Archive for the ‘Meditation’ Category

When people sit down to meditate, they are often all chasing a different goal. Some simply take to meditation as a way to relax and think clearly. Some take to meditation because it helps them concentrate and focus. While others are hoping to gain insight about their life and gain a special wisdom that can only be obtained through the introspection that comes with meditation.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you gain the insight and wisdom you’re looking for from meditation.

· Everyone knows that when you meditate, you are told to clear your mind of any troublesome or bothersome thoughts so that you may delve into the realm of deep and complete meditation. But if you are looking to gain wisdom on a particular nagging question, you can simply focus on that one topic as you relax and let your mind go, except for that one burning question. Let all your other worries from the day fall off your back like rainwater, but keep the topic you wish to gain insight on close to your heart. You will see better results this way if that is why you are choosing to meditate.

· Something you can do to increase your focus on the topic you wish to gain insight on is to place a small object, a reminder of some kind, in the palm of your hand when you meditate. Even if you close your hand into a fist when you meditate, you can feel the object pressing into your palm. You can focus your mind’s energy on that object and this will help mind to wrap itself around the problem you want to solve. Even if you simply place the object in front of you instead of in your hand, you’ll know that it is there and it will serve as a constant reminder of what wisdom you wish to gain from your meditation session.

· The same essential goal can be had by putting on some quiet music while you meditate. It should be on very, very quietly, only loud enough for you to barely make out while you enter your meditation. Make sure the song (put it on repeat so it plays over and over during your session) has a direct link to the problem you’re hoping to gain wisdom on. If the topic you wish to gain insight on is about money, have it be a song you associate with wealth. If it is a relationship problem, make it a song that you associate with that particular person. Don’t allow the music to be loud enough that it will disturb your meditative state, only loud enough for it to dance upon the outer reaches of your mind as you meditate.

· To get your mind into the proper frame before you even sit to meditate, spend the 10 minutes immediately before you meditate thinking about the issue you wish to gain insight on. You don’t have to do any hardcore brainstorming, just ponder it quietly. Think about different angles involved and different ways you could approach it.

· Scent can also be a strong trigger for memory and creative thought. If it all possible, try to have something near you that you associate with the problem you’re trying to resolve. If it is a relationship problem, have a small dab of cologne or perfume. If it is about money, have a scent that reminds you of wealth and prosperity. The nose and the mind work closely together, don’t underestimate the power the two can have on your meditation.

· Make sure you meditate for wisdom and insight during a time when you will not be distracted. You are essentially asking your mind to perform an elaborate series of tasks that can all be shattered by a curious child interrupting or a careless spouse stumbling upon you. Try to do this style of meditation when you’re completely alone and there is zero chance you’ll be bothered. Also, the amount of time this style of meditation takes varies greatly. Make sure you have plenty of time to meditate. When estimating the time you’ll need, it’s better to overestimate then underestimate since you don’t want to be on the verge of a breakthrough and then be disturbed.

· To solve some tougher problems, it may take multiple sessions, sometimes even months worth of delicate introspection before a problem is properly solved. Depending on how your mind approaches the problem and how deep your meditation is, different problems with be solved at different paces. Don’t get frustrated and don’t give up. Remember, even if you don’t solve the problem at all, you’re still doing your body a world of good by meditating in the first place. Give it time and in most cases, you’ll be very happy with the results.

The keys to successful insight and wisdom meditation can be tough to grasp for some. In this world of instant gratification, it can be hard for some newcomers to meditation to have the patience if they don’t get what they are looking for right away. But the path to true inner peace, not to mention wisdom and insight, is a long and winding one and only those with dedication will be able to reap the reward.

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Do you find yourself overworked, full of worry, or just plain stressed out? Then, it’s time to relax. Give your mind a break and your immune system a boost. Learn to meditate.


For many people, meditation is something quite mysterious. After all, meditation is a practice most often associated with ancient spiritual traditions. But, the fact the matter is, meditation is simply a way of relaxing your mind and your body which, in turn, helps to separate you from your everyday problems and worries. It is a process that can be learned and practiced by even the busiest person in today’s modern world.


