| Many people have asked about different | | | | your attention is on the process of inhaling |
| techniques how to meditate. There are a | | | | and exhaling. |
| variety of different ways, but the basic | | | | |
| principles are universal. | | | | When distracting thoughts enter your mind - |
| | | | and it is "when," not "if" these distracting |
| Meditation in some form or another seems to | | | | thoughts come - it is best to just observe |
| be a part of most cultures. The methods and | | | | and accept them without judgment. Allow them |
| techniques are different, of course, but the | | | | to move through your conscious mind without |
| practice of meditation in some form is found | | | | focusing on them or allowing them to pull you |
| almost everywhere | | | | away from your meditation practice. Trying to |
| | | | "resist" these kinds of thoughts will only |
| The most common techniques of meditation as a | | | | give them more power and draw your attention |
| formal practice most likely developed | | | | away from the central purpose of the |
| somewhere in the East. India is the most | | | | meditation. |
| probable birthplace of formal meditation | | | | |
| techniques, although various forms of | | | | Meditation can last from a few minutes to |
| meditation were very common in places like | | | | many hours. It is best to keep your |
| China and Japan. | | | | meditation times short at first. It is seldom |
| | | | beneficial to meditate for more than an hour, |
| Transcendental Meditation was introduced to | | | | even after years of experience. You should |
| the West in 1958 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a | | | | focus on quality, not quantity. |
| spiritual guru from India. This popular | | | | |
| technique of meditation first gained mass | | | | Many people experience an increased sense of |
| exposure in the 1960's when Maharishi was | | | | awareness or "mindfulness" during and after |
| visited by the Beatles. This method of | | | | meditating. They also often experience a |
| meditation employs the use of a mantra or | | | | greater sense of peace and wellbeing as |
| "sacred sound" that is given by a guru or | | | | distractions fall away. The results of |
| teacher. | | | | meditation can be quite dramatic. |
| | | | |
| The practice of meditation usually involves | | | | The benefits of meditation are well |
| sitting quietly in an environment where you | | | | substantiated by modern science. Over six |
| will not be disturbed or distracted. Most | | | | hundred academic and scientific studies have |
| people begin by closing their eyes and | | | | been done at more than two hundred |
| focusing on their breathing while allowing | | | | independent research institutions in |
| their body to relax. | | | | thirty-five countries. All attest to the |
| | | | physical, spiritual and psychological |
| Many people associate meditation with sitting | | | | benefits of regular meditation. |
| on the ground in the "lotus" position with | | | | |
| their legs crossed. The most important thing, | | | | Although the techniques how to meditate vary |
| however, is to be comfortable. Many people | | | | slightly from one culture to the next, the |
| like to sit in a chair with their feet on the | | | | basic principles of relaxation and |
| floor. Most experts think that it's important | | | | mindfulness are universal. Meditation is an |
| to be sitting erect while meditating. Lying | | | | excellent way to handle the stress of modern |
| down to meditate can often result in falling | | | | life and to regain the balance that many of |
| asleep instead and missing out on the true | | | | us are missing. |
| benefits that meditation offers. | | | | |
| | | | Although meditation does not require formal |
| It's important to allow enough time for your | | | | training or education, the more you study the |
| mind and body to relax when first beginning | | | | different methods and techniques available to |
| to meditate. At first, you simply follow the | | | | you, the more you can benefit from this |
| rhythm of your breathing. Don't try to force | | | | amazing tool. |
| anything. As you are "watching" your breath | | | | |