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Meditation And Yoga
By peace | November 30, 2006
Meditation has traditionally been a feature of many religions, particulary those based on Eastern philosophies. The goal of meditation is to find tranquillity by emptying the mind of distracting thoughts and worries.
A number of organizations teach meditation techniques. It is not, however, difficult to learn to meditate effectively on your own.
A simple meditation technique
To begin meditating, sit cross-legged(or if that is uncomfortable, in another relaxed position), with your back straight and eyes closed, in a quiet room where you will not be disturbed.
Once your breathing is regular, choose a word that has no emotional significance for you and, without moving your lips, repeat it silently to yourself. Pay full attention to the sound of the word, not to its meaning.
Alternatively, fix your gaze on a stationary object such as a wall pattern. But do not try to analyse its shape or form logically.
If you find that your mind begins to wander, or that distracting thoughts intrude, gently bring yourself back to the word, phrase, or object you have chosen. Do not strain to banish these intrusive thoughts and images. Simply try not to follow them or to worry about how well you are doing. Meditate in this manner for five minutes, twice a day at first. Then, as you become more adept, gradually extend the meditation period until you can do about 20 minutes at each session.
Benefits Of Meditation
Clinical trials have shown that regular meditation can be a useful therapy for reducing stress levels and relieving many stress-related disorders. Although experienced meditators may use these techniques as a pathway towards spiritual experiences, for most people meditation is just a way of releasing inner tension and uneasiness.
During meditation, there may be a marked decrease in the body’s oxygen consumption, as cell metabolism slows down. At the same time, measurement of the electrical activity in the brain demonstrates an increase in alpha waves, which are the slow brain waves associated with relaxation.
Both the pulse and the rate of breathing normally slow down. Blood pressure, however, is only lowered in those people who start with a slightly elevated reading.
Regular meditation can also help control alcohol abuse in those individuals who have been drinking to relieve tension and anxiety.
Benefits of yoga
Successful meditation is the final goal of yoga, a system of Indian philosophy and physical discipline which teaches coordinated movements and postures, relaxation and breathing control, and meditation techniques. The individual adopts positions that exercise almost every part of the body, while using controlled breathing techniques.
Correctly practised, yoga is a useful method of relaxation which helps clear the mind and reduce physical tension. It also maintains body flexiblity, promotes suppleness, and can increase both muscle strength and endurance.
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