing rhythm going.

3. Focus on relaxing your body and releasing tension in all areas.

4. Once you are relaxed try to let go of thoughts and distractions. Don't force them away, just gently focus on them, then let them go in your mind while you focus on your breathing.

5. The goal is to get to a place where you have cleared your mind of all thoughts. Utilize your breathing and focus on the in and out breaths to clear your mind.

6. Some people also use a short mantra, prayer or visualize a spiritual object or icon to help them focus on letting go. This works well, but remember the goal is to let go of thoughts, so use this technique only if it allows you to let go and focus.

7. Clearing your mind is not easy, so don't get frustrated. Just gently work on this technique. Thoughts will come to your mind during the meditation. Just focus on them for a small time, then let them go with your breath.

8. If a thought or feeling comes up regularly, this may be something you need to work on or clear. There are certain meditation techniques that help you do so.

9. You can begin and end the meditation session with a prayer, mantra or an affirmation. Begin and close your session on a positive note.

Download and Save the PDF version of this guide "How to Meditate - A Quick Guide"

I hope this was helpful. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.

More Information & Resources -

There is a lot of information on the web on meditation. Do a search and you will find there is much out there to earn. Here is a link on Wikipedia for another good summary on meditation.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation

Check out my Articles & Resources web page for articles and info that may help you in this process.

You can also sign-up for my free monthly report & article on Mental & Spiritual Well-Being for regular info on these practices and other helpful techniques.

Check out my Mental & Spiritual Well-Being Program & Product Section - I have a Meditation category with two excellent websites with great info on meditation. I also have a few other programs in other categories that may be of interest to you and help you in your meditation goals.