There are many forms of meditation. However, experts often say that the various forms of meditation fall into two broad categories: concentrative meditation and mindfulness meditation.


In concentrative meditation, the person sits quietly and focuses attention on a physical object, a particular sound, an image, or on the most fundamental bodily process, breathing. Most people have heard of using a mantra to meditate. Here the person repeats a special word over and over. Repetition of the word provides the focus needed for meditation. No matter what the person uses, the purpose of the object of meditation is to give the mind an anchor to the here and now. As the mind becomes absorbed in its focus on the object of meditation, external distractions are reduced. The jumble of thoughts and anxiety so common to daily life disappear.


In mindfulness meditation, there is no specific object of meditation. Instead, the person sits quietly and simply witnesses or notices whatever happens to present itself mentally. It could be a thought, a mental image, a sound, or a bodily sensation. The goal of the person meditating is to observe whatever passes through the mind and let it go without reacting to it or elaborating on it. By practicing a kind of detached awareness of immediate experience, the person is encouraging the development of a calmer, clearer state of mind.


Learning to meditate is not a complex matter. However, as with any skill of value, learning to meditate does take some effort. Fortunately, there are many books and e-books on the market that can provide the beginner with simple “how to” instructions and helpful meditation exercises. Meditation also requires practice. But, the practice can be as little as ten minutes a day.


One key to successful meditation is consistency of effort. The person needs to find a time in the day to meditate regularly. The payoff for doing so may be enormous, both physically and psychologically. Modern research has shown that the regular use of meditation enhances immunity, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reduces cholesterol, and speeds recovery. Psychologically, meditation seems to reduce anxiety and depression, while increasing creativity and feelings of happiness and joy. Given its power and simplicity, the practice of meditation should be included in any serious, holistic approach to health and wellness.

Douglas Hardwick, Ph.D., has extensive interests in issues of holistic health and human development. He is a primary contributor to the information website: www.holisticwebworks.com – Holistic Health and Healing Resources


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If you are in search of an efficient free meditation technique, then you should know where to look for it. And the best idea is to start your search with the help of the Internet, since there are wide ranges if specialized websites that can offer you exactly what you need, meaning free meditation exercises, free guidance and the techniques you need in order to relax and to reduce stress and tension.

Can I Count on a Free Meditation Technique?

Meditation is an actual healing process that can not hurt you, but it can have a wide range of beneficial results, in exchange. As opposed to medications and other treatments, meditation does not come along with a package of side effects. So, basically, none of the free meditation techniques can do you any wrong. The only thing they can do is to be more or less efficient.

The answer to the above question is simple: when it comes to meditation, the only one who can observe the results is you. And if you are actually feeling better, less stressed and more joyful, then you know that you chose the right free meditation technique and that you are applying it correctly.

Are There More Types of Meditation Techniques?

When looking for the best free meditation technique, you should know that the first one you read might not be the one for you. Undoubtedly, there is an impressive range of meditation exercises, from the simple ones that are destined to beginners to the most complex ones that combine numerous breathing techniques and additional equipment.

Furthermore, there are general meditation exercises that are meant to reduce stress and tension and there are certain meditation exercises that are specifically destined to ameliorate a certain health condition. Moreover, there are meditation exercises for women, for the elder ones and for other categories of people with different needs. All in all, you are dealing with an impressive range of meditation techniques, all with various roles and purposes.

Which One Is the Right Free Meditation Technique for Me?

The only one who can know the answer to the above question is you, simply because meditation works differently from one individual to another and you are the only one who is actually feeling the results. However, when you are looking for a free meditation technique, you should only search on specialized websites, websites that can offer you the information you need in order to mediate successfully. These websites should provide clear guidance and step-by-step easy to follow programs, information that you can understand and special recommendations.

But remember: when you are about to start a new free meditation technique, you should leave from the premise that it might not be the right one for you. With such a wide range of meditation exercises, that all have different intensities and even different results, choosing the best and most suitable meditation technique can be a difficult tasks.

What you should do is you should try more meditation exercises before you decide which one is the right one for you. You can try both passive and active meditation exercises, you can try brainwave meditation, you can opt for a guided and free meditation technique, and you can try a candle meditation session and many more, until you find the one that brings the best range of effects. Good luck!

