Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines. However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits. And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it. You could even try it in your own living room!

Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

The negative thoughts you have – those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam – are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out it allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input – no sights, no sounds, and nothing to touch – and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them. You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal. It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening – those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions – you need not worry. The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in. You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to – while in a meditative state – silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works wonders.

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort – remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!

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Tim Maher is interested in personal development in all its facets and has read many books on this topic. It is an interest that is fed and nurtured by listening to audio books and seminars when possible. To assist your own personal growth journey get your audio resources at ==> www.magillaudiobooks.com/list.aspx?catId=137

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Alternative methods of ensuring wellness have been around for thousands of years and they have been enjoying a resurgence in recent decades. Holistic meditation, for example, is becoming a favorite among fitness enthusiasts, thanks in part to the increasing popularity of yoga, tai chi and qigong. But what exactly is holistic meditation and what are its benefits? Here are things you need to know:

Holistic meditation
Meditation is an important component of many of the world’s religions and other spiritual disciplines, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Dervish and Asceticism. It is also practiced by followers of the New Age Movement.

The term ‘holistic’ is derived from the Greek word ‘holos’, meaning whole, total or entire. It is the belief that everything involved in a system are part of a whole and that understanding any one part or component requires understanding its relationship to the rest of the components.

Holistic meditation is part of a philosophy that focuses on the view that physical, spiritual and mental aspects should be considered in order to achieve healing and optimum well-being. Only when a balance exists among these three aspects will a person experience ‘wholeness’ and achieve healing through meditation.

Meditation is believed to encourage a strong body-mind connection. By meditating, people become more attuned to their bodies and develop a good understanding of what makes them healthy physically and mentally.

Uses of holistic meditation
Holistic meditation is one of the top approaches recommended by practitioners to people who wish to use it to address a medical, emotional or mental problem. It is a common component of a system of healing used for patient care, particularly because meditation helps reduce stress, increase calmness and encourage people to view things from a different perspective. As a result, they do not easily give in to anger, frustration, jealousy and other negative emotions.

Holistic meditation is also often recommended for people who are physically ill. It is believed that a calm, relaxed mind helps facilitate proper healing. Meditation is also believed to encourage a better mental state, allowing people to relax more and focus less on the negative issues.

Holistic meditation is not a method to treat diseases or conditions of the body or mind. The approach is to take care of all interconnected components involved in the mental, physical and spiritual aspects of a person so as to achieve and maintain good overall health. With holistic meditation, the process of healing does not only focus on the disease or condition but also on the overall wellness of the person.

Holistic meditation has grown in popularity in recent years. Find out what it is and why it works.

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