meditation with Vissuddimargga
Topic: meditation

A New Meditation   by Huntly Reid

So, being a thoroughly modern person you have decided that you want to find a meditation and you are thinking of starting your search on the Internet.

Well you are in for a big surprise. Key in the word 'meditation' or 'yoga' and you are going to be overwhelmed by a multiplicity of choice. Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, The Kabbalah, Tibetan Buddhism, Kundalini Yoga, Krishnamurti's Choiceless Awareness, Zen, Vippasana meditation, the Ramana Maharshi meditation or perhaps Sahaja Yoga. There are many more.

Well help is at hand. Daniel Goleman has written a book called "The Meditative Mind in which he classifies all the different meditations in terms of the Vissudhimagga that was taught by the Lord Buddha. The Vissushimagga means the path of purification. There are two basic types of meditation: the path of concentration and the path of insight.

Thoughts enter your mind in a random manner. There is no pattern to their entry. The path of concentration has you direct the flow of your thoughts, fixing them onto the object chosen for the meditation. By forcing your wandering thoughts back on to the object your mind will eventually become absorbed in it and your awareness will experience a feeling of oneness with it. This is called the "point of entry."

The start of insight meditation is the practice of mindfulness. You are required to pay attention to your thoughts and senses as they arise and to merely register or note your observation of the thought or sense impression without further comment, reflection or judgement. You simply pay attention to what is happening in and to you. In the beginning as in the path of concentration your mind will wander until you reach the point of bare insight where your mind develops the ability to observe all that is registering in your mind without the interference of wandering thoughts. With the achievement of bare insight you realise that your awareness is different from the object of your awareness.

Once you have reached the point of entry or of bare insight you then continue to achieve higher and higher levels of awareness until eventually you reach the highest state possible, which is variously called Nirvana, Nirodh, Moksha and various other names. This state indicates that you have achieved the point whereby you have acquired total self-knowledge and are freed from the perpetual cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

What actually happens here is that your kundalini awakens and rises up the central subtle spiritual channel called the Sushumna. The kundalini is the dormant spiritual power within each one of us, which resides in our pelvic bone. The disadvantage with either of the two paths of the Vissuddimagga is that normally it takes a very long time to get your self-realisation. More than one lifetime is not unusual. Remember that the Vissuddimagga means the 'Path of Purification'. This refers to the fact that in addition to meditation the seeker has to purify his spiritual centres called chakras one by one. This is why the Indian yogis go to the Himalayan Mountains or the forests. They isolate themselves in order to concentrate on their spirit and not be interrupted by mundane life.

In the modern world it is well nigh impossible for the ordinary seeker to achieve their self-realisation using the paths of the Vissuddhimagga. There has however been a change in the firmament and it is now possible to achieve your self-realisation through taking to Sahaja Yoga. As impossible as it seems you can now get your self-realisation simply by asking for it. Any Sahaja yogi can give self-realisation. It is like one candle lighting another. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi developed Sahaja Yoga. She is a very high spiritual personality and can be described as a messenger from God.

With the Vissuddimagga you have to be spiritually perfect before you can get your self-realisation. With the Sahaja Yoga you are not perfect but you can work on trying to become spiritually perfect. The point is that your kundalini does the work for you. All that you have to do is to introspect on your self during meditation. What's wrong with me? The path of Sahaja Yoga is a much faster and easier method of achieving spiritual perfection than the two Vissuddimagga paths. It's like putting the roof on the house first and then building up the walls and windows etc rather than the conventional way around.

The methods used by the Vissuddimargga meditation work by trying to subdue the mind. Sahaja Yoga says that instead of trying to subdue or control the mind, which is almost impossible anyway, why not ignore it and simply go beyond it. The Sahaja Yoga meditation is described as thoughtless awareness. Normally it is virtually impossible to do this but in Sahaja Yoga your kundalini simply takes you straight into thoughtless awareness.

