| Meditation has been known to relieve stress and | | | | You can take up any posture as long as you |
| tension and promote well-being. It relaxes your | | | | keep your back erect. Sit with your eyes slightly |
| body and mind and heals the soul. It rids the mind | | | | closed and focus on your breathing. Breathe |
| of conflict and soothes the spirit. Regular | | | | through your nostrils and gain an awareness of |
| meditation helps one cope with everyday | | | | how each breath enters and leaves your nostrils. |
| pressures without falling victim to them. Meditation | | | | Concentrate on this alone and make an effort to |
| can be practiced in several ways. There are many | | | | stop your thoughts from wandering. If your mind |
| techniques that help you get in touch with your | | | | strays from the breathing process, bring it back |
| inner self and bring relaxation to mind and body. | | | | to the task at hand. Do this as many times as is |
| Some of the simplest meditation techniques are | | | | necessary. With constant practice, this will bring a |
| mindfulness meditation, breathing and guided | | | | sense of calm and peace to the mind. Even |
| meditation. | | | | though breathing meditation is often considered as |
| Mindfulness Meditation | | | | a prelude to other forms of meditation, it is a |
| Mindfulness implies awareness. So, mindfulness | | | | very effective technique to experience peace and |
| meditation aims at being aware of one's inner self | | | | contentment from within. |
| and the surroundings while touching on a higher | | | | Guided Meditation |
| level of consciousness. With mindfulness | | | | The deeper the level of meditation, the greater |
| meditation all thoughts, feelings and emotions are | | | | healing it brings to mind and body. Guided |
| acknowledged without making an attempt to | | | | meditation aims at taking you to a whole new |
| suppress them. You have to play the part of a | | | | level altogether. Either your guru can guide you |
| detached observer. In other words, you have to | | | | and bring you to this new state or you can use |
| live in the moment without getting involved in it. | | | | an audio tape to achieve a similar effect. You |
| There are several ways to practice mindfulness | | | | have to keep your mind free of all thoughts and |
| meditation. Most of them involve focusing on a | | | | focus only on the guiding voice in question. Here, |
| certain object or a process. This could be focusing | | | | you touch your inner self and unleash old |
| on your breath, performing a recurring exercise | | | | resentments and emotions to create peace and |
| or simply chanting a mantra. There's no specific | | | | harmony within. There are many audio tapes |
| posture that you need to take while doing | | | | available over the internet that can be used for |
| mindfulness meditation. You can sit comfortably | | | | this kind of meditation. All you have to do is |
| but you have to make sure that your back is | | | | unwind and follow the instructions. Guided |
| upright in order to remain relaxed and alert. This is | | | | meditation is used to instill feelings of |
| a very simple form of meditation and can be | | | | self-confidence and release feelings of insecurity. |
| practiced at any time since all you have to do is | | | | All these three meditation techniques have a |
| sit and do nothing. | | | | common purpose: To bring peace and reduce the |
| Breathing Meditation | | | | conflict within yourself. Regular meditation will |
| Breathing meditation aims to clear the mind of | | | | enrich your life and make way for a healthy and |
| distractions and make it calm and peaceful. Select | | | | wholesome lifestyle. |
| a serene place to meditate and sit comfortably. | | | | |