| Meditation happens when you are able to | | | | A few basic rules include: sit in a location where |
| transcend the mind and connect with your source | | | | you won't be disturbed. Maybe your bedroom or |
| or what some call spirit or God. To get there | | | | just any quiet place where you know you can be |
| requires much discipline because one needs to | | | | alone for awhile. You don't want to get deep into |
| know how to relax the physical body and calm | | | | meditation and be disturbed by a ringing phone or |
| your mind. Therein lies the rub; it's not easy and it | | | | door bell if at all possible. If incense makes you |
| requires some self-regulation. | | | | relax, go ahead and burn it. Ideally you want |
| People who meditate well often report significant | | | | complete silence and as you grow in your ability |
| benefits including more peace of mind, less stress, | | | | to meditate, you will learn to adore silence even |
| increased awareness, the ability focus easier, as | | | | more. |
| well as an increased ability to concentrate. In | | | | Sit cross-legged with a straight back and your |
| addition, your outlook on life naturally becomes | | | | head resting comfortably on your shoulders. Make |
| more positive because you are attuning to a level | | | | sure you are comfortable and that you aren't |
| of happiness not accessed prior to meditation. | | | | experiencing tension anywhere; if possible. Wear |
| The most important principle for beginning | | | | loose, comfortable clothing. If you know how to |
| meditators to understand is how to encourage | | | | do some yoga postures, this will help alleviate |
| the mind to stop drifting away. For example, | | | | physical stress so you can sit more comfortably |
| when we first sit to meditate, we immediately | | | | for meditation. |
| become aware of how loud the mind actually is. | | | | One simple technique to meditate is to simply |
| For most of us, it never stops talking and we | | | | chant the word OM - at first out loud maybe 10 |
| often notice it most when we are trying to go to | | | | times and then allow the chant to go quieter until |
| sleep at night. So the first thing you need to learn | | | | you are only chanting it internally. If the mind |
| is how to move past that restlessness of the | | | | drifts to anything other than chanting OM, kindly |
| mind. | | | | bring it back to the word OM. |
| Keep in mind that learning to meditate requires | | | | Just know that, at first, your mind will want to |
| effort at first. But then it will become easier and | | | | wander to things such as your day's activity, or |
| an essential part of your well-being that you can't | | | | what you need to do next, or that thing that |
| wait to do every day. The benefits are | | | | happened at work... but don't let it! This is the |
| tremendous and you will know this intimately as | | | | challenge you must win in a kind and gentle |
| your experiences become direct and personal. | | | | manner. Just encourage your mind to come back |
| A lot of the work that people are currently doing | | | | stay with OM and keep practicing. It will get |
| in focusing on being positive will help you greatly in | | | | easier. |
| becoming a better meditator. For example, if you | | | | If you want to learn more meditation or breathing |
| have already healed parts of your personality that | | | | techniques as well as more about Hatha and |
| were damaged or confused from childhood, it will | | | | Ashtanga yoga postures, go to the Yoga Center |
| be easier for you to calm the mind. | | | | of California website. |
| If you know how to focus on the positive things | | | | Studies have shown that meditation does bring |
| in your life and can easily release the negative, | | | | about beneficial physiologic effects to the body |
| you will be ahead of the game in learning to | | | | not to mention all of the mental, emotional and |
| meditate. But the main thing is to begin your | | | | spiritual benefits. |
| practice of meditation and do not stop until you | | | | People have known for thousands of years about |
| succeed. | | | | the many blessings meditation offers and now |
| How will you know when your meditation is | | | | even the Western medical community is beginning |
| successful? Good question. | | | | to wake up to how helpful meditation can even |
| The answer is when you come out of a session | | | | be in the healing process. |
| of meditation and you realize that an hour has | | | | But one thing is for sure - anyone who is a |
| gone by and it feels like it was only a few | | | | long-time meditator will tell you that the benefits |
| minutes. That means you went deep. What a thrill | | | | far outweigh the effort. So what are you waiting |
| that is. | | | | for? Go meditate. |