In their book 'From Here to Nirvana' Anne Cushman and Jerry Jones say that there are five types of yoga: Jhana, Bhakti, Karma, Raja and Hatha. Ramana Maharshi was a Jnana yogi who taught that thinking the thought 'Who am I' would eventually lead to self-realisation. This is the mind being used to distinguish between the real and the unreal. Bhakti yoga is the path of love, devotion, and worship. Karma yoga is the path of selfless service. The Karma yogi does not renounce the world but rather seeks to serve humanity in a detached, egoless manner. This leads to self-realisation. Raja yoga is the path taught by the saint Patanjali around the second and third centuries AD. It is a systematic eight-fold path, which works through the quietening of the mind. Raja yoga includes a moral code, positive breath control and a meditation akin to the ' path of concentration' talked about above. Hatha yoga is the classic 'exercise' yoga well known to people in the west. Raja and Hatha yoga are usually associated together. Sahaja Yoga includes elements of all the different types of yoga except Hatha Yoga.

References. (1) From Here to Nirvana. 1998. Anne Cushman and Jerry Jones. Rider Books, London. ISBN 0712670610.

(2) Meditative Mind. 1996. Daniel Goleman Harper Collins Publishers, London. ISBN 07225 347 2

About the Author

Huntly Reid is an experienced Sahaja Yoga practitoner.

The basics of Aromatherapy
Topic: Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy 101
Written by Dustin Cannon

 

Aromatherapy is an increasingly accepted form of healing the
body and mind through pure essential oils. Scoffed on as
recently as a decade ago, aromatherapy is now used in many
parts of the globe. The essential oils used in aromatherapy are
products of volatile plant essences and their derivative
aromatic molecules. The most common method that aromatherapy
uses to capture these essential oils is steam distillation.

Essential oils, in contrast to the more common cooking oils
such as vegetable oil, are very concentrated. If someone were
to apply an essential oil to their skin she or he would have to
first dilute it.

Aromatherapy uses these pure essential oils to affect the
body’s parasympathetic nervous system through its limbic
system. Another positive side effect of this aromatherapy
essential oil procedure is to fight bacteria.

Because essential oil distillation using steam, other methods
are hydrodistillation, cold press, carbon dioxide conversion
and through the use of phytols or florasols. 

Hydrodistillation, similar to steam distillation of essential
oils, simply uses water instead of steam for its aromatherapy
production. The steam, once distilled, is chilled in a
dispenser especially made for this aromatherapy process.
Essential oils rise to the top of the mixture during this
distillation process. The first form of aromatherapy essential
oil processing, hydrodistillation requires a watchful eye all
through its production. The still must not run dry and the
contents must not overheat. The result of either mistake would
be useless essential oils.

In the third aromatherapy production method carbon dioxide gets
converted to liquid from its initial gaseous state. This is
accomplished by subjecting it to high pressure. The resulting
liquid solvent is inert and very safe. Aroma molecules of
essential oils are extracted when the carbon dioxide is
liquefied. The most advantageous form of aromatherapy
processing, the carbon dioxide method uses all the solvent,
leaving no residue behind. The remaining carbon dioxide simply
evaporates once it is returned to normal pressure and
temperatures. Rose Hip, Calendula and several other aromatics
can only be created through the aromatherapy carbon dioxide
method. These are among the strongest and richest of aromas
developed for aromatherapy.

The aromatherapy cold press method produces essential oils that
are more vibrant that those given off during steam distillation.
Orange oil spray is one of the well known byproducts of cold
press aromatherapy production. Orange oil is released by
scoring or zesting the skin of the fruit.

The latest essential oil processing method is the use of a
benign gas solvent in phytols and florasols. In 1986 Dr. Peter
Wilde found that these plant materials gave off solvents that
could extract aromatic essential oils. The method he founded
was the lowering of the temperatures of florasols. The result
was a clear and free flowing oil that was free of any wax.


