Meditation 101

Meditation is a state of conscious relaxation and concentration in which the body and mind are both calm and concentrated. This art's practitioners experience increased perception, attention, and concentration, as well as a more optimistic outlook on life.

Monks, mystics, and other mystical disciplines are also associated with meditation. You don't have to be a priest or a shaman to learn from it, however. You don't even need to be in a special location to do it. It's also possible to do it in your own living room!

The basic concepts of meditation remain the same, including the fact that there are many different approaches to meditation. The removal of obstructive, pessimistic, and wandering thoughts and dreams, as well as relaxing the mind with a deep sense of concentration, are the most important of these concepts. This cleans the mind of clutter and trains it to perform at a higher level.

Bad thoughts such as loud neighbours, bossy officemates, the parking ticket you received, and unwelcome spam are said to add to the mind's 'pollution,' and blocking them out helps the mind to be 'cleansed,' allowing it to concentrate on deeper, more positive thoughts.

Any practitioners attempt to separate themselves from the commotion surrounding them by blocking out all sensory stimuli (no sights, smells, or touch). If this is your target, you will now concentrate on a deep, profound thinking. It can sound deafening at first because we are so used to listening and seeing sounds all the time, but when you do this exercise, you will become more conscious of everything around you.

You should not be concerned if the meditating poses you see on tv seem to be threatening to those with impossibly arched shoulders and painful-looking contortions. The idea is to be in a relaxed spot that allows you to concentrate. This can happen when you're sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, or walking.

That will be a nice starting point if the job helps you to relax and reflect. The back should be straight when seated or standing, but not tense or close. Slouching and falling unconscious are the only places that can be avoided.

Tight fitting fabrics have a propensity to choke you up and make you feel nervous, but loose, relaxed clothing helps a lot in the process.

The environment in which you meditate should be relaxing. It could be in your living room, bedroom, or some other location where you feel at ease. If you intend to take on the more difficult positions, you might want to invest in an exercise pad (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You would want to organise the space so that it is relaxing to your senses.

Many people find that silence makes them relax and meditate, so you may want to find a peaceful, isolated location away from the ringing phone or the humming of the washing machine. Aromatic candles are also beneficial in this respect, so stocking up on them isn't a bad idea.

The monks who make such monotonous noises on television are simply reciting their chant. In simplistic words, this is a brief creed, a simple sound of mystic meaning for these practitioners.

You are not required to do so; however, it is worth noting that concentrating on repetitive behaviours like breathing and humming will assist the practitioner in entering a higher state of consciousness.

The key is to keep your attention on the task at hand. You might also consider concentrating on a single sight while holding your eyes open, or on a certain object or feeling.

When in a meditative state, one example ritual will be to quietly call any part of your body while concentrating your consciousness on that part. You should be mindful of the tension in any part of the body when doing this. Visualize yourself letting go of the anxiety. It is extremely effective.

There are now several meditation CDs on the market that have been clinically validated to help you practise deep meditation by altering your brainwaves. More information on these can be found here: Meditation CDs.

Overall, meditation is a pretty risk-free exercise with many advantages that are well worth the effort (or lack thereof, because we're relaxing).

Meditation has been found in studies to have positive physiologic effects on the body. And there is a rising opinion in the medical world that such results should be investigated further. So begin building your fitness and well-being right now...start meditating!