Want to calm your mind & super-charge your energy level? We’ve created a FREE audio e-course to get you started with free meditation techniques. Click here


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Because of the demands of family, work and our non- stop lives, it is often hard to find the time to attend a to learn spiritual meditation so we seek out downloadable meditationsthat we can use whenever we have a few minutes spare.

When we sit in a psychic school or spiritual development circle or group we feel protected by the proficiency of the medium who is in control of the circle. So are downloadable meditations for spiritual growth and meditation exercises safe for us to use on our own?

What you should be sure of when purchasing any meditations is that they are specifically aimed at your spiritual development and that the source you are purchasing from is legitimate and that they have taken serious consideration into the safety of their meditations.

Some of the safety features that should be installed into all the meditations are:

Accesses to a website were you can research the process of spiritual development.
Professionally recorded meditations so you can be sure that you are getting quality.
Opening and closing of chakra to guide you into and out of a proper guided meditative state.
Meditations focused on spiritual development for the highest of good.

Explanation of each meditation you are purchasing.
More then 3 definite processes installed into the meditations to be sure you will come back when the meditation finishes, for instance;

A. being counted out of the meditation more than once,
B. changes in sound reverberation between the actual meditation and the chakra opening and closing,
C. a loud sound or bell to make you aware of yourself, amongst others.

Meditations split into levels of experience so you know you are doing the right meditation for yourself.

Once you have found and downloaded your meditations, the other safety precaution you must take is not to listen to the meditations to help you go to sleep, They are specifically for spiritual personal development not a sleep remedy.

A good download meditation site will offer you meditation tips, such as finding a quiet place were you can sit with your feet earthed to the ground and you can be certain that you are ready and prepared to enhance your spiritual journey, safely and with guidance.

All that is left for you to do is to enjoy your meditations and open yourself to the understanding of the universe.

Keith McGregor is a partner of Strawberrysoup, a web design agency with offices in Chichester and Bournemouth. Strawberrysoup specialise in creative web design, content managed websites, search engine optimisation, search engine marketing and graphic design


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We all know the profound benefits that meditation practice bestows. The two important aspects though, in order to extract the wonderful benefits from meditation, is that the practice needs to be consistent and long term. To that end, one of the biggest obstacles to a long term, daily meditation practice, is the lack of a meditation space in your home.


This article will help you overcome this issue by providing helpful insights on how to set up your personal meditation space. Having such a meditation space, vastly increases the chances that you will develop a consistent and deep practice. The space helps counteract some of the resistance that thoughts will no doubt put up in your efforts to practice meditation on a daily basis. Having an inviting, inspiring meditation space ready to go, allows you to get busy with your session as soon as it’s time or as soon as inspiration strikes.


Here are the 3 key components for setting up this important, sacred space in your home.


1. Find a Quiet Space: Try to find a quiet, peaceful place in your home to set up your meditation space. Meditation and spiritual growth can be called the business of silence. Although, the silence you will encounter in meditation practice is that of the infinite creative force, silence in the environment will help you with the concentration required to penetrate into these depths. So, as best you can, ensure that the area is situated such as to minimize sounds and distractions.


2. Get the Right Equipment: Yes, just like a professional tennis player needs the right equipment in order to perform at his maximum potential, so will the right equipment help you achieve your highest spiritual potential. This equipment includes important items such as a Zafu or meditation cushion, loose clothing that will not cut off your circulation, a chair if necessary, and a meditation timer to set your meditation time with.


Don’t underestimate the benefits of the above items. When your meditation practice deepens, you will like to sit for longer periods of time, and this can prove to be uncomfortable on your knees and back. A Zafu or chair will go a long way in helping curb this problem. Proper clothing, for similar reasons, is also very helpful. One of the most common complaints in sitting meditation, is that one’s legs tend to fall asleep and having proper meditative attire will help prevent this.