About The Author: Dustin is owner of http://JustArticlesVIP.com
and writes on a variety of subjects. To learn more about this
topic Dustin recommends you visit:
http://www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/

Some basic herbal teas you can use for remedies
Topic: Herbal

 

 Make Herbal Teas To Treat What Ails You
Written by Lee Dobbins

The Chinese have used tea for medicinal purposes for centuries and you've probably seen the rows of herbal tea's on your supermarket shelves but did you know that you can make your own herbal tea that not only taste good but can also be used as remedies for common ailments?

Making your own tea is pretty easy you simply choose an herb herb mixture that you want to use and chop them up very fine. Use about 2 teaspoons of the herb mixture for a couple of boiling water. you can pour the water right onto the herbs or you can put the herbs in a tea strainer or some kind of a bag so that you won't have all kinds of debris floating around in your tea. Let the herbs infuse into the hot water for five minutes and you're good to go!

Here's some great herbal tea remedies that you can make at home:

Peppermint - If you have digestive problems or are worried about bad breath and a peppermint tea might work wonders. Use three or four peppermint leaves and 1 cup of tea.

Parsley - if you are retaining fluids then you might want to make a parsley tea since Parsley is a natural diuretic and is also full of vital minerals.

Thyme - if you have a cold with lots of congestion you might want to sit on the tea made of thyme. Just pull a few leaves off and infuse your water. Add ginger if you also have a sore throat.

Ginger - Ginger has powerful medicinal properties and can work wonders on lots of ailments and can be particularly helpful in soothing sore throats. To make a tea you want to use fresh ginger root, peel it and cut off three or four slices to infuse in your water.

Valerian - If you are having a hard time sleeping a feel anxious time making a tea out of valerian leaves. Another tea that can help calm you is chamomile.

Feverfew - Got a fever? This herb is aptly named as he can help reduce fever, just add a couple small leaves into your tea and sip.

Most any herb can be made into a tea and taken for medicinal purposes. When choosing herbs be sure to choose organic herbs that are free from pesticides and other toxins. It's not a bad idea to grow your own herbs in a window sill container or in your garden and that way you'll have fresh organic herbs ready anytime you need to make an herbal tea infusion.

Lee Dobbins writes for http://tea.topicgiant.com where you can learn more about how you can benefit from drinking tea.

Meditation- Best Way To Relieve Stress
Topic: meditation
One of the best ways to naturally relieve your stress is
meditation. One of the beneficial techniques, in meditation is
learning how to breathe correctly. It can produce feelings of
relaxation and peace by helping to calm your mind and many
other physical benefits to your health.

Meditation is usually thought of with religious and spiritual
connotations but doesn’t have to be. It is a natural way to
disperse anxiety and stress from your mind and body. You do not
have to be Hindu or Buddhist on a spiritual quest, you just need
the desire to reduce stress and achieve a more calm state of
mind and body.

The goal is to reach a state of balance with your body, mind
and spirit. First off you should find a nice, quiet place all
to yourself. Get yourself comfortable, there are no rules for
physical positioning in meditation but the lotus position is
the most popular. The lotus position is just sitting relaxed
with your legs crossed, your spine straight. Keeping your back
straight is very important, it improves circulation and lets
you take in deeper breathes which is also very important in
achieving relaxation and a major part of meditation.

When you have found that nice, quiet place and are seated
comfortably it is time to start your relaxation and calming
breathing therapy. You can choose to be quiet or sing or hum as
long as your mind is clear of all the outside stimuli.

To achieve a calm and relaxed state you must have all the parts
of your body, even if you must do it mentally one by one, relax
as you take in slow, deep breaths. These breaths are called
cleansing breaths, they cleanse the body with oxygen and help
you to clear your thoughts and mind. After that breathe
normally, holding all exhales while counting to eight, and
inhales to the count of four. This will keep your mind occupied
and clear of other intruding thoughts.

