| Meditation refers to a state where your body and | | | | since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke |
| mind are consciously relaxed and focused. | | | | you up and make you feel tense. |
| Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, | | | | The place you perform meditation should have a |
| focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive | | | | soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room, or |
| outlook in life. | | | | bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in. |
| Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, | | | | You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take |
| mystics and other spiritual disciplines. However, you | | | | on the more challenging positions (if you feel more |
| don't have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its | | | | focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is |
| benefits. And you don't even have to be in a special | | | | screaming for release). You may want to have the |
| place to practice it. You could even try it in your own | | | | place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses. |
| living room! | | | | Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you |
| Although there are many different approaches to | | | | may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of |
| meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. | | | | the phone or the humming of the washing machine. |
| The most important among these principles is that of | | | | Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up |
| removing obstructive, negative, and wandering | | | | on aromatic candles isn't such a bad idea either. |
| thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a | | | | The monks you see on television making those |
| deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of random | | | | monotonous sounds are actually performing their |
| thoughts and prepares it for a higher quality of activity. | | | | mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple |
| The negative thoughts you have - those of noisy | | | | sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic |
| neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you | | | | value. |
| got, and unwanted spam- are said to contribute to the | | | | You do not need to perform such; however, it would |
| 'polluting' of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for | | | | pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as |
| the 'cleansing' of the mind so that it may focus on | | | | breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a |
| deeper, more meaningful thoughts. | | | | higher state of consciousness. |
| Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input - no | | | | The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing |
| sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch - and try to | | | | on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping |
| detach themselves from the commotion around them. | | | | your eyes open, focus on a single sight. |
| Others might use an audio to focus on, if you use an | | | | One sample routine would be to - while in a meditative |
| audio with your meditation you focus on those sounds | | | | state - silently name every part of you body and |
| while everything else fades away. You may now | | | | focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing |
| focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal. It | | | | this you should be aware of any tension on any part |
| may seem difficult at first, since we are all too | | | | of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It |
| accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, | | | | works wonders. |
| but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself | | | | In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its |
| becoming more aware of everything around you. | | | | benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort - |
| If you find the meditating positions you see on | | | | remember we're relaxing). |
| television threatening - those with impossibly arched | | | | Studies have shown that meditation does bring about |
| backs, and painful-looking contortions - you need not | | | | beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there |
| worry. The principle here is to be in a comfortable | | | | has been a growing consensus in the medical |
| position conducive to concentration. This may be while | | | | community to further study the effects of such. So in |
| sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even | | | | the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric |
| walking. | | | | thing we call meditation might become a science itself!. |
| If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that | | | | Success orientated people practice meditation, people |
| would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, | | | | like James Ray, Jack Canfield, Wayne Dyer and even |
| the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In | | | | Brain Tracy claim its benefits. The key is make the |
| other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling | | | | practice your own and spend the time learning, you |
| asleep. | | | | might be surprized at the results. |
| Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process | | | | |