What is meditation - most of you have heard about it, some of you may have even tried - but for many of us, is an attractive part of this spiritual practice, although this is not only a spiritual endeavor. The word meditation often conjures up images of a sage of India with a loincloth and a vision of Buddha sitting in serene contemplation, the image is of calm and serenity. Yogis, Zen masters, Taoist all have asked for thousands of years. Included early Christian monastic practice lectio divina is the practice of reading the Bible slowly and deliberately, meditate and contemplate the true meaning of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Meditation is mentioned 20 times in the Bible.
During a certain period of history, man, meditation has been an excellent remedy for over-stimulation, stress and anxiety in society. It is one of the main treatments of the science of Ayurveda and allopathic physicians to recognize the benefits of meditation meditation and recommend to their patients. Meditation Scientists examined from all angles and you can not refute the physical, emotional, psychological and physiological that regular practice of meditation can have on the human mind. There are many styles of meditation and many reasons to meditate - for treatment, stress management, knowledge, dedication, to promote the practice of pranayama or simply as a refreshing and relaxing break in the day. Almost all meditation is too broad to cover here, but the list includes:
~ Mantra Meditation - focusing on the sounds and the sacred words
~ Buddhist meditation - as part of the Noble Eightfold Path of Enlightenment
~ Vipassana Meditation - focusing on reality and a vision of the mind
~ Devotion Mediation - meditation on God
~ Taoist Meditation - meditation on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching
~ Zen Meditation - focusing on the teachings of Zen Buddhism
Meditation is an integral part of the practice of yoga, in fact, the purpose of the practice of asanas is to adjust the body and focus the mind in preparation for meditation. However, you do not have to be an experienced yogi and Buddhist teacher to practice effective meditation is not necessary pretzel in lotus position - in fact, for many of us, the attitude of Lotus is simply too difficult physically to allow focusing . You can meditate while walking, while sitting on a straight chair, with simple installation, simple cross-legged and posing for the classic meditation pose very flexible, Padmasana / Lotus Pose. Any facility that allows a comfortable silence for the body is effective for meditation, to remove all physical and environmental distractions as possible, mind and breath are free to concentrate.
Meditation has many benefits on several levels, including (but not limited to):
Physiological / physical
~ Revitalizes the nervous system
~ Strengthens the neural pathways in the brain
Increases lung capacity ~
~ Increases the flow of oxygen to the brain
~ Increases alertness
~ Improves sleep
~ You can reduce the effects of asthma
~ Improves the immune system
~ Assists dependence / abuse recovery
~ Reduces blood pressure
Mental / emotional
Calm the senses ~
~ It focuses the mind to bring clarity and perspective
~ Relieves Being overstimulated
~ Reduces Stress
~ Promotes positive attitude, reducing negative thoughts
~ Increase self-esteem
~ Improves memory
~ Reduces anxiety and hypersensitivity
~ Increases creativity
Spiritual
~ Allows the flow of prana / chi / life energy through the body
~ Develops, maintains and promotes spiritual awareness
Higher Consciousness ~ Unit and the true self
Link ~ increases with the Divine
~ Balancing the doshas - Vata disturbances in particular (see for information on Ayurveda doshas)
~ Prepare the car for the passage of death
~ We can open our minds and hearts to live more fully
~ We bring in the divinity of the moment
Of particular importance to many of us today are the benefits of meditation to reduce stress, which applies to all persons regardless of age, occupation, sex, race or spiritual path. Daniel Goleman's research in the scientific community about meditation and stress tolerance returns very convincing results, the following is an excerpt of writing Goleman followed by a step of "creative meditation" by Richard Peterson, Ph. D.
"People who are chronically anxious or have a psychosomatic disorder of a specific pattern of stress reactions their bodies rise to meet the challenge, then they can stop responding when body problem staying awake danger, then it should be. relaxed, recovering the energy expended and the collection of resources for the next brush with stress ". -D. Goleman
"The anxious meet normal life events like minor crises Each event increases its voltage and voltage in turn amplifies the following ordinary event -. A term, an interview, the appointment of a doctor -. In a threat because the anxious person's body is mobilized following a past event, which has a lower threshold for the next threat. though he had been in a relaxed state, the second case would be taken in stride.
A meditator manage stress in a way that breaks the threat "enthusiasm" spiral threat. The meditator relaxes after an entry up, more often than meditation. This makes it unlikely to see innocent as dangerous occurrences. Specific threat is perceived, and reacted with enthusiasm when necessary. Once awake, rapid recovery makes it less likely that the person to wait to see the next due date as a threat. "
(From the meditative mind, pp. 164-165)
Creative Meditation Richard Peterson, Ph.DARE Press, 1990.
When we have peace and clarity in the mind, we experience a healthier body physics. When we have a healthy body and mind more clearly established, we can explore the infinite breadth of mind when we learn to focus their energies toward that goal. This symbiosis is important in the practice of yoga, pranayama and meditation. All three of these practices and create an amazing welfare system, however, are powerfully beneficial when applied individually.
Meditation does not need to subscribe to a particular spiritual path, you do not have to meditate in any God at all - that prayer is a meditative act. Taoist meditation a place of silence and emptiness, Zen meditation often focuses on the teachings of Buddha, Christ went into the desert for 40 days and 40 nights to fast, meditate and commune with God. Beyond any spiritual application, simply focus on the flow of breath during meditation is enough to gain an advantage.
Learning to meditate requires patience, because all learning. When we begin to meditate, we are sometimes critical of our inability to sit still, which is natural - for one, we're not used to be, sitting on the floor or sitting with legs crossed (not to mention Lotus Pose!). If you find it difficult to sit for long periods of time, try to introduce walking meditation with sitting meditation. We tend to be critical of ourselves if we do not get right on the first try, it is necessary for the practice of not competing with ourselves first. At the beginning of your meditation practice, it is difficult to calm your mind, stop the endless chatter that goes on in our heads all the time - that is quite normal. Even those who meditate regularly have thoughts when you meditate, you need to practice detachment of these thoughts, let them float by unnoticed and return your attention to your breathing - for some it is useful to meditate with their eyes closed, others find a point of concentration, candle or an object that works best.
Advanced Meditation is a practice more subtle, and not just sit and breathe, but the deeper connection method your self and work with the breath and the energy of the mind - the mind and brain are separate entities working together, the brain is the instrument that collects information, the mind is the system he plays. Peaceful existence is intrinsic to the human spirit is when we become distracted by external input that we miss. This creates an imbalance and anxiety in the mind and body and takes us away from our goal. Through meditation, we have the ability to heal the mind, heal the body and quiet contemplation reintroduced to what we really are and our true balance.
What is important is the regular practice of meditation. Try meditating for five minutes a day to start - as the practice becomes more regular, you will find it easier to take time for you to make your mind rest. Try different styles of meditation to see what style suits you, you can play golf, as many different styles of meditation that works for you, relaxing and beneficial. We chose some meditations for you to try later, but you can find more YogaYak.com practices - especially enjoy the practice of meditation and reap the benefits of reducing stress and improving health.