Benefits of Meditation

 

Are you anxious and stressed? Meditation may help you relieve stress, and anxiety and help you attain the peace and calm that you so desire.

Meditation is when you clear your mind of random thoughts and focus on one particular thought to attain a mentally and emotionally clear and calm state.

The practice of Meditation has been present since time immemorial. In the days of yore, it was mainly meant to understand the sacred and spiritual aspects of life. Today, meditation is mainly used to calm the mind and lower stress levels.

Anybody can meditate anywhere. You can meditate on a bus or a plane or even in a waiting room or as you walk. It is inexpensive and doesn’t require any special equipment.

 

Benefits of meditation:

·       Looking at stress in a new and positive way

·       Building skills to manage stress

·       Becoming more aware of the present

·       Lessening of negative thoughts

·       Increasing patience levels

·       Better quality of sleep

Mediation also helps in certain illnesses like asthma, Cancer, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, hypertension, headaches and gut health.

 

Types of meditation:

Guided meditation: When you practice guided meditation, you form mental images of places or things that help you relax. You use as many senses as possible and may be taken through the session by a teacher or instructor.

Mantra Meditation: Mantra meditation is when you repeat a particular word or thought that helps you relax and keep out insignificant thoughts that may crowd your mind.

Mindfulness meditation: This is centered around present–moment awareness.  You could focus on your breath. Thoughts and feelings are bound to occur but you let them pass without judgment.

Yoga  - You do a series of postures and control your breathing. You experience a sense of calm and peace in the process.

 

Ways to incorporate meditation in your daily life:

Deep breathing is ideal for beginners because breathing is a natural function.

Repeat a mantra: You repeatedly invoke the name of God or anything that you find appropriate. 

Walking: When walking and meditating, walk slowly, don’t focus on where you are going but on the movement of your feet, and the sights and smells around you.

Pray: You can either read written prayers or pray spontaneously. Listening to hymns and spiritual music is a form of meditation.

One type of meditation may not suit all. Don’t focus on the right way to meditate but find something you are comfortable with.