Let’s talk Meditation!

Are you angry, frequently frustrated, regularly anxious, or stressed? Then meditation could be your life saver! Even if you don’t suffer with controlling hostile emotions meditation can still positively impact your life . Meditation is known to have several benefits such as,

• Reduce Stress 
• Controls Anxiety 
• Promotes emotional health 
• Enhances self awareness 
• Lengthens attention span 
• Reduces age related memory loss 
• Generate patience kindness and calmness
• Helps fight addictions 
• Improves sleep 
• Decrease blood pressure 

So let’s jump in and discuss meditation!

Nobody knows exactly when and where meditation originated. We do know that it is ancient and has practiced by countless cultures and religions around the world. We have evidence that meditation was around in ancient India and China and also in religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism and Islamic beliefs! Though meditation is an ancient practice it continues to change and evolve.

Today meditation styles are practiced across the globe. Though it is hard to group meditation practices (because it viewed as personal to the individual), many separate meditation practices into 6 main groups. 

• mindfulness 
• spiritual 
• focused 
• movement 
• mantra 
• transcendental

Some will practice a combination of these while others choose to focus on only one of these types of meditation. So let’s scratch the surface and briefly discuss each of these meditation types.

• mindfulness -In mindfulness meditation, you pay attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. You don’t judge the thoughts or become involved with them. You simply observe and take note of any patterns.
  
  
• spiritual - attention on cosmic connection to universe and God. Essential oils/Incense are often burned to heighten the spiritual experience 

• focused - involves concentration using any of the five senses. For example, you can focus on something internal, like your breath, or you can bring in external influences to help focus your attention. Try counting mala beads, listening to a gong, or staring at a candle flame.

• movement - Although most people think of yoga when they hear movement meditation, this practice may include walking through the woods, or gardening! 
  
  
• mantra - This type of meditation uses a repetitive sound to clear the mind. It can be a word, phrase, or sound, such as the popular “Om.”

• transcendental- Transcendental Meditation technique is actually a form of silent mantra meditation. This meditation practice involves the use of a mantra and is practiced for 20 minutes twice per day while sitting with one's eyes closed. 

Now that you know more about meditation, let’s discuss the bare basic how to.....The easiest way to begin is to first figure out which type of meditation speaks to you the most. Next find quiet place without many distractions and sit comfortably while bringing  focus to your breath. If you are new to meditation then it is important to start off small. Try 5 minutes of any type of meditation. gradually add time as you continue to practice.
I hope this article proves helpful as you journey into the amazing world of meditation! As always Love and Light