WHAT IS MEDITATION

So what is meditation? Well most simply put it is sitting and relaxing. So many people these days are finding that their lives are so full of the demands of work, family, friends, and organized leisure activates that they have no time to just ‘stand and stare’. They are so caught up in planning and working towards their future that they take little pleasure from the here and now. In their rush they miss out on the simple pleasures of life: the changing seasons, birds singing.

Beauty and joy can be experienced in the most industrial of landscapes or the most difficult living situations. Meditation is a good way of taking time out and allowing yourself to tune into and appreciate the moment, whether you are on the seashore, in the park, in the country, or just sitting and enjoying the intensity of silence in a still room.

Meditation can take as little or as much time as you have (you can always spare 10 minutes). You do not need to adopt any strained position for meditation, just relax – sit in a chair or stroll through your favourite landscape at a steady pace. It is wiser not to slump in a chair or lie down when learning to meditate as this could lull you into sleep. When sitting in a chair it is best to have your feet flat on the floor, hands resting in your lap, and your head comfortably balanced. If walking take slow, careful steps, be aware of the movement of each step, and the contact with the ground.

Above all, meditation is about the moment, about being in touch with your surroundings and your inner self, it is a good way to gain deep relaxation, to de-stress yourself, and to promote spiritual awareness if you desire. Simply meditating on a regular basis can be beneficial, but using words, as a mantra, or images while practising can promote a marked improvement in your general well-being or in a specific area of your life. It can also help you gain confidence in yourself.

The benefits of meditation come from regular use. If you are under a lot of stress, you may find that meditating a couple of times a day will restore your composure and reduce irritability. It is best to allow between 10 and 30 minutes for each session.

A potent physical and psychological therapy, meditation can be as strong as a commercial drug in helping the body and mind to keep illness and depression at bay. Practised regularly, it can promote a continued state of good health.

When coming out of your meditation, however brief, you should notice a change in your emotional state from when you started. This can present itself in many ways; you might have the sensation of being refreshed or a more positive attitude and a general feeling of well-being. Situations and or people that had been irritating and worrisome before may now be seen in a new and more positive light.

When we are truly relaxed there are changes in the brainwave pattern, and we can fall into the alpha state, within this state, the brain triggers a chemical called endorphins, and it is these substances that produce the feelings of well-being, and this can continue for some time after the meditation. The length of time will vary from one person to another. There is also a very real physical benefit: since these same endorphins also boost the immune system, so helping the body fight infection and disease.

If you are sitting to meditate, first make sure that you will not be disturbed, unplug the phone, put a do not disturb sign on the door, then set the scene, light some candles, play quiet music to help still the mind, as the mind will always want to be in control, if you have difficulty with stilling the mind then try focusing on your breathing, count your in breath, then count the out breath, and notice any changes in the breathing pattern. You can buy many good meditation c.ds. these days even visualisation ones, to aid you in your quest for relaxation, and spiritual awareness. And always remember practice makes perfect, so learn to meditate every day at least once, you can always find the time if you so wish to.