A meditation timer is also a must. Once you commit to sitting for a particular period of time, you need to see that through. Early in your practice, the body and mind will greatly dislike being told what to do in this way. They are both used to running the show, and all of a sudden being told to be still and concentrate on a particular thing is going to greatly upset them. The timer should be the only factor determining the end of your meditation session. Until it goes off, you should remain frozen in time and attentive to your practice. The timer will also be of value in helping you gauge your capacity to sit in meditation for long periods of time.


3. Add Inspirational Items: Place items in this location that inspire and uplift you. They can be anything from pictures, idols, symbols to books. You may also wish to keep some incense or a candle handy, as that can greatly enhance the ambiance of a meditative space.


Summary:


A personal meditative space is a must. There is very little chance of establishing a strong and significant practice without it. Over time, you will find this space filled with positive vibrations and just entering it will uplift your spirit. Try to keep this space clean and exclusively for meditation, this might just become your favorite place on Earth.

The word meditation, is derived from two Latin words: meditari(to think, to dwell upon, to exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). Its Sanskrit derivation ‘medha’ means wisdom.

Meditation is not a technique but a way of life. Meditation means ‘a cessation of the thought process’. It describes a state of consciousness, when the mind is free of scattered thoughts and various patterns. The observer (one who is doing meditation) realizes that all the activity of the mind is reduced to one.

Meditation can be defined as thinking continuously about something. Most of the time people are meditating on one thing or another, but they are unaware of it. For instance, when we are thinking about a problem, we can say that we are meditating on that particular problem for a given period of time. Therefore, one can say that when different people talk about meditation, they are essentially talking about the same process. However the major difference lies in the object upon which we are meditating. It is the final goal and actual features of the practice that mark its uniqueness.

Commonly today, people can mean any one of these stages when they refer to the term meditation. Some schools only teach concentration techniques, some relaxation, and others teach free form contemplative activities like just sitting and awaiting absorption. Some call it meditation without giving credence to yoga for fear of being branded ‘eastern’. But yoga is not something eastern or western as it is universal in its approach and application.

Preksha Meditation is the combination of knowledge from our ancient religious books, modern science and our experience. It is the practice of purifying our emotions and our conscious (chitta) and realizing our own self. and a technique of mediation for attitudinal change, behavioral modification and integrated development of personality.

Benefits of Meditation

To get rid of tension, panic, anxiety, heart disease, insomnia, arthritis, migraines, anger and other mental illnesses; and if you want to achieve a state of happiness and bliss, then step into the process of this meditation.

One of the most important benefits of meditation is how it releases stress from our bodies. Meditation practised regularly will lead you to a deeper level of relaxation and contemplation. If you want to be free of constant worry, pressure and stress the benefits of meditation can give you a life that is calm, peaceful, happy and relaxed.

Be it work, sport or music, concentration is essential to fulfill our potential. In one pointed concentration there is great power; our energy and focus do not get dissipated. When we have concentration we can do more in less time. Through meditation we gradually improve our powers of concentration; this focus can be used for both meditation, and also other activities we engage in.

Meditation can also help us to understand our own mind. We can learn how to transform our mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful, from unhappy to happy. Overcoming negative minds and cultivating constructive thoughts is the purpose of the transforming meditations found in the Buddhist tradition. This is a profound spiritual practice you can enjoy throughout the day, not just while seated in meditation.

When we live in the mind it is easy to get distracted by small irritations. For example, maybe we find it intolerable to be kept waiting in a line, or we get upset by a small misdemeanour of another person. The solution is not to avoid these minor problems, because they will keep appearing no matter how hard we may try.

Meditation an ancient practice is rooted in Vedic Hinduism. It is a state in which the mind dissolves and is free of thoughts.

Full fledged in Western culture, meditation is a common practice known to everyone. It includes a wide variety of spiritual practices that masters on the mental activity of a person. Most of them approach Meditation for achieving peace of mind.

Types of Meditation: is on the basis of different religions-

• Bahai faith

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Gnostic

• Jainism

• Hinduism

• Islam

• Judaism

• Sikhism

• Taoism

• New Age

Just thinking on one topic is Christian type of meditation. In this, mystics reach a state of achieving complete silence of mind known as contemplation. In Hinduism, meditation by the repetition of mantras is introduced that induces a positive energy. In Buddhism, meditation masters on breathing.

