| Guided Meditation Techniques Are Gaining | | | | several years, the mind provides almost |
| Popularity | | | | continuous distraction, and the meditator must |
| As guided meditation techniques became popular | | | | continually focus and refocus the mind. This |
| in the West, beginning in the late 1960s and early | | | | continuous need to refocus makes meditation |
| 1970s, advocates introduced many different | | | | difficult and often frustrating work, especially for |
| approaches on how to meditate and, | | | | Westerners who are used to instant results. |
| unfortunately, spread a lot of misinformation | | | | Can a Meditation CD Help Me Learn How To |
| about meditation. As a health and personal | | | | Meditate? |
| development coach I talk to many people each | | | | By practicing meditation techniques with a |
| day, some who have been meditating off and on | | | | meditation CD you can help to keep things very |
| for many years. While many have benefited from | | | | simple. You do not have to learn how to meditate |
| practicing traditional and guided meditation | | | | to focus your mind because the technology |
| techniques, others, regrettably, have very little to | | | | creates the same effect in the brain as focusing |
| show for it. | | | | without your conscious effort. In fact, using some |
| The mishmash of beliefs and misconceptions | | | | meditation CDs actually creates a greater effect |
| about how to meditate, what it is, how it works - | | | | than does traditional or even guided meditation, |
| and, particularly, how to know when you are | | | | leading to much faster results. |
| doing it properly - is amazing. As a result, many | | | | With a good meditation CD, meditation is also |
| are uncertain about whether they're meditating | | | | more precise and more consistent. It does away |
| properly, what results to expect, and how quickly | | | | with the preliminary mastering of a technique |
| these results should appear. This uncertainty leads | | | | (which can take decades) and moves you directly |
| many to quit their practice with little or no result. | | | | to real changes in your life. |
| The idea behind meditation is really very simple. | | | | After several years of personal experience and |
| Doing it well, however, can be difficult, and | | | | much study I've found that that you can reach |
| mastering it may take many years. To learn how | | | | success far more quickly using meditation |
| to meditate, you simply pay attention to a chosen | | | | techniques from CDs. This is not to denigrate |
| point of focus - a mantra, a holy word, a prayer, | | | | traditional meditation, which I practiced for many |
| the breath, or whatever - and whenever you | | | | years prior to my use of meditation CDs, and for |
| realize you've been distracted (which can be | | | | which I have great respect. But the results speak |
| often), you refocus. | | | | for themselves, and results are what most people |
| The Real Benefits of Traditional and Guided | | | | are interested in. |
| Meditation Techniques | | | | If you're experienced with traditional meditation |
| Few scientists today dispute the benefits of | | | | techniques, you will find that using a meditation CD |
| meditation techniques. Respected institutions, such | | | | program allows you to meditate more deeply and |
| as the Harvard University Medical School and the | | | | create much greater positive change. And, if |
| Menninger Clinic, offer programs of meditation for | | | | you've never attempted meditation because you |
| their patients. | | | | didn't think you had the time or talent to devote |
| But many people, even with expert guidance, end | | | | to it, you may discover how easily you can fit |
| up quitting, because meditation is hard to master, | | | | these meditation techniques into your life. |
| and results come slowly. Particularly in the first | | | | |