You can use meditation as often as you like unlike chemical and
synthetic medications there are no side effects to worry about.
Your mind and body can even benefit with just a minute or two
of meditation, but 20-30 minutes or so is recommended and the
popular allotment of time to achieve long lasting results for
your health.

Meditation has been proven in studies to aid in reducing heart
rate, blood pressure and producing positive brain waves. It is
an all natural technique to relieve stress as opposed to
medication that can overall cause damage to your body in the
long run.

Mediation is even used commonly in many hospitals to reduce
stress of terminally ill patients or those with chronic
illness, stress is a contributor to many health related issues.
Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist, in a report that was
later confirmed with brain imaging, that meditation does cause
certain beneficial effects in brain circuitry.

Many studies and much research have confirmed that there is a
direct link between good health and reducing stress. Meditation
and breathing techniques cause changes in your body chemistry,
blood pressure, metabolism and so much more.

You many just want to try what many health care experts and
people like you all ready know, that meditation and proper
breathing techniques are a great way to improve your overall
health and state of mind.


About The Author: James Davis is a staff writer at
http://www.ultimate-relaxation.com and is an occasional
contributor to several other websites, including
http://www.fitness-digest.com.

Spiritual Thoughts and Principles
Topic: Spiritual
Life is not a process of discovery - it's a process of CREATION.
Await nothing; but inspiringly create everything you choose and desire in life. I see God as co-Creator and observer of our lives (like a "sleeping partner"). God does the watching without judgement. We keep waiting for God to tell us, show us, and God keeps waiting for us to show Him/Her/It. We're waiting for the One who waits for us.

Nothing has meaning, except the meaning we give it.
You create your own reality - always go with your own deepest feelings, your deepest truth.

Feelings are the 'language of the soul'. A thing has no purpose in itself. Every purpose for any thing is given to it by you and me.

When you don't know what to do, or what course to take? Just let go and let it be right...
for now that you don't have the answer. Create the space for the answer to occur to you.
We determine our fate by the thoughts we entertain collectively. Our collective consciousness creates a great deal of our individual reality. All the time we are creating.

Jesus believed in the value and worth of every human being and his life showed the world a God of love. He died and rose again, so that we know the truth about him, and hence about us. His act was meant as a demonstration of Who We Really Are: ie. living out who he really was, what he saw as his 'divine purpose' - acting out and living his life mission, what he was called to do and BE with total commitment and integrity...and especially love. Jesus was a divine master, who possessed absolute understanding of the truth - the truth about himself and about God. He wished to share the truth with all the world. Thus he said, "I and the Father are one". We are brothers. We were all made in the image and likeness of God and Jesus kept trying to tell us so...but few people believed him.
We can think we are in a living hell, and then we can change our perception about it...
and the entire perception changes for us.

You are not "supposed" to do anything. Eg. tithing.
You have no purpose, until you assign it one. It's a CHOICE we make. We are waiting for God to show us our purpose, and God is waiting for us to show Him our purpose.
There is only one reason to do anything: to announce and declare, express and experience, fulfill and become Who You Really Are.

All people come to the truth when they are ready. Just watch and wait.

Things can always be made better. The dream never ends and the mission is never truly accomplished (Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King). God's dream is that we will all one day be completely realised - to be our "real selves". To achieve happiness, serenity and a feeling of peace about life, when we become detached from results.

Just do and more importantly, BE.

"Be the very best person YOU can be with "loads of" FUN along the journey of life.

"When I let go of who (and what) I think I am, then I become all that I am capable of being. Enjoy just being YOU, as you ride the rapids, er sorry, water-falls of life."
- Craig Lock ("Incorrigible Encourager, Information and Inspiration Distributor")
http://www.craiglockbooks.com
http://www2.webng.com/writernz/

Teaching our children morals and ethics.
Topic: Inspiration
Humbleness: Should It Be Humiliating?
Copyright (c) 2007 Siobhan Gamble
Successful Office
http://www.SuccessfulOffice.com



In this day and time, it almost seems as if kindness, politeness,
consideration, and most of the lessons we were taught as children
were tossed out of the window one day and replaced with a new set
of rules. Could it simply be that children these days are born
with a defect, lacking self-control? Or are they just not being
taught the way they should be taught; parents blaming modern day
hardships and circumstances? It is true that the children being
raised today will determine the shape of our future, but in the
meantime, whose example are they following?

