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High Blood Pressure and Tai Chi Therapy
Way back in 2003, the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine’s Oct. 9th issue reported a study finding that Tai Chi “could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status....
Insomnia - Getting The Help You Need
Experiencing an occasional sleepless night every now and again is normal and transient insomnia affects all of us from time to time, especially when we are under personal or professional stress, or our schedule changes significantly as a result of...
Mental Health
Introduction:
Mental health has become a major international public health concern and the World Health Organization has placed high profile focus on the importance of mental health. Mental health is recognized by the World Health Organization and...
Mind, Body, Spirit Healing vs. Traditional Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis
Mind, Body, Spirit Healing vs. Traditional Psychotherapy/Psychoanalysis
The word "psychology" is the combination of two terms - study (ology) and soul (psyche), or mind. The derivation of the word from Latin gives it this clear and obvious...
Top Ten Habits That Help You Manage Your Stress
Today we have more stress in our lives than ever before – good stress, bad stress, red stress, blue stress (my little ode to Dr. Seuss). No matter what kind of stress it is, a real crisis or an imagined one, stress is incredibly harmful to our body,...
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Meditation: A Beginner's Guide
Meditation: A Beginner's Guide by Christin Snyder
*The material presented in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prevent any illness.
In my article “Self-Healing Basics” I briefly discussed meditation and it's important role in whole-being wellness. Meditation has an abundance of benefits, but can appear daunting to newcomers due to the many misconceptions surrounding it. Through this series of articles I will explore the art of meditation in depth- addressing misconceptions, highlighting the benefits, answering frequently asked questions, and also sharing different techniques.
I believe very deeply in the power each person has to heal themselves. Meditation is one of several tools I teach to empower others on their quest for spiritual and personal growth. I have found that many who have comitted themselves to developing the practice have reported dramatic results. Many have shared with me an enhanced sense of purpose, reduced stress and anxiety levels, and other life altering changes. There are numerous types and styles of meditation, and with persistence and practice everyone can find one to benefit them.
Meditation Myths:
There are many misconceptions and generalizations in regards to meditation that unfortunately keep many people from trying it. Before going into all of the benefits and techniques, I feel it is necessary to first address some of these issues. In doing so, I hope to provide a better understanding of just how simple and worthwhile meditation can be.
One common misunderstanding surrounding meditation is the belief that it is religious in nature. Although it is incorporated into the religious practice in many traditions, it is not in and of itself, religious in nature. Neither is it reserved to any one faith system. Many people from a variety of cultures and traditions successfully integrate meditation into their lives without conflict.
Another commonly held belief is that meditation requires a lot of time to achieve results, however, as I will demonstrate later on, it truly does not require hours of rigid daily practice to be effective. Most of us do have busy
lives, and meditation is an act that can be effectively incorporated into any lifestyle. Is it a discipline? yes. It needs to be developed into a routine, much in the same way that walking the dog or going to the market are also established as routines. The benefits will be well worth the few minutes a day invested.
Last but not least, is the misconception that the mind must be void of all thoughts for meditation to be effective. The key in meditation is not necessarily to “empty” the mind, but to gain control of the mind, to know and understand where it travels and why. The main goal of meditation is to “know thyself” and by learning the hidden motivations and reasons behind our seemingly random thoughts we begin to do just that. The process aids in removing random mind chatter, and streamlining the thought process.
If you are paying attention, you will notice that as you read this, your mind has likely churned up several thoughts that have popped up as you have gone along. If you haven't noticed this, you are not alone. Many never really pay attention to just how much “noise” the mind makes. The simple act of paying attention and noticing is a first stage of a positive meditative practice. Through dedication we learn to sift through the noise and retrieve what is necessary and beneficial to us on our path. We are better able to slow the mind down, which in turn reduces stress and anxiety.