Repetition of Mantras help one to be free from thoughts and helps to reach a sound feeling peacefulness on mind. Different postures are followed for meditation. A comfortable position should be attained before practicing meditation that helps to relax oneself from the meddling matters of the daily life.

Meditation helps one to find a positive attitude towards mind and enriches personal growth.

Prayers: meditational prayers are related to one religious background. It is one of the contemplative prayers that connects one to the cosmic powers.

Declaration and visualization: makes one to deepen the relationship with the devotional powers. The positive visualization that one wishes to reach should be done along with the meditative prayers should be done.

Transformation through meditation: positive will of the person together with the meditation makes one to achieve developmental transformation in oneself.

Different techniques:

Many simple techniques are there that can be practiced. A place with little distraction preferably a prayer room with icons, incense or something is the finest place for meditation.

• Hearing the silence- with less distraction.

• A comfortable posture should be attained for better meditation.

• It is advised to meditate twice a day for better results.

Common postures:

1. Cross legged posture

2. Seated posture

3. Kneeling posture

4. Lying down posture

The three stages of meditations:

1. Dharana- complete concentration of mind

2. Dhyana- contemplation or worship

3. Samadhi- complete merging into a spiritual freedom

Benefits of Meditation:

• Controls stress- the person finds to manage the root causes of the stress in his life.

• Pain Management- the proper practice of meditation helps one to manage chronic pain that persists on and other psychic disorders connected to it.

• Physical healing- heals cancer, high blood pressure, infertility, respiratory problems, premenstrual Syndrome etc

• Gain repressed memories

• Handle pain attacks

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Meditation has been around for thousands of years and there are many different approaches. The most common forms of meditation usually involves focusing on a particular object, such as a word mantra, as in Transcendental Meditation; a divine image as in some forms of Tibetan Buddhist meditation; an inspirational phrase or image, as in Christian contemplative meditation; or mindful contemplation of breathing, as in Buddhist samatha meditation. In general, these forms of meditation attempt to cultivate an altered state of consciousness, in which you feel more relaxed and more centered in the present moment, and generally more spiritually uplifted by the contemplation of something greater than the “monkey mind” of our common moment-to-moment thoughts and worries. In this approach the meditator attempts to empty his mind of intrusive thoughts and preoccupations and simply return his focus onto the primary object of meditation. In many ways, these forms of meditation are equivalent to taking a vacation from the emotional stress of life, and there is no doubt that this can be very helpful, allowing us to unwind and refresh our minds. However, as refreshing and relaxing as it may be, we need to remember that this kind of meditation is a vacation, and when we return to our normal activities, we will still have to confront the same old problems caused by the reactive mind.

Such contemplative and concentration based approaches to meditation may be very inspiring and refreshing, but are generally not able to transform emotional suffering and the habitual patterns of reactivity that plague the mind. However, there is another type of meditation that uses a completely different approach to our mental afflictions and emotional stress. Rather than trying to empty the mind of intrusive thoughts and emotions, we turn our attention towards them and surround the emotion or reactive thought with mindfulness. This approach to meditation is called vipassana meditation, insight meditation, or simply mindfulness meditation.

The Buddha taught this form of meditation as a way of transforming the root cause of our emotional suffering and stress. You cannot transform your suffering by avoiding it, but only by working with it and creating the right kind of inner relationship with your inner anxiety, anger, or other form of stress, that promotes healing. Mindfulness is a particular way of relating to our experience, whatever it might be, including our emotions and inner stress, that is based on being fully present and fully awake. Mindfulness is a quality of awareness where we know what is happening in each moment of experience. This is in stark contrast to our more usual sate of reactivity, in which we don’t fully experience things, but react to them. If you react to your painful emotions, your suffering or you negative thoughts with further reactivity then nothing can change. If you stop reacting and respond with mindfulness to your inner pain, then you create a therapeutic space in which change can happen. Mindfulness re-establishes the freedom and choice that habitual reactivity takes away.