With so many religions and spiritual practices existing today,
along with false truths and skepticism pertaining to their books
of practice, it may be hard for a person to decide which religion
they want to follow. Some people choose to remain neutral,
feeling that it is a much safer approach to worship a higher
being privately. It doesn't matter what religion one chooses to
follow, humbleness is one of the most important qualities that we
as human beings should not fail to practice. Most people who
initially hear the word "humble" think of things such a good
nature, modesty, and surprisingly to some, it may even sound
threatening. The Farlex dictionary had several definitions;
let's examine:

hum·ble

Adj. hum·bler, hum·blest

1. Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude, or
spirit; not arrogant or prideful.

2. Showing deferential or submissive respect

3. Low in rank, quality, or station; unpretentious or lowly As it
is seen, being humble requires a person to "destroy their ego"
amongst other behaviors that the term seems to disqualify.

Jumping back to the vast population of people who have seemed to
abandon morals; this would seem to be a major task since morals
play a huge part in humbleness. Some people may argue that being
humble is a sign of weakness. As the American Heritage Dictionary
source states: "lack of vanity or self-importance". Vanity as
defined by the same source: "excessive pride in one's
appearance or accomplishments". A few questions are now posed;
does humbleness require a level of insecurity? And, can one be
humble and still be secure in the fact?

It would seem that a truly humble person would not have to deal
with insecurities in terms of people "finding out". It should
be something to pride instead of being ashamed of. If this were
the case, a person would be expressing both humility and pride.
In terms of people needing to be insecure as a person in order to
be recognized as humble is nothing more than ignorance and
insecurity in itself.

It is clear to see that the English language is poor at
expressing these concepts. Hypocrites are perfect examples of
insecure people needing to boost themselves up to be humble,
using their attempts towards humbleness to position themselves
above others who they observe to be less humble. If they were
truly humble, none of this would be necessary. Being humble
includes not being judgmental of anyone and also accepting that
what you feel may not necessarily be correct.  Taking the time to
consider someone else's views create a modest balance.  Is it
true that being humble can lead one into becoming abused and
controlled?

It does require submission and the ability to turn the other
cheek on a situation, but it should not be looked upon in such
light. Some women associate this word with being submissive to
their husbands. There have even been situations in churches where
this word would cause more conflict than good. To my knowledge,
many simply define being humble as allowing oneself to be
humiliated. Considering the number of people, particularly young
teens and adults who feel this way, it is not hard to see why the
world is the way it is. A lot of it has to do with fear. It is
amazing how aggression is the complete opposite of humbleness,
yet so much easier to adapt to.

In conclusion to such a controvert question, it feels safe to
state the act of true humbleness must be determined by oneself;
otherwise it could possibly be considered as being judgmental.
The most essential part of the discussion is the example some
parents are setting for their children. The kind of people they
grow up to become determine what kind of world we have to look
forward to. 
 
 
 

Written by: Siobhan Gamble. http://www.SuccessfulOffice.com is a
new kind of virtual office assistant, providing a full-range of
office services to home businesses and global conglomerates.
Their friendly staff provides an address for your business,
exclusive fax, local or toll-free 1-800 numbers, and other
essential special need services. Their call center will dedicate
a team of service professionals to answer your calls, your way,
to provide a consistent voice to your business. They are even
capable of providing a full-service sales team to your business.

Ways to inspire the adult.
Topic: Inspiration

 

 Keeping inspired as you get older   by Sahayak Plowman

For those realising that they are getting older, and this is normally around the late 40's be careful that this awareness does not restrict your outlook or activities. We have to be reminded that the natural lethargy of the body will now try to dictate your life choices. The mental conclusion that you are getting older can actually accelerate the ageing process.

