| Throughout the ages, meditation has served as a | | | | Guided Meditation -- This meditation involves |
| vehicle in achieving wellness, peace, and balance | | | | relaxing the body in a comfortable position and |
| through the mind body and spirit. There are | | | | listening to a teacher and/or audio CDs, tapes, or |
| several ways and means that a person can | | | | MP3s who guides you through each level of a |
| practice and learn how to meditate that can be | | | | meditation by offering not only visualization, but |
| done at home, via CD instruction, at a meditation | | | | also affirmations, and other positive feedback that |
| center or ashram, or created spontaneously. The | | | | can alter ones subconscious and conscious |
| methods themselves do not really matter | | | | mindset. It is often used for self-esteem and |
| because all of them are trying to achieve the | | | | other emotional work. |
| same thing: higher states of consciousness and | | | | Yoga -- There is a myth that yoga is only an |
| awareness of the self. | | | | exercise to stretch and strengthen the body as |
| Below are the methods of meditation that are | | | | well as to achieve balance of the body and mind. |
| commonly used and practiced in today's society: | | | | However, that's only half of it. The real purpose |
| Sitting Meditation -- A sitting meditation is | | | | of yoga is to learn how to be in stillness as well |
| practicing the art of sitting in one spot without | | | | as peace as it relates to your flexibility and how |
| moving. This can be done in silence, with | | | | your mind can transcend not only the discomfort |
| background noise, outside or inside. Generally, the | | | | you may feel when performing various stretches |
| practioners will sit on a chair, cushion or on the | | | | but also in daily life. |
| ground in a lotus or other comfortable | | | | Mantra and Chanting Meditation --- This kind of |
| cross-legged position. | | | | meditation involves the use of a phrase, word, or |
| Transcendental Meditation -- This method of | | | | a prayer that can come from any religious belief |
| meditation has been practiced for centuries by | | | | system. The words are spiritual, powerful, and |
| Hindus, Buddhists, and hippies alike. It's the art of | | | | meaningful when spoken out loud or in the mind. |
| reaching a state of euphoria with the use of | | | | Sometimes they can be sung as well. As a result |
| sounds, mantras, and visuals that heightened the | | | | of the vibrations from these chants and mantras, |
| energies and the senses of the practitioner. This | | | | our bodies respond and our mind is soothed and |
| method is meant to make sense of chaos and | | | | quieted down. |
| the chaotic mind. | | | | |