In Mindfulness Meditation Therapy (MMT), we make difficult emotions the very focus of our meditation. We do this because we understand that there is no way to escape our inner suffering, and the only way to change suffering is by facing it directly. Mindfulness teaches us how to do just that, how to form a therapeutic relationship with our inner suffering that is open, fully present and not reactive. Learning to cultivate this inner relationship, the mindfulness-based relationship, with your inner emotions and stress is immensely empowering and provides the gateway to inner transformation; it creates the right inner therapeutic space that allows negative emotions to resolve and heal themselves.

When working with emotions, the first part of MMT is learning to recognize the impulse to react. Most of us are not very aware of these impulses, and the result is that they take control of us and ambush our state of mind. So the first step is to see them before they take hold, when they are still in their infancy.

The next step is to form and maintain a mindfulness-based relationship with the impulse-emotion. This is rather like placing a wild animal in a large space: Give it plenty of room and it can’t hurt itself, or you. When you surround your inner suffering with this mindful-space, which is love, then you provide the right environment in which the emotion can soften, unfold, become malleable and transform.

Mindfulness skills and mindfulness meditation can be learned quite easily online, but what you learn will be very much more effective if it is individualized to your specific needs. In Online MMT, we use email correspondence and Skype video conferencing to teach you how to meditate and how to use mindfulness to work on your emotional issues and stress reactions. Online MMT is also a very cost-effective approach, because it focuses directly on the core issues and makes changes at the core level of our emotional reactivity. Visit my website and email me to schedule an appointment. Mindfulness Meditation Therapy

You can purchase a copy of his book ‘The Path of Mindfulness Meditation’ through Amazon.

Peter Strong, PhD is a psychotherapist, teacher and author based in Boulder, Colorado, who specializes in the study of mindfulness and its application in Mindfulness Psychotherapy for healing the root causes of anxiety, depression and traumatic stress. He specializes in Panic Anxiety and Social Anxiety.

Besides face-to-face therapy sessions, Dr Strong offers Online Mindfulness Therapy through Skype which is a convenient an equally effective option.

To schedule a Skype Session and for more information visit http://www.mindfulnessmeditationtherapy.com

You can purchase a copy of his book ‘The Path of Mindfulness Meditation‘ through AMAZON.com, AMAZON.ca, AMAZON.co.uk and Barnes&Noble.com. Also available on Kindle.


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Meditation can be considered everything from life changing to relaxing to just another new age fad. I fall into the camp of life changing, but does that mean that I think it is healthy for our children? How can they be ready for meditation when they can’t even sit still for five minutes? Children’s meditation is growing in popularity for many reasons. First of all, parents are beginning to accept and practice this age old tradition which puts the child in a position to see and emulate their parent’s actions. Second, with the increased cases of ADD, ADHD, and childhood aggression or complacency, meditation can play a vital role in the integration of these children back into their communities through better focus and connection. Lastly, meditation provides a family with a platform to communicate about important subjects with clarity and openness. These
inner lessons will accompany the child throughout their adulthood.

It is important to remember that meditation itself is not a religious experience, but most every religion or spiritual practice does encourage a form of meditation. The most profound aspects of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam all contain instructions for meditation. It differs from prayer in that prayer sets an intention such as forgiveness, hope or homage to something greater than us such as our family, our nation, the world or god. Prayer allows us to contemplate what is happening in life, and is a
valuable practice. Meditation allows us to experience the source of our own thoughts and feelings which can be clarifying, relaxing and ultimately liberating.

There are many benefits to meditation, so I’ll just name a few in relation to children. Often, children experience an immediate increase in their ability to focus. Teachers notice the calmer classrooms and better questions from their students who actively engage in meditation. Toddlers learn through mimicking and can begin to take positive cues from adults who are meditating, leading to a better sense of calmness in the children. Other important benefits include higher self esteem, more decisiveness, better reading skills, more creativity and imagination, and closer relationships.