"A young heart is a young mind", undoubtedly you have all heard this before. Lets look at this a bit closer. A young heart refers not to any physical age but to a state of inner aspiration, that part of yourself that inspires you to dream, motivates you, giving you determination and energy.

There are many 'young' people who become old before the natural years because of their uninspired, negative or unwilling nature, likewise there are many 'older' folk who have the enthusiasm, eagerness and willingness of someone half their age. Which would you rather be?

So how can you keep your hearts young? The moment you think that you are getting old you set up an inner chain reaction that destroys your inspiration, aspiration, joy and enthusiasm. Then your capacity to motivate yourself is greatly reduced. This thought process is from the limited, doubting or negative aspect of the mind.

So what can you learn from this? Keep motivated; look for new activities or challenges to remain inspired this shall keep you fulfilled and happy and young in heart. One of the ways to maintain this youthful and energised outlook is to look at each moment as a fresh experience, one that we can learn from. An experience that affords you an opportunity for personal growth, achievement and personal self-transcendence. This transcendence is not about competing with others, it is a matter of challenging your own achievements. If yesterday you walked for half an hour, then today walk for three quarters of an hour, then tomorrow walk for one hour.

This self-transcendence shall bring inner fulfilment, happiness and a sense of achievement keeping you young at heart. Sri Chinmoy the Indian meditation teacher says

" Do not think that what you did at the age of twenty is infinitely more important than what you are doing at the age of sixty. When you were twenty years old, God experienced Himself in and through you as a great student. Then He experienced Himself as a budding professor. When you turned forty, God experienced something totally different in and through you. At the age of sixty, He is experiencing something else again". (1)

So as you can see it is your mental attitude that in so many ways determines the ageing process. If you keep fit by eating correctly then walking, running, cycling or weight training will improve your cardio vascular system. Keep inspired through creative activities whether it is painting, drawing, photography, sewing or writing. Find a group of like-minded people who keep you inspired and energised. Learn how to meditate so you can be distant from the doubts, fears and negative qualities of your mind, meditation shall also help you identify with the source of your deeper inner peacefulness, the soul.

Whatever age you may be don't dwell on that, think that you are eternally young, ready to accept and overcome life's challenges. Don't recall past mistakes or disappointments always look ahead with openness and enthusiasm. Because of your physical years you have accumulated a lot of wisdom look for ways to share this with the younger generation. Being around them shall keep you youthful.

Each phase of your life is equally important, it is like a beautiful flower is blooming, each stage offers something new, something of value, something to be appreciated by others. Always keep in your heart and away from the confusion of the mind you shall live a long happy, fulfilled and content life.

Ref: (1) From Sri Chinmoy Library, "as I am getting older..."

http://www.srichinmoylibrary.com/sri-chinmoy-answers/part21/4.html

About the Author

Biography - Sahayak Plowman by nature is a positive and happy person. He attributes this to the growing experiences gained through his own meditation practice with the guidance given by his meditation teacher, Sri Chinmoy. He is a writer on spiritual topics, also the compiler of a published book of poetry and the web master for http://www.srichinmoybooks.com/

Are DVD's on Pilates & Yoga worth the purchase?

Written by  Foras Aje

 

Truthfully it depends on what one hopes to get out of both
related forms of exercise. It will be safe to say it will be
an excellent choice if the goal here is more of physical
improvement versus spiritual enlightenment.

After browsing through amazon's site, in regards to using a
DVD or video on yoga and pilates, there honestly are several
choices one could pick from.

However, let's see how both physical cultures differ and how
they could be combined.

1. Yoga: The word yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the
language of ancient India where yoga originated. We can
think of the union occurring between mind, body and spirit.

Many people think that yoga is stretching. But while
stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about
creating balance in the body through developing both
strength and flexibility.

