About Mediation

Practicing meditation on a regular basis will help you to slow down your thoughts, relax, and refresh and rejuvenate both your body and mind. There are also quite a few medical benefits associated with meditation. Regular practice of meditation helps to relieve stress, anxiety and can even lower blood pressure. As your mind quiets, you will find it easier to concentrate and focus on tasks at hand. Regular practice of meditation has also been shown to relieve symptoms of depression and insomnia as well.

Preparation

Before you begin, find a quiet, private room where you will not be disturbed for at least ten to fifteen minutes. You may wish to light a candle at the beginning of your meditation session to mark the passage of time. Many meditation practitioners also advocate the use of a small alter with pictures of inspirational spiritual leaders or images from nature - trees, rivers, mountains, etc - to make you feel calm and happy while you meditate. Some people like to place a sacred stone or some flowers on their alters as well.

How to Meditate

To begin a meditation session, an individual must sit on a cushion on the floor or on a chair with their feet firmly planted on the ground. They then sit in an upright but relaxed position with their hands resting on their lap or on top of their thighs. With closed eyes, this individual should focus their thoughts on following their breath. Thoughts must not be followed as they arise; instead, the meditating person should simply continue to follow their breathing as they inhale and exhale.

Mantras

Some people find it helpful to repeat a mantra or sacred word or phrase in order to give their minds something to focus on during their meditation session. If you use a mantra, simply repeat it once on your inhale and once on your exhale. Feel the vibrations of the mantra filling your body. When you finish a meditation session, sit for a few minutes and feel the state of relaxation pervading your body and mind.