There are a few important guidelines when it comes to children’s meditation. First of all, parents must be actively meditating for their children to sustain a meaningful meditation practice. In my experience the model that I see set from parents is the strongest form of teaching to their children. Secondly, children don’t need to meditate as long as adults. Their attention spans are shorter and their worldview is less developed than adults. That being said, children can often get into meditation easier than adults because of their
openness and innocence. Sarah Wood, author of Sensational Meditation for Children, recommends beginning meditation around the age of five years old. An essential book to read before starting this process with your children is Baby Buddhas: A guide for teaching children meditation, by Lisa Desmond. There are some important guidelines to follow when working with children that are different than working with adults which she delves into throughout the book. Some examples are to recognize a child’s interest in ritual, making sure that there are specific items in a meditation space that are not used as toys. She speaks of the importance of recognizing a child’s sensitivity in areas that they don’t fully understand, such as correct breathing. A child who is actively engaging in meditation at a young age need not be corrected on the details of the breathing process.

Meditation is a life changing process that requires only time and interest from us and our children. So what are we waiting for? Sit down and shut up!

 

Ryan Diener is an acupuncturist and herbalist who became cofounder and Director of Holistic Health Associates. The facility is located in downtown Frederick offering extensive holistic health related services. Ryan enjoys teaching, counseling and working with his patients to improve their mental and physical wellbeing, and engaging them to live up to their highest potentials. He may be contacted at www.HHAmd.com or 3016201414.

Holistic Health Associates :: Massage Therapy, Acupuncture, Health & Wellness, Frederick MD

 

 


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The modern world that we live in is fast-paced, very competitive and is also filled with many dangers.  It is no wonder that our stress levels are often pushed to the limit, and many of us suffer from anxiety and chronic fatigue because of this. If you find yourself having to deal with stress on a daily basis, and often feel incapable of keeping up with the demands of daily life, try introducing something positive in your life like meditation.  A few minutes a day spent in meditation can actually help you feel calmer and more in control.

 

When some people hear the word, “meditation”, it often conjures images of the mystical in their minds.  Some tend to associate this with a mind over body experience, that others may find quite extreme, that they would not even give meditation a try.  These days, meditation is simply considered as a tool for relaxation and anxiety reduction.  It is an inexpensive method of relaxation that anyone can engage in even without any special tools.  It can even be practiced anywhere at any time.

 

Simply put, meditation is the process of focusing your attention on a particular thought or object and distancing yourself from the maze of thoughts that fill your mind which may be causing you stress and anxiety.  While meditating, you would be able to connect to the inner you and help you unload the negative thoughts that can pull you lower and cause you to be tired all day.

 

Meditation Techniques

 

There are five popular methods of meditating.  These include mindfulness meditation, guided meditation, mantra, Qi gong and yoga.

 

Mindfulness meditation encourages you to be more aware of what you are experiencing during meditation. You are allowed to recognize your fears and other emotions, without passing judgment on them.

 

Guided meditation encourages you to relax through the use of images, sounds and smells that you often associate with calmness.  This is done with the assistance of a teacher who would guide you through the activity.

 

Mantra meditation allows you to experience calm and relaxation by repeating a thought or a phrase. It is the monotony of the phrase being repeated that can trigger a sense of relaxation of the mind and body.

 

Qi Gong is a combination of physical exercises and breathing that originated in China, but is now being practiced in other parts of the world.  Its objective is to produce a sense of relaxation while working on the body’s balance.

 

Yoga is a popular form of meditation which practices controlled breathing exercises while performing various postures that can make the body fluid and the mind clear. The movements take the mind off what is causing your stress, thus contributing to a relaxed state.

 

There is a growing number of scientific researches that prove the health benefits of meditation.  These benefits include positive effects on high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety disorders, fatigue, depression, pain and sleep disorders.

 

You can integrate a few minutes of meditation in your life every day and you will notice a change in the way you deal with every day situations. Try dedicating a few minutes of your time to meditation.  You can reach calm and relaxation that will enable you to face your day with more energy and a more positive mental attitude.

Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker and the creator of the weekly Meditation For Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com. He also co-host, with Elizabeth Cappellettti, M.A., the weekly TV and web-show entitled The Holistic Success Show, which can watch at http://www.HolisticHealth.TV. Both the podcast and show are free for listening and viewing worldwide.  If you would like to contact Dr. Puff, his e-mail address is DrPuff@cox.net


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