Meditation is a practice that costs little to nothing and can benefit anyone willing to put some time and effort into it. It requires no special talents , merely the desire to grow and learn. For those seeking a more fulfilling and rewarding life experience, meditation offers a simple but powerful method to pursue personal and spiritual growth. Throughout the rest of this series I will share answers to common questions, explore the many benefits, and detail some different meditation techniques that can be modified to each persons unique preferences.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christin Snyder is a motivational writer/speaker and holistic health practitioner. Visit her website for more personal empowerment resources. http://www.dailypowerwords.com
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Learning Meditation Home Page |
Introduction to the basics of meditation and the reduction of stress. |
www.learningmeditation.com |
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Meditation Room |
Choose freely and feel free to perform more than one meditation. ... Allow some time for your meditation. These meditations last from 3 - 10 minutes. ... |
www.learningmeditation.com |
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Meditation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
An introduction to different traditions, forms, techniques, and benefits. Includes links to other resources. |
en.wikipedia.org |
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World Wide Online Meditation Center |
Contains colorful, clear, concise meditation instruction on a variety of meditation methods from various spiritual teachings, plus tranquil meditation tapes ... |
www.meditationcenter.com |
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The Transcendental Meditation (TM) Program - Official website. How ... |
Meditation validated by over 600 scientific studies. The best meditation against stress. Online video! Personal instruction and lifetime follow-up. |
www.tm.org |
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Vipassana Meditation Website |
Homepage of the organization which offers Vipassana Meditation courses as taught by SN Goenka. |
www.dhamma.org |
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Welcome to Meditation Mount |
Meditation training programs and group meditation as a service to humanity. Worldwide organization based in Ojai, California. |
www.meditation.com |
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Guided meditations on mindfulness, peace, the 23rd Psalm, the way ... |
Come into the present moment with this 10-minute mindfulness meditation narrated by ... Experience a flow of positive energy with this meditation on peace ... |
www.beliefnet.com |
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Meditation Station Presented By The Meditation Society Of America |
Meditation Society of America's web site. Dedicated to sharing meditation techniques and concepts from all traditions. |
www.meditationsociety.com |
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Wildmind | Learn Meditation Online |
Wildmind provides a complete guide to simple meditation techniques. |
www.wildmind.org |
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Meditation |
An article By Dr Tom J. Chalko explaining the process and stressing the need for a spiritual teacher. |
www.thiaoouba.com |
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Free Learn to Meditate, online meditation - Meditation Australia. |
Details of activities, events, and classes in Wollongong University, Australia. Also offer a free online Meditation course. |
meditation.org.au |
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Meditation, Home, what is meditation, types of meditation ... |
Meditation Meditation is an alternative therapy. It can be broadly classified under the mind-body medicine. More and more doctors are prescribing meditation ... |
1stholistic.com |
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Sivananda Yoga - Meditation |
Introduction to the Official Web site of the Internationa Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. Lots of information on Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, ... |
www.sivananda.org |
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Stress Reducers: Articles index |
yellow arrow button, Choose a Virtual Meditation Slide Show for Your ... yellow arrow button, Meditation and Relaxation: 20 Minutes A Day Can Make A ... |
www.selfhelpmagazine.com |
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Zen Mountain Monastery: Zen Meditation Instructions |
Detailed instructions from Zen Mountain Monastery on how to practice Zen meditation. |
www.mro.org |
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Meditation and concentration |
meditation concentration ability. ... Online fire meditation use it and develop concentration ability; Online flash meditation look at the screen and ajust ... |
www.ababasoft.com |
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Siddha Yoga path - Gurumayi - Swami Muktananda founder |
Under the guidance and teachings of Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, Siddha Yoga meditation students embrace the spiritual practices of yoga. |
www.siddhayoga.org |
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Meditation Handbook |
Survey of seven meditation techniques for beginners. |
home.att.net |
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Healing Music|Meditation Music|Self Help products |
Healing Products offers healing music for your Mind, Body & Soul at low prices. Use sound and music to heal and relax. |
www.healingproducts.com |
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