An Overview of Meditation
Many people associate meditation with religious or spiritual practice and while it can be used for these reasons it is also a technique that can be used to achieve a state of deep relaxation. Meditation is used to clear the mind of all thoughts or alternatively to focus on a single detail, this for example could be the sounds you hear around you or your breathing patterns.
Some confuse meditation with hypnosis and this is understandable. They are both similar in many regards in that they quiet the conscious mind and are by their very nature deeply relaxing. The difference is that while meditating you aim to stay in this altered state of awareness whereas hypnosis uses this state to help you change thoughts, habits and behaviors. There is no advantage one holds over the other and I personally use both to aid relaxation and self improvement. Together they are incredibly beneficial exercises for the mind as well as the body.
The Feeling of a Meditative State
Meditation is a profoundly personal experience so one person may feel quite different from another while meditating. When I meditate my body feels very loose and light and time seems to speed up. However for you it could be the complete opposite, your body may feel heavy and one minute may feel like five. The important thing is that the mind is clear of all mental chatter.
Allow your meditation to be as natural as possible. If you body begins to shiver let it do so, if you can’t keep from smiling don’t try and stop it. There really is no right or wrong when you meditate, it’s all about you.
A Beginners Meditation Exercise
Find a place, whether inside or outdoors, where you can relax and unwind without fear of being disturbed. It is important to be sat in a position where your spin is straight yet not rigid, this can be on the floor, a stool or a comfortable chair. The classic posture for meditation is the lotus position which is pictured to the right. If you aren’t that limber you can sit with you legs out straight or slightly bent, whatever works for you.
The classic lotus position.
Begin by closing your eyes and taking slow, deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pay close attention to how the air feels as it’s taken in by your lungs and then expelled. Allow all the muscles around your body to relax, especially around your face and shoulders. Know that while you are meditating nothing else matters to you except this amazing experience. Let the time drift by until you are ready to end the session, it may be five minutes, fifteen or even more.
Words of Advice
Meditation can be a life changing exercise. Like any other form of exercise to get the most from it it’s important to meditate regularly, at least once a day even if it’s only for five minutes.
If you tried to exercise above and enjoyed it or even if you struggled with it but would like to continue with your learning then I would recommend that begin with guided meditation mp3s. These are excellent for beginners as all they require you do is relax and follow the spoken instructions. I have included a link below to a page that hosts a group of free guided meditation mp3s that you may find useful, particularly the ones read by Malcolm Huxter.
http://www.buddhanet.net/audio-meditation.htm