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Meditation
and Relaxation
What is Meditation
and Why Should We Do It?
Meditation is the safest and easiest way that we
can balance our mental state and wellbeing.
It is about an approach to cope with the stressful lifestyles that
rob us of inner peace.
It is a technique that can be learnt by just about anyone with
patience and persistence.
It is a way of clearing our mind of unwanted distractions and
disturbing emotions that
can become overwhelming at times.
There have been many scientifically proven result
from meditation such as
increased concentration, balancing of the right and left
hemispheres of the brain,
improved memory, and also decreased stress levels, depression and
anxiety.
We actually meditate all the time whether we
realise it or not. The human brain
never stops working and operates on many levels, often at the same
time. Therefore
we are aware and meditating whether conscious, subconscious or
unconscious.
Concentration of the mind is absolutely necessary
for all of us. Just as you tone
your muscles through physical training you need to train your mind
through mental
training. Meditation is a powerful mental tonic that not only
relaxes the mind but also
the body. By learning to meditate successfully we are enhancing our
mental wellbeing
as well as our physical health.
Meditation can be practiced using many different
techniques. Some are very
structured and require time to master while others are as
simple as just sitting
quietly in a comfy chair and relaxing while you think of the events
of the day.
Most forms of meditation can be picked up with practice,
here are just a few different types:
Audio
Using Classical or New Age meditation music where
you focus your attention
on the notes drawing your attention into the moment. You can also
get New Age
music that can be vibrational or chanted also.
Guided
A guided meditation is where the facilitator
becomes your point of focus. They
invite you to pay attention to their words and are drawn into a
beautiful relaxing
state by imagining scenes or experiences.
Breath
The Breath meditation is where you focus solely
on your breathing and allow your
mind to calm as you listen and feel your breath. There is a direct
connection between
your breath and your state of mind. For example: when you are
agitated or angry
your breath will become short and fast whereas when you are feeling
calm your
breath will be slow and even.
Unstructured
This is where you simply relax and focus on an
object or scene or even on
a chakra point.
Yoga
Yoga is where physical positions or movements are
used to focus the mind and body.
There are many scientifically proven benefits for practicing Yoga.
These include
decreased metabolic rate, lower heart rate, drop in cholesterol
levels, improved
air flow to the lungs, decreased stress etc.
Do's and
Don'ts
Fix a time and place and try to meditate around
the same time everyday. Early in
the morning or just before bed are considered the best times of the
day.
Leave a break after eating before you meditate
otherwise your energy will get divided
between your meditation and digestion.
Avoid meditation if you are already
over-stimulated with caffeine or alcohol.
Do not meditate when you are depressed as you are
more likely to focus your
attention on the negative thought and this will make you feel
worse.
Try to gradually lengthen the time you meditate
for. It is better to have regular short
sessions that irregular long ones.
If suffering from any illness such as
Schizophrenia. Multiple Personality Disorder,
Psychosis, Bi Polar Disorder, or Delusional Disorder we recommend
that you consult
your doctor before attempting meditation and only do so once you
have been given
clearance and only under the guidance of a qualified teacher.
Please note: The information provided on these
pages is intended as a guide only.
Be Enchanted is not responsible for any consequences resulting from
the use or
misuse of the information provided. No liability is taken.
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