Monday, January 19, 2009

Simple Meditation Techniques Anyone Can Do

By Keira Adams

Meditation has a mystical aura about it, which can cause some people to believe that it's just too complicated. But rest assured, meditation is a simple practice that anyone can do. And the potential health benefits will astound you.

During meditation, your mind and body are in a state of conscious relaxation and focus. You will experience sharpened awareness of both your outer surroundings and your inner being.

There are many different ways to practice meditation. Fundamentally, however, the main beliefs are similar. The key to a successful meditation experience is to still your mind by flushing out negative thoughts and emotions through deep focus. Later, your thoughts will be less scattered and your actions more purposeful.

Picture it as spring cleaning of your inner self. Your harmful thoughts (think of your reaction to long line-ups, rude customer service representatives and your friend's new boat) are what "pollute" your mind. Meditation "cleanses" the mind, and lets you focus on the stuff that really matters.

The practice of meditation will have optimal results in soothing surroundings. Pick a room in your home that makes you feel relaxed. If other people are in the house, find a place where you can lock the door and shut out distractions. Turn off the phone, and shut down any noisy appliances such as the washing machine.

Once you're meditating on a regular basis, you'll probably want some props. A meditation pillow or chair, some scented candles and some soothing meditation audio will all help you on your journey to Zen mastery.

You're sure to have seen the usual pictures of people meditating in unlikely positions with perfect posture. Rest assured that there's no need to contort your body to experience meditation. The idea is to be comfortable so that you can focus on meditating, not your stretched muscles. You can sit, stand, lie down, or even walk around. The choice is yours.

However, you need to keep your back straight if you're sitting or standing. No slouching allowed, or you might just fall asleep. To help you be more comfortable in your preferred pose, you should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing so that you're not focusing on your circulation being cut off. You have more essential things to focus on.

Many people who meditate include a mantra as part of their practice. A mantra is a word or sound that is repeated over and over, and your focus should be on nothing but that sound. Choose a word or phrase that has significance to you, or just a sound that feels good. Although not a essential part of meditation, it does help you to concentrate on your breathing and can lead you to a higher state of awareness.

Focus is fundamental to your meditation experience. Think of an object in your mind or find one in your line of vision, and concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else. The same applies to a specific thought as well as to your mantra.

For an easy meditation routine to get you started, start by settling yourself in your chosen sanctuary. Close your eyes, and envision each part of your body, from the top down or bottom up, it doesn't matter. Silently name each part as you think of it, and give it your full attention. You'll immediately notice if there's tension or discomfort in that particular location. In your mind, visualize the tension leaving that body part. You'll be amazed at the results. - 14130

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