2. Pilates: Practiced faithfully, Pilates yields numerous
benefits. Increased lung capacity and circulation through
deep, healthy breathing is a primary focus. Strength and
flexibility, particularly of the abdomen and back muscles,
coordination-both muscular and mental, are key components in
an effective Pilates program.

Well, arguably, since Pilates is a derivative of the
afore-mentioned Yoga, just for the physical aspect of
things, if using DVD's on Pilates & Yoga (at least to have a
visual representation of the exercises) could help to master
the art of both, then they definitely should be worth
looking into.

This author did get his appetite whetted via such forms of
educational media so, yes, DVD's on Pilates & Yoga can be
useful-as long as you remember to not just stop with those
options only though.

Your own practice, research online and in books will
definitely not hurt and could possibly help immensely with
learning these exercises through DVD's on Pilates & Yoga.

Take Care Friends.

Aje

Foras Aje is an independent researcher and co-founder of
BodyHealthSoul LLC.
He invites you to visit his site which features the latest
health news, weblogs and videos on healthy living at
http://www.bodyhealthsoul.com

A How To Do Meditation For Relaxing Article

Meditation- Best Way To Relieve Stress
Written by James Davis

One of the best ways to naturally relieve your stress is
meditation. One of the beneficial techniques, in meditation is
learning how to breathe correctly. It can produce feelings of
relaxation and peace by helping to calm your mind and many
other physical benefits to your health.

Meditation is usually thought of with religious and spiritual
connotations but doesn’t have to be. It is a natural way to
disperse anxiety and stress from your mind and body. You do not
have to be Hindu or Buddhist on a spiritual quest, you just need
the desire to reduce stress and achieve a more calm state of
mind and body.

The goal is to reach a state of balance with your body, mind
and spirit. First off you should find a nice, quiet place all
to yourself. Get yourself comfortable, there are no rules for
physical positioning in meditation but the lotus position is
the most popular. The lotus position is just sitting relaxed
with your legs crossed, your spine straight. Keeping your back
straight is very important, it improves circulation and lets
you take in deeper breathes which is also very important in
achieving relaxation and a major part of meditation.

When you have found that nice, quiet place and are seated
comfortably it is time to start your relaxation and calming
breathing therapy. You can choose to be quiet or sing or hum as
long as your mind is clear of all the outside stimuli.

To achieve a calm and relaxed state you must have all the parts
of your body, even if you must do it mentally one by one, relax
as you take in slow, deep breaths. These breaths are called
cleansing breaths, they cleanse the body with oxygen and help
you to clear your thoughts and mind. After that breathe
normally, holding all exhales while counting to eight, and
inhales to the count of four. This will keep your mind occupied
and clear of other intruding thoughts.

You can use meditation as often as you like unlike chemical and
synthetic medications there are no side effects to worry about.
Your mind and body can even benefit with just a minute or two
of meditation, but 20-30 minutes or so is recommended and the
popular allotment of time to achieve long lasting results for
your health.

Meditation has been proven in studies to aid in reducing heart
rate, blood pressure and producing positive brain waves. It is
an all natural technique to relieve stress as opposed to
medication that can overall cause damage to your body in the
long run.

Mediation is even used commonly in many hospitals to reduce
stress of terminally ill patients or those with chronic
illness, stress is a contributor to many health related issues.
Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist, in a report that was
later confirmed with brain imaging, that meditation does cause
certain beneficial effects in brain circuitry.

Many studies and much research have confirmed that there is a
direct link between good health and reducing stress. Meditation
and breathing techniques cause changes in your body chemistry,
blood pressure, metabolism and so much more.

You many just want to try what many health care experts and
people like you all ready know, that meditation and proper
breathing techniques are a great way to improve your overall
health and state of mind.


About The Author: James Davis is a staff writer at
http://www.ultimate-relaxation.com and is an occasional
contributor to several other websites, including
http://www.fitness-digest.com.