Monday, May 11, 2009

A Little on Meditation Techniques

By Amanda Gamdana

This article intends to offer information on meditation methods that will help you in managing pain and over coming pain using the principles of yoga. Yoga uses simple techniques which can be performed by anyone and more importantly it is not time consuming. The world over, this practice is becoming more and more popular to handle problems arising out of stress and tension. When you meditate, you feel the stress draining out and the calmness and stillness flowing in and this is what makes this technique so wonderful.

You can meditate with the accompaniment of chanting or maybe music - you could even do it with absolute silence. You could focus on an external object like a painting or you could internalize it and focus on your posture or your breathing. You need to find a place where you won't be interrupted when you do this so never mind what technique you use, the place you are in is important.

No matter what approach you decide to use, you are going to need a really quiet environment and a certain period of time, in which you aren't going to be interrupted. Then select a word, object, or one's own breathing rhythm and find a comfortable position - to prevent falling asleep it is best not to be lying down. The ultimate aim is to reach a state of a mild trance, a state where you are aware of your surroundings yet detached from it.

Most religions including Christian mystical tradition, Judaism, Sufism and Buddhism consider meditation as one of the important aspects of spiritual practice - more so Buddhism of course. In the Buddhist context, the practice indicates the directing and controlling of the mind inwards, within oneself in the search for enlightenment. This can be practiced in any posture: squatting, standing, walking or lying down, while the sitting or squatting position or 'zazen' is the most widely recommended posture.

Meditation has a number of physical and psychological advantages which was researched by Professor Herbert Benson from Harvard Medical School. The studies that have been conducted have shown that even twenty minutes can really help to reduce your blood pressure, your breathing and heart rates, slow the metabolism and reduce the muscle tension. The deeper states will very often bring about mental images like bursts of color and images and maybe even a still, small voice. Studies have demonstrated that meditation can aid in relieving stress, anxiety, migraine and headaches, depression, insomnia, fatigue and chronic pain.

As this practice leads to happier, healthier and greater self-awareness, other advantages begin to ensue including, higher intuition, enhanced mental functioning, and access to unconscious abilities and resources.

While traditionally meditation was a tool to get you to a higher spiritual level, today it is also used to help you manage the stresses and tension that are a part and parcel of the modern lifestyle. Overall, the combination of yoga classes and daily meditation is going to bring you a lot closer to a life that is completely free of stress. - 14130

About the Author:

No comments: