The Benefits of Meditation Techniques From a Meditation CD

Guided Meditation Techniques Are Gaining Popularity

As guided meditation techniques became popular in the West, beginning in the late 1960s and early 1970s, advocates introduced many different approaches on how to meditate and, unfortunately, spread a lot of misinformation about meditation. As a health and personal development coach I talk to many people each day, some who have been meditating off and on for many years. While many have benefited from practicing traditional and guided meditation techniques, others, regrettably, have very little to show for it.

The mishmash of beliefs and misconceptions about how to meditate, what it is, how it works - and, particularly, how to know when you are doing it properly - is amazing. As a result, many are uncertain about whether they're meditating properly, what results to expect, and how quickly these results should appear. This uncertainty leads many to quit their practice with little or no result.

The idea behind meditation is really very simple. Doing it well, however, can be difficult, and mastering it may take many years. To learn how to meditate, you simply pay attention to a chosen point of focus - a mantra, a holy word, a prayer, the breath, or whatever - and whenever you realize you've been distracted (which can be often), you refocus.

The Real Benefits of Traditional and Guided Meditation Techniques

Few scientists today dispute the benefits of meditation techniques. Respected institutions, such as the Harvard University Medical School and the Menninger Clinic, offer programs of meditation for their patients.

But many people, even with expert guidance, end up quitting, because meditation is hard to master, and results come slowly. Particularly in the first several years, the mind provides almost continuous distraction, and the meditator must continually focus and refocus the mind. This continuous need to refocus makes meditation difficult and often frustrating work, especially for Westerners who are used to instant results.

Can a Meditation CD Help Me Learn How To Meditate?

By practicing meditation techniques with a meditation CD you can help to keep things very simple. You do not have to learn how to meditate to focus your mind because the technology creates the same effect in the brain as focusing without your conscious effort. In fact, using some meditation CDs actually creates a greater effect than does traditional or even guided meditation, leading to much faster results.

With a good meditation CD, meditation is also more precise and more consistent. It does away with the preliminary mastering of a technique (which can take decades) and moves you directly to real changes in your life.

After several years of personal experience and much study I've found that that you can reach success far more quickly using meditation techniques from CDs. This is not to denigrate traditional meditation, which I practiced for many years prior to my use of meditation CDs, and for which I have great respect. But the results speak for themselves, and results are what most people are interested in.

If you're experienced with traditional meditation techniques, you will find that using a meditation CD program allows you to meditate more deeply and create much greater positive change. And, if you've never attempted meditation because you didn't think you had the time or talent to devote to it, you may discover how easily you can fit these meditation techniques into your life.

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Yoga For Beginners - Improve Your Mind, Body and Spirit

Yoga for beginners is for everyone all ages, shapes and sizes. You first start out in Yoga as a novice and progress upwards until you are a master in the art.

In my opinion I call it an art as Yoga for beginners is about a combination of exercise combined with meditation and therefore it is much more than just running on a treadmill or lifting some weights. In fact the exercises associated with Yoga are not in the modern sense traditional, you don't need to go down the gym but I would advise those of you newbies to go to a qualified instructor to start with. Exercises involve postures and balance plus controlled breathing as opposed to strength and speed or aerobic type training in other disciplines.

It is important for me to point out the fact that there are many different types of Yoga out there. They all have the same aim in mind and that is to improve mind, body and spirit. Some emphasize more or less on different on the main areas such as meditation, nutrition or exercise. The most common form in the Western world is Hatha Yoga. This has come about due to the fact it is the most applicable to our western culture and westerners associate more readily with the methods involved.

I would suggest before beginning Yoga you briefly investigate the different varieties and pick the one that most matches in with your lifestyle.

If you don't have a local class you can go to then Yoga for beginners can be learned through instructional DVDs, books and multimedia as well as online. So it is easy to start. You don't really need any equipment. Although a good yoga mat or yoga blanket is recommended. When you are ready to begin find a quiet spot in your house and follow the exercise plan you have decided upon. Can't be easier than that!

Some people prefer relaxing music when practicing their yoga meditation and exercises. Normally yoga is done without shoes or socks on but there are special socks you can buy that don't slip if you prefer. All forms of Yoga give benefits to health. They combine the elements of exercise through postures, controlled breathing exercises and meditation as previously mentioned but you need to be clear what Yoga is ultimately about. Regular practice is great for strengthening mind and body.

Beginners of Yoga, will find almost immediate benefit when starting and this can very often be seen within the first two weeks or even less. Most people are surprised by the quick results they achieve within such a short time.

Yoga for beginners is like everything else that involves movement of the body. You should always start with a gentle warm up. Stretching gently is also important. Find a place where you won't be disturbed. The length of time required varies and can depend greatly upon the level you are on. I personally use on average around 1/2 hour a day. When you do it is up to you. For me the best time is first thing in the morning but this is not always possible in the week so after work is my usual time.

To get the most out of Yoga it should become part of your lifestyle. Many beginners in Yoga find it helps them to unwind and relax. They find it invigorating and calming. It also improves their body's suppleness and muscular tonality.

There is yoga for kids, yoga for pregnant women so it really is practically for everyone. If your aims are to lower your stress and have more energy, improve your body strength and much more then I would urge you to contemplate Yoga for beginners is where you should kick off.

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Significance of Meditation Music

In most cases, when you think about meditation, you think about the music that is supposed to go with it. However, to understand the significance of meditative music during the process of meditation, it is essential that you understand what the term meditation music actually means. This refers to a type of music that will help you achieve maximum human emotion. With this music, you are expected to relax, be at peace and be calm. It is essential to note that regardless of the emotion brought out by this music, it is supposed to help you relax and stay calm. In this regard, it is noted that this music meditation helps you to relax during your meditation.
It is also essential to note that some meditative music is meditative in itself, for example, soft jazz. On other words, by listening to the music, you start the process of meditation, even if you are not engaging in other things like chanting. This type of music, therefore, helps you to meditate faster and naturally. To start your meditation, all you have to do is put in a cd, and it will help you calm down.

The process of meditation is in certain instances hard to achieve. However, music makes this process easier. Research has established that music affects concentration and alertness among other things. Therefore, this type of music will help you to concentrate on your meditation, but also help you stay alert at the same time. It is extremely difficult to meditate without music, because you will always be affected by environmental factors and noises. It is only when you start the music that all the noise in the environment will fade away, and you will be left to concentrate on all the emotions that you are feeling.

Research has also shown that music can affect the body directly. So, when you listen to certain music; you will feel the need to move your body in a certain manner. It has also been said that the vibration in some songs can bring your body to align with the vibrations in the universe through dancing. By dancing, you will feel certain emotions, for example joy, peace and sadness among others. Therefore, the act of dancing will help you to realize the state of meditation faster.

From the above, it is noted that meditation music is essential for the process of meditation. However, for the music to actually work, you need to select the right music. There are a lot of criteria that is involved in the selection of this composition, but all that really matters is what you want. The selection of a musical composition is always affected by personal choice and preference. In addition to personal choice, your selection should also have regard to the emotions that the music will bring out and if it is capable of affecting your soul, body and mind.

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Yoga Nidra - Discover the Secrets of an Ancient Tantra Technique For Greater Success and Joy in Life

What is Yoga Nidra? What are the benefits that it offers on physical, emotional and spiritual health? Who should practice Yoga Nidra and Why? Discover the expert answers to all these questions in this article.

Yoga Nidra is an ancient tantra meditation technique. In the simplest terms, it means a sleep - that is conscious and full of awareness! It is a sleep in which we do not loose our consciousness. Due to this unique feature of Yoga Nidra, the practitioner experiences a much greater physiological rejuvenation and relaxation as compared to normal sleep.

Each human being is a vast storehouse of immense potentialities. But, unfortunately the majority of us do not know how to unlock this hidden treasure lying dormant within us. Yoga Nidra is an effective technique to achieve this and harness the power of our consciousness.

Its practice helps to overcome the negativities lying within us. It also helps to cure stress related disorders such as depression, hypertension, digestive problems, asthma, etc.

Yoga Nidra is not only helpful in bringing us out of these negative health conditions, but it is also very effective in opening up new capacities of our mind. It gives us the power to understand our mind and come out of our deep rooted conditionings - that are a big cause of the miseries and sufferings in our life.

In general sleep that we are accustomed to, we do not unburden ourselves totally. Why? This is because we carry our day to day tensions, frustrations, anxiety, pain and turmoil into our sleep also. This results in a shallow sleep and we are not fully refreshed and rejuvenated when we wake up in the morning.

The practice of Yoga Nidra helps us to enter into sleep consciously and keep aside all these mental burdens and tensions. In this way, we get deep sleep and also get rid of old unwanted habits and patterns of our life. In other words, we are born anew!

Due to the deep healing effects of Yoga Nidra and its ability to penetrate the subconscious levels of our mind, it holds great potential to cure deep rooted illnesses and bring out the creative genius hidden within each one of us.

Through its regular practice, we can channelize the power of our subconscious mind and bring about desired changes in our life. The subconscious mind is among the most powerful forces that exist in our human body. We can harness its potential to reshape our personality and bring about greater positivity and success in our life.

Yog Nidra also helps to release off all types of tensions such as muscular, mental and emotional tensions. It makes us healthy and brings greater joy and blissfulness in life.

Yoga Nidra can be practiced by people of all age groups - from young children to aged people. Every individual can enjoy its amazing benefits. It sharpens the concentration levels, so it is very beneficial for students. It fosters good health and improves longevity, so it is beneficial for young and old people alike.

Yoga Nidra is best practiced by following a guided meditation CD. One just needs to lie down dormantly and follow the instructions given by the Yoga Nidra Instructor.

Although its amazing results and benefits can be experienced right after the first session, a few days of regular practice brings about wonderful results and the desired changes in our personality. No wonder, we can shape our future the way we want to - by the practice of Yoga Nidra!

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How to Meditate For Beginners in a Relaxing Manner

Meditation provides many benefits if done properly. How to meditate for beginners in a relaxing manner? This question requires sufficient explanation. The key to success for beginners lies in the adherence to the rules of meditation so that there is something that stimulates the body and provides a nice feeling. Meditation can be completed by doing simple steps. Once the beginners complete meditation, it helps them unwind and be more positive in the surrounding environmental conditions. The success of medication will bring a sense of relief and satisfaction in the body of the person doing it.

The rule number one is to locate a secluded and hushed environment that will help you complete the simple steps of meditation. No external disturbances should be allowed during the meditation process. The Individual should concentrate and focus on meditation without paying attention to external disturbances. This will lead to a satisfying feeling.

Rule number two is to focus on your body parts and try to relax them. This should start with the feet and then spread to other parts of the body. Once the body is relaxed, start with pranayam, the slow breathing exercise. This meditation technique will provide spiritual power and enhance the body forces for your well-being.

Rule number three is to try out pratyahara, the meditation technique that pulls you apart from the worldly distractions and helps you be a silent observer of every thought of your soul and mind. This is done in a neutral way and you should not try to prevent the flow of thoughts in your body. It should be allowed to flow normally.

Rule number four is related to the benefits of doing meditation on a daily basis. The beginners should follow a meditation routine. There should be an attempt to do meditation twice a day. Certain meditation related objects or candle should be used for concentration enhancement. This object should be located 30 cm away from the place where you are meditating. You should gaze at the object, and then relax. This will ultimately help in concentration improvement.

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Why Yoga Exercises Are Different From Other Forms Of Exercise

If you are thinking of taking up a form of exercise with the aim of making yourself look and feel much better you should give very serious thought to yoga exercises.

Yoga works holistically on the body and mind and so its positive effects can be seen in many different aspects - on our bodies, their health and how they look, and also on our minds - in how we view the world.

So how do yoga exercises differ from other forms of exercise?

Yoga exercises, also known as asanas or postures, are applied to the entire anatomy of the living body. On the other hand,
many other exercise regimes are a form of engineering applied to the muscles of the body. This means that yoga exercises are concerned with more than just the superficial development of muscles. The postures used in yoga exercises tend to normalize the functions of the entire organism.

The advantage of yoga exercises is that they can regulate the involuntary processes of respiration and help the circulation, digestion, elimination, metabolism etc. The yoga exercises also work to affect the working of all the glands and organs, as well as the nervous system and the mind. This result is achieved by doing deep breathing while the body is placed in various postures. Each of these yoga exercises creates a different totality in the functional relationship within the organism.

Hence, yoga is able to influence man physically, mentally, morally and spiritually. Yoga emphasizes the philosophy of exercise. Under its training one experiences a sense of awakening. All of one's capacities are heightened, and one achieves balance and stamina through these yoga exercises, some of which are modeled after the movements of various
animals. In yoga exercises, relaxation is taught as an art, breathing as a science, and mental control of the body as a means of harmonizing the body, mind, and spirit.

The advanced stages of yoga require many years of special preparation-practices. Today's mode of living , its tempo and surroundings, mean that this is difficult to achieve. However, practicing yoga exercises and deep breathing and relaxation techniques, with some of the time devoted to concentration and meditation is something
everyone can achieve.

Yoga exercises can have a positive effect on individuals who are suffering from disease or illness. Whilst it is not able to cure these things, practicing yoga can means that obstructions and impurities are removed so that nature can perform its healing work.

So if you are looking for a form of exercise that works positively on the body and mind, and one that is relatively easy to fit into your daily routine then why not take up yoga exercises. The growing popularity of yoga exercises means that you will likely find a yoga center or a gym offering local classes in your area. If, however, you do not have time to attend classes there are many books and dvd's available on yoga exercises, so you can do it at home at a time when it is convenient to you.

Within only a few days of performing yoga exercises it is possible to feel revitalized and stronger. Continued practice of yoga exercises can make us healthier and happier.,

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Free Guided Meditation Techniques For Brain Fitness

For brain fitness, proper exercise, diet and rest are of course essential, but in addition, certain yoga and meditation techniques can be instrumental in helping keep the brain healthy and fit throughout life as well. In this article I will present to you two wonderful meditation techniques which will go a long way in helping your brain stay young and functioning at it's very best.

These meditations have been used over the ages and proven to work for those who practice them regularly. In addition, recent scientific research has also been able to probe brain health and measure brain function, and this research has also shown that meditation can be an excellent tonic for the brain.

Zen Meditation Technique for Brain Excellence:

Meditation is excellent for the brain. As I mentioned above a great deal of research is now being conducted on the positive affects of meditation on brain function and the findings have been rather remarkable. Research has shown meditation to actually increases the thickness of the pre-frontal cortex and also increase blood flow to the brain. In addition, subjects have also recorded great improvement in overall brain function, memory and intelligence.

The 2 meditation techniques often used by these researchers are Zen Meditation Technique and Mantra Meditation Technique. Both these techniques have been widely used for thousands of years in the East and have been known to significantly improve the brain and mind.

A major reason that brain function and health deteriorates with age, is due to the incessant chattering that goes on all the time in our minds. This constant thinking, worrying and dreaming wears out the brain over time, as it is constant friction within. For this reason the state of awareness without thoughts, or a silent brain is an amazing tonic for the brain. Both these techniques help you quiet the brain and help you develop this necessary silence in which the brain can then rejuvenate itself.

In Zen Meditation, you use breath awareness to establish an object for your concentration and remain with the breath as best you can. Here are step by step instructions on how to practice Zen Meditation Technique:

Instructions for Zen Meditation Technique:

* Sit in a comfortable cross legged position. Use a cushion to help you be comfortable as you are going to sit for at least 20 minutes if possible. If you cannot sit cross-legged then sit up on a chair.

* Elongate your spine upwards and bring your chin in slightly, like a soldier at attention.

* Have your eyes half open with an unfocused gaze on the floor in front of you or close them if that helps you concentrate better.

* Bring your hands to your lap and place them in the cosmic mudra. To do this rest your right hand on your lap, then rest your left hand on top of it and have your fingers overlap. Now bring the thumb tips together thus forming an oval frame.

* Once you take this position you should not move at all for the duration of the meditation.

* Now bring you attention to your breath without trying to manipulate it in any way, just become aware of its flow. Spend a few minutes just observing it closely till it starts to become regular and relaxed.

* At this point begin counting your breath. Count an inhalation as one, then the exhalation as 2 and continue to count your breaths until you reach 10. At which point return to 1 with the next inhalation. If at any point you get caught in a mental story line and loose your count, gently, without passing any judgment, return to 1 and start over. That's it, continue for the duration of the meditation.

Zen Meditation Technique is an amazing gift given to us by Lord Buddha. It will profoundly transform you over time and your brain will thank you every time you practice this meditation.

Mantra Meditation Technique

As I mentioned above the other technique often used in the research is Mantra Meditation Technique and one of the best Mantra Meditation Techniques is So Hum Mantra Meditation. This technique uses the So Hum Mantra as the object of concentration and by using it you help silence the brain of thoughts. So Hum literally means "I AM THAT" and is the essence of the teachings of Non-Duality in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Below are the instructions on how to practice So Hum Mantra Meditation Technique:

How to Do So Hum Mantra Meditation Technique:

* Sit in a comfortable cross legged position. Use a cushion to help you be comfortable as you are going to sit for at least 20 minutes if possible. If you cannot sit cross-legged then sit up on a chair.

* Elongate your spine upwards and bring your chin in slightly, like a soldier at attention.

* Place your hands in Gyan Mudra. Which is thumb and index finger lightly meeting, wrists resting gently on the knees and palms facing upward. The other 3 fingers are extended.

* Try to remain as still as possible.

* Next inhale slowly while saying the sound "Sooooo" mentally and then slowly exhale while silently saying the sound "Hummm".

* If thoughts interfere simply acknowledge them and return your attention to the mantra. Continue on for the duration of the meditation, which can again be 20 minutes or more.

The brain works tirelessly for us and it certainly deserves rest and love. So take up one of the meditation techniques explained above and use it help you keep this most important organ healthy and fit for life.

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Yoga Breathing Exercise Fundamentals

One of the most common comments I hear from others within my yoga class and yoga beginners alike is that they find yoga breathing exercises the most beneficial, but also the hardest set of asanas to master.

It's true when many traditional and alternative medicines describe breathing as the very essence of existing. Breathing is one of the primary rhythms we see in life which include sleep awake, birth and death, light and dark.

With this in mind, it's no wonder that significant studies have been done to examine the role breathing has on aspects of our life such as health, emotional well being, relationships and the state of society in general.

In yoga, the breath is known as a rather unifying principle called prana, a wide-reaching energy that can bridge body, mind and spirit together in a harmony that is the basis of yoga and meditation. Yoga breathing exercise then becomes the set of yoga breathing techniques seeking to maximize this universal energy that exists inherently in all of us.

Those who practice yoga believe that this state of harmony is natural and that there are many aspects of life that pull apart our inner harmony. Yoga breathing exercise is one of the basic fundamental techniques we can use to control and even eliminate the impact external forces have on our overall health and well-being.

Take our fight or flight response as one example. The instinctual fight or flight response served our ancestors well, arising infrequently to keep our ancestors out of danger and harm. Today, most of us suffer from an almost chronic, permanent fight or flight response triggering symptoms that lead to digestive problems, high blood pressure, deterioration of the arteries and many other stress-related illnesses.

Yoga breathing exercises tackle this chronic stress response by breaking through the mind-body response and re-focusing us on our natural state of internal harmony.

YOGA BREATHING EXERCISE BASICS

The good news is that we don't have to master yoga breathing exercises to realize the benefits, but it is important that yoga breathing techniques follow a few basic guidelines.

1. Practice Breathing. First and foremost is that we must give ourselves the permission, time and motivation to improve our breathing through exercise. Yoga breathing techniques are proven to help master control over our mind and bodies, but it can only work if you commit to a disciplined program over a period of several months.

2. Understand the Physiology of Breathing. A large part of advanced yoga breathing techniques involves altering the inhale and exhalation speed as well as controlling the depth of breathing exercise. The goal of yoga breathing (pranayama) is to ease the mind and heart, but also increase the oxygenation of the cells within your body - otherwise known as the process of respiration. To master pranayama, your mind pictures the exhalation of toxicity and gas while on inhale, your mind envisions clean, pure oxygen feeding your body.

3. Become Aware of your body as it breathes. Yoga breathing techniques stress the role of your body, your abdomen, your ribs, your thorax and chest as well as your lungs in the yoga breathing process. For example, when you practice deep breathing, the puffing out of the abdomen is a critical indicator that you are taking in enough breath to accomplish adequate oxygenation. Truly mastering pranayama (yoga breathing) is only possible when you become aware of your breathing rhythms in any activity at any time of day.

4. Focus on both inhalation and exhalation. When I first started yoga breathing techniques, I focused almost entirely on the inhalation, making sure I was taking a truly deep breath, without focusing at all on how I was letting the air out of my body. In fact, exhalation is just as important to the success of yoga breathing exercises. Focus on a consistent, controlled release rather than a jerky, uncontrolled release.

The long-term health benefits of yoga breathing exercise are thought to be significant, but I can tell you that the short-term increase in energy, focus, peace and brain power you gain from just a 5-minute yoga breathing technique are incredibly powerful to your overall well being, productivity and happiness.

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Mindful Meditation - 12 Killer Considerations When Choosing a Meditation Cushion Or Meditation Chair

Summary: Mindful Meditation aids. In the following article we give you the definitive but brief guide to all considerations when choosing a Meditation Cushion or Meditation Chair (Meditation Stool). Below you will find 12 killer things you need to be armed with before buying or making a Meditation Chair, Stool or Cushion.

Things to consider:
Purpose of the cushion/chair/stool when used for Mindful Meditation Naming of products/Styles and Varieties of cushion/chair/stool Sizes Colours Fillings Sourcing of product Quality of materials Quality of design Standard of finish Material Source (e.g. Softwood, Hardwood, UK, USA, Asia) Prices - Given in US Dollars and UK Pounds. Bonus Tips: Based on my experience: Other things to consider: Storage, Handles, Carry Bag, Zipper/Press Studs, Ease of Washing/Cleaning, aftercare etc
Purpose: Beginning a Mindful Meditation without a Meditation Cushion or Meditation Chair or Meditation Stool is okay for about 10 minutes. If you are enjoying longer meditations sitting for a long time can become uncomfortable. You can experience better meditations with the use of a meditation aid such as a stool, chair or cushion.

The Meditation Cushion is used to alleviate pressure on the bum/butt/botty. It will help make for a more comfortable meditation. It helps avoid strain on the ankles and knees. It will bring about greater flexibility of postures, by bringing the heels and knees closer to the body. It gives you more support to be able to tilt the pelvis and therefore a greater chance of improved posture and a straighter spine.

The Meditation Chair or Meditation Stool is used to raise the meditation subject off the ground. The stool or chair is an alternative to the Meditation Cushion. With most Meditation stools and chairs the seating area is slightly inclined which helps tilt the pelvis and helps the spine adopt a more natural position. The result of this is great for internal organs around the stomach and you will enjoy a deeper more relaxed breathing technique.

Styles and Varieties of chairs/stools: Meditation Stools come in the following formats: Toadstool (i.e. one central column, also called a T-Stool). Collapse-able (i.e. the two legs collapse for ease of storage/transport). Fixed Leg (typically two fixed legs either side). Occasionally called a Seiza stool (from Kendo).

Naming of products: Meditation Cushions come in the following formats: Zafu, Zabuton, Mountain Seat, Seifu, Kabu, Travel Zafu, Moon Cushion, Mountain Cushion, Support Cushion and Travel Cushion.

Sizes: Meditation stools are typically about 200mm off the floor at one side and 150mm on the other (a 50mm incline). The size of the seated area is typically 550mm x 150mm. Meditation Cushions such as the Zafu are typically 350mm diameter. Typically round but my analysis shows, and as the naming suggests above wedge shapes, crescent shapes and rectangle shapes are also common. Round cushions are typically 200mm deep. Rectangular cushions are typically 200mm deep and approx 750mm x 450mm (LxW)

Colours: Timber products are produced largely in natural timber finishes of Oak, Ash, Wych Elm, Bamboo. Some benches are painted and finished with Om simples or other yoga/ken-do/Buddhist (or whatever spirituality) related signage/decals. Cushions are coloured in Black, Dark, Navy, Maroon, Brown, Cinnamon, Olive, Sand, Cream and Magnolia.

Fillings:
Kapok (good filling, will not collapse after many, many uses) (Source: Typically harvested from a Tree native to Mexico and America. A light, bouncy/buoyant and resilient fibre. Buckwheat (good filling, will not collapse after many, many uses) (Source: Comes from a plant, the hulls are used as the filling in a variety of upholstered products as they are durable, a natural product). Visco Elastic Foam (Similar to the 'memory foam' we see advertised everywhere these days. Half Buckwheat/Half Kapok Cotton/Cotton Drill Organic Quallofil - Largely synthetic product.
Sourcing of product: If you are buying a stool or chair made from Timber, you may wish to consider a product that is sourced from sustainable woodland. Material Source (e.g. Softwood, Hardwood, UK, USA, Asia) Meditation stools and chairs can be made of Ash,Wych Elm, Oak, Radiata pine. Ash is a hardwood with a nice finish, Wych Elm has a beautiful appearance. You can also find stools made of Bamboo.

Quality of materials: Quality of products vary considerably. Things to look for include: Double stitching of fabrics. Hardwood is a very durable material and as such will withstand knocks, bumps and scratches. If your on the heavier side, no problem here either. Brass Ironmongery (hinges, screws) on those with moving parts, will serve you well. Quality, durable fabrics such as a heavy grade cotton is a must for longevity.

Quality of design: Quality of design varies, some designs such as the Seiza will suit smaller people although you can find custom made stools and cushions from a variety of vendors on the web (try eBay).

Standard of finish: Meditation Stool: Stain, Caranuba, beeswax furniture polish or Varnish can be applied to a stool, however for a more rustic look you may wish to opt for no finish (apart from sanded that is, avoid those nasty splinters). With the trend for non lead products, you may wish to consider a finish that is of non-lead oil. From my experience I'd hedge around $70 for a decent cushion and approx $90 for a decent meditation chair or meditation stool. UK prices : approx £35 for the Cushion and £45 - £50 for the stool/chair.

Prices: Prices vary considerably and there is a market starting from $20 for a basic cushion, $70 - $90 for a basic stool/seat/chair. Of course you can make your own and a quick search of the web will reveal some simple drawings, plans and kits to assemble or fabricate your own. (only advisable if you have carpentry/joinery/machine shop skills). This is just my opinion and from my research.

Other things to consider: Storage, Handles, Carry Bag, Zipper/Press Studs, Ease of Washing/Cleaning, adding a cushion to your meditation stool for increased comfort. With a Meditation stool look for wide opening legs that don't fold easily when in use (ouch). If you are to be carrying or moving the stool around alot, you may wish to consider a light-weight design. Consider if you get an instruction leaflet, a care and maintenance guide or a contact number for after sales support/care (should anything go wrong).  The main thing to consider...Comfort!

Other uses: Meditation Stools and Meditation Cushions are not only for meditators. You'll find that anyone who kneels a lot may get some benefit. Calligraphers, Meditators, Musicians, Clergy, Craftspeople, Martial Arts/Ken-do specialists, Nurses, Health care professionals, administration support people and Rieki practitioners.

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Yoga For Beginners? Common Myths

Common Mistakes And Misunderstandings About Yoga?

Yoga is a very popular form of exercising and spiritual balancing, but it is also very often understood by a lot of people. This is almost inevitable when you consider the incredible popularity of Yoga as a discipline and the many different strands that Yoga has. Quite often people have experience with one type of Yoga but not another, and as such they will base their overall impression of Yoga on what they have seen. It is like people basing their impression on Germans on the most famous German they know - Adolf Hitler, or more recently the portrayal of George Bush internationally as the only example of an American anyone knows. The truth is that Yoga can be very different depending on who you learn it from and how they perceive Yoga. This article looks at learning yoga for beginners and some of the common misconceptions therein.

Misconception Number One: Yoga is a form of exercise.

Well yes it is, but so is walking. I can walk from my couch to my table and I can hardly claim to have done my exercise for the day. The truth is that exercise is just the beginning of what yoga is. It's closer to a combination of exercise, physiotherapy, psychology and spirituality all rolled into one. As you come to master Yoga you will need to become more and more mentally strong, and most importantly disciplined. If you can discipline yourself to do regular Yoga sessions, and maintain your discipline to do each pose for the prescribed time, and do it properly, then you will naturally become a very disciplined and organised person. For some people this transcends to a spiritual level because they are so efficient and clearing their thoughts while meditating.

Misconception Number Two: Yoga is for Hippies.

As previously mentioned Yoga can be a very spiritual experience if you become good enough at clearing your thoughts and concentrating whilst performing the exercises. But you certainly do not have to begin with any spiritual belief. Yoga believes in aligning the body and the mind and the spirit through achieving inner balance. What that means to you is probably going to depend entirely on what your beliefs already are. For some people it will be a spiritually freeing experience, for others it will be an effective way of distressing and achieving a level of calmness of thought. Still others will claim that these things are one and the same.

Misconception Number Three: Yoga is a fad.

Recently there have been some very hyped up Yoga courses making big claims about what Yoga can achieve. These are easy to associate with other 'fad' exercise crazes. However Yoga is not something new and is based in documents that are hundreds of years old which describe exercises and poses that were probably being performed for generations before that. An individual style of Yoga may come and go, but as long as people are still stretching before a game of football then Yoga will still be being used.

Misconception Number Four: Yoga is too slow to help me lose weight/gain tone etc.

This one is way off the mark, but we have been somewhat trained by the weight loss industry that weight loss, and toning our body is all about hours in the gym and fast high impact exercise. That's simply not true. Yoga can help with weight loss and in particularly toning for a number of reasons. Firstly the exercises, while low impact and performed either statically or slowly - are still exercises. While you use them you are using your muscles, and in many cases you are using muscles and muscle groups that regular exercise programs ignore. The second way that Yoga can be of benefit in a weight loss program is that it will increase your mental strength and allow you to be more disciplined with your food consumption. When it comes down to it excess weight is a result of excess eating and not enough physical exercise to burn off those calories. Have you ever noticed how some people can eat donut after donut and not put on any weight at all? It seems unfair, but it's a natural result of the state of their body. Usually these people will be quite 'sinewy' and this muscle allows them the metabolise food faster. That's the third benefit of Yoga in weight loss, as your muscles develop your body will actually become more efficient at consuming foods and processing them into nutrients and waste.

Hopefully we have now gone some way to explaining away the various myths associated with Yoga. When you learn yoga, for beginners and experienced alike, it is very much a case of Yoga being what you make of it.

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Use Meditation Music to Enhance Your Meditation Experience

Meditation is a pathway to enlightenment that ultimately brings together your mind, body and soul. Similarly, music has the unique power to relax people, whether they're stressed out, exhausted, or even happy. Think of the possibilities that can exist when meditation and music are brought together as a form of anxiety relief. Meditation music has been proved to help people manage their stress levels. The practice and theory of meditation have evolved through time, and it remains popular and helpful to people in daily life. Music is now used to complement this ancient form of relaxation, and the result has been miraculous.

Meditation music is rapidly gaining favor all over the world, and among practitioners of all ages. Meditating to certain forms of music is an excellent way to calm your mind. And now the market is full of many forms of meditation music. There are also a number of online sources through which you can buy a varied collection of stress-relieving meditation music. For meditation purposes, some of the best music is Mozart, Tai-chi music, music that features the sounds of nature, and songs that include bamboo wind chimes. This type of music can relax and rejuvenate you, and ultimately help you to release pent-up stress.

Go ahead, try meditating with music and see for yourself what a wonderful feeling it can give you. Of course, everyone has their own personal preferences when it comes to meditation music, but the goal is always the same: to achieve a relaxed state of mind, body and soul. When you meditate with music, you will find that your powers of concentration become sharper. Students who practice meditation with music will soon find their attention becomes more focused. And seniors can benefit from meditation music, too, as it allows them to release anxieties and anger that have accumulated. If you want to eliminate any of these physical or emotional obstacles, give it a try. If you have ever considered listening to medication music, don't wait any longer - go ahead and try it, because it really works.

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Yoga Exercises - What Has Cannabis Got in Common With Yoga

What has yoga exercises and cannabis got in common - well that is simple they both relate to joints. Cannabis is smoked in a joint and yoga exercises help relax the joints. Let us focus on the how the natural way is the legal way to ease troubled minds, aches and pains.

The Natural way comes with no prison sentence.

Yoga exercises - moves and postures are easily practiced but most importantly should be supervised under the guidance from a master in the field of yoga. Tutorial videos are quite popular among the housebound. People with an illness that prevents them leaving the house can still follow the thousands of Yogis world wide by practising yoga exercises in the comfort of their own home.

One of the top reasons for why yoga exercises are performed on a wide scale is due to stress related concerns. Anxiety and sufferers of depression have seen the difference in themselves after learning yoga. Doctors are now referring their patients to join local yoga classes. Doctors realize that this is a safe natural mental medicinal medication which can ease symptoms of different types of illnesses and disorders. (Depending on the illness)

For beginners who are attending a class for the first time you can expect your yoga exercises to be light movements. This may entail short workouts on twists, balance, sit up poses and different other moves. You may also find that there is a time limit on how much you do in the first few stages of your yoga exercises due to you being a novice.

Once you have become familiar with what ever type of yoga you have chosen to practice - it is then you will begin to notice the change in your whole approach towards practice sessions. Yoga and the people who exercise this exercise become very devoted to an extent that it becomes a passionate piece of their life and why wouldn`t they when it helps them to keep in shape and lead a healthier life

Remember what is on the inside needs as much nurturing like that on the outside - in other words muscles joints and internal organs. There are many types of yoga exercises carefully structured to loosen the bones taking away stiffness or any other discomforts that can cause bouts of stress. By practicing yoga exercises on a regular basis you will notice the flexibility of how the body alters in a very relieving manner.

If you are not sure of the type of yoga that best suits your needs then talk with a yoga master. The Practice of yoga exercises due to health matters should not go ahead until you speak with your doctor - this goes for any exercises you intend on taking up.

Yoga is not a cure and has no magical powers where you regain sight after years of living in darkness nor can it cure the deaf from their world of silence but one thing it can do is work MIRACLES on the mind. This is done by positive thoughts inserted into the mind by your own way of thinking where you take what is rightfully yours and that is contentment.

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Vipassana Meditation and It's Benefits

Vipassana meditation is an ancient Indian form of meditation which was re-discovered by Gotama Buddha more than 2500 years ago. Vipassana meditation is all about a self-exploratory journey to enhance a balanced mind that is full of love and compassion. This practice is currently taught in India by Mr. S.N. Goenka who learnt Vipassana meditation from his teacher, Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Mr. Goenka spent fourteen years studying Vipassana techniques and now has many assistant teachers to help him handle the increasing demand for Vipassana teachings.

Simply put, Vipassana means to see things as they really are. Vipassana meditation does not adhere to any particular form of faith. Many people from various religions have had excellent results from Vipassana and no interference with their specific faith occurred. Vipassana meditation is a method to eliminate suffering, increase mental purification and assist the individual to handle life's tensions and stresses in a calm, peaceful manner. In practicing this technique one will observe the changing nature of the body and mind. In realizing the truth about change, suffering and tensions, one will experience the process of purification. The aim of Vipassana meditation is self-observation to facilitate self-purification.

Vipassana meditation is taught free of charge over a period of ten days. Participants will live at the training centre during their course. Costs for the training facility are covered by donations from people who have previously benefited from the training and wish to give others the same opportunity. Do not mistake this opportunity as a holiday or a socializing retreat. Only serious, hardworking individuals who are dedicated to benefit from the course should attend.

The training can be divided into three stages. The first stage will involve concentration on abstinence from killing, stealing, sexual activity, telling lies and intoxicants. This first stage of Vipassana meditation helps to calm and prepare the individual for the task of self-observation. The second phase focuses on accomplishing power over the mind by paying particular attention to the breathing process. By the fourth day of training the individual is considerably calmer, more relaxed and ready to focus on the Vipassana meditation itself. This is the self-observation part whereby the individual will concentrate on understanding the nature of sensations that occur in the body and learn how to control reactions to them. On the last day everyone learns the art of kindness, love and compassion to other living beings.

Vipassana meditation essentially is used to develop a healthy mind through continued practice. All your problems will not vanish within 10 days but you will have learned sufficient skills to apply Vipassana techniques to your life.

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Transcendental meditation and Sports

"Our motto is"Train without deformation,"" coach Eyre. "We are investing in rest to create success. ""Our athletes play in the "zone" because they live there." "Lawrence Eyre is the winning coach of the price of the pioneers of Maharishi School of the age of enlightenment tennis team in the Fairfield Iowa.  Mr. Eyre started the team of pioneers in 1988 and since then has led to the finals in the tournament of the team of the Iowa 11 times. In 20 seasons, his players have won 16 State Championships.   Mr. Eyre assigns achievements of its players in their group practice of the transcendental meditation (TM) technique, which creates a foundation for their dynamic activity and gives them a competitive advantage.  In 1999 and 2000, under the direction of Mr. Eyre, the Maharishi school boys team reached the unprecedented: they captured consecutive "triple Crown" winning titles of simple tennis, doubles and team championships of State-A Iowa,.

For example, you might ask: how a mental technique to help an athlete? Well the TM technique improves performance by strengthening the skills of concentration, coordination body-mind, reaction time, speed and agility. TM also reduces anxiety and tension in the mind and body is a more controlled and disciplined athlete and therefore more likely to achieve their objectives.

Athletes can experience the effects of sleep deprivation and the shift in travel meeting and competitions. The TM technique offers a resting metabolic level that is deeper than sleep, allowing the body to recover faster travel and other stress factors. The TM technique also disbanded the stress that accumulates injury, competition and intensive training and reduces recovery time.

Transcendental meditation is a simple mental technique that is practiced sitting comfortably for 20 minutes twice a day. It is unique and different from other types of meditation that does not contain any concentration and the contemplation. For this reason, it is easy and pleasant difficult and tedious as many other forms of meditation. It must be taught by a certified TM through a standardized one week course teacher. It is a substantive law for the course, but little interest funding and scholarships are available through the TM movement, which is a charitable non-profit organization. Hundreds of scientific studies to validate the benefits of the technique and it is easy to learn.

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What Are The Real Benefits Of Meditation?

If you ask different meditators, 'what are the benefits of meditation?' you will receive a wide variety of answers. You see, what one person might see as a benefit of meditation, another might see as an inconvenience that they are prepared to put up with, in order to enjoy a different benefit of meditation.

Let me give you an example. A man and a woman attend the same meditation class. The class consists of three parts. Part one is meditation practice, part two is philosophical discussion and part three is studying teachings of a particular meditation guru. During the class, the man enjoys the meditation practice and gets great benefit from it, loves the philosophical discussions but is not keen and can see no benefit in reading about what the meditation guru has to say.

At the same time, the woman, who attends the same meditation class, she too enjoys the meditation practice and gets great benefit from it, loves reading about what the guru has to say and gets great benefit from that too, but can see no benefit in the philosophical discussions.

So, it helps to know a little about your own preferences for you to get the maximum benefits out of your meditation.

There are a list of common benefits associated with meditation, they include;

1) Stress reduction

2) Lower blood pressure

3) Aids concentration

4) Aids relaxation

5) Promotes clearer thinking

6) Helps with mental health issues

7) Helps with emotional health issues

And many, many more.

I personally believe that the greatest benefit of meditation is that it is the only way that I have discovered that reveals to me, more and more of myself that I just never knew about. If you choose the 'right' meditation teacher, meditation can literally be like starting a new life. A life of deep personal, inner discoveries. Without all the books, belief systems and dogma that many meditation classes include as standard.

There are many styles of meditation teaching and you will find that many of them will attach themselves to to belief systems. Te fact is that the benefits of meditation will come to any of us with or without the rituals.

I have taught meditation around the world for over twenty years and I have met many people, from a wide variety of cultures, who have experienced the benefits of meditation for themselves. The benefits of meditation await you too.

If you would be interested in learning more about a meditation retreat that will take you deeper than you ever thought possible, then I encourage you to contact me through my website, and I will be here for you when you are ready for that step in your life.

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3 Benefits of Vipassana Meditation!

Isn't it time you stopped simply thinking about starting a Vipassana Meditation practice on a daily basis and actually started doing it?

If you are like most people who have heard about Vipassana Meditation then odds are you have only heard about some of the "Buddhist" benefits that might not appeal to you with your modern day desires.

If so then you are in for a pleasant surprise as in this article you will learn about 3 benefits of Vipassana meditation that you can actually experience in the real world for yourself.

3 Benefits of Vipassana Meditation!

Vipassana Meditation Benefit #1 - Makes life much more enjoyable - You ever notice how when you go on vacation or are able to get away from the hectic schedule of your life for a few days life just seems better and more enjoyable?

Unfortunately you then return to your state of normal reality and soon after it is back to the boring and uninspired life that you maintain. Well guess what, when you begin embarking in a Vipassana Meditation on a daily basis it allows you to experience that enjoyable state of letting go and interestingly enough begins to carry over into your normal waking reality.

Vipassana Meditation Benefit #2 - Helps you settle the mind in order to have a direct experience with the deep silence that is inside of you - Have you ever found yourself stuck on a thought that you simply can't let go of in the moment and that moment turns into a night and hopefully you have slept off and forgot about it, only you really haven't because the next time someone brings it up it triggers the same kind of reaction in you.

Well guess what, when you begin practicing Vipassana on a daily basis your mind will begin to become more settled and allow you to have a direct experience with that deep silence that is present inside of you always. When you experience that deep stillness, silence within it helps you let go of non-serving thoughts and habits and keep it as such.

Vipassana Meditation Benefit #3 - Helps you express a greater degree of creativity that benefits you and everyone that you come in contact with - Can you recall those comedic skits where the person is looking for their glasses in a hurried and scattered way even though they already have them on? Believe it or not, your ability to express your creativity and your self is the same way. And daily life causes us often to forget the truth that is deep within ourselves.

Fortunately, when you practice Vipassana meditation daily it actually allows you to be still long enough to notice that truth and more importantly give you a direct pathway to that truth as well.

Once you begin your daily practice of Vipassana Meditation we are sure you will agree that you will have already experienced these benefits and more. Now for the surprise, when it comes to experiencing the benefits of meditation you aren't limited to just choosing Vipassana Meditation as there are a variety of different meditation techniques that offer you a wide range of benefits as well.

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How to Meditate For Beginners

Meditation is an allusive concept when one first chooses to try this form of process. Westerners generally pride themselves on their can-do attitude and work ethic. Meditation is often approached in a manner of needing to do something, when in fact it might more accurately be described as a method of undoing.

When a novice Westerner approaches meditation practice, it may be with a "let's getter done" frame of mind.

In fact, meditation may more realistically be approached as a method of entering a new path of not doing. The mind of every person is busy and elusively so to the extreme. When one combines the naturally erratic mind with the Western culture of activity, the result can be people who haven't explored the depths of that to which they are a part of, that lies below the world of activity.

How to meditate for beginners can best be approached with an unfolding, allowing, or quieting. The beginner doesn't need to accomplish much. The beginner wishing to start the practice of meditation may first determine to set aside the time. Time must be invested, but don't be concerned with "filling the time" with anything. Just allow the time. Meditation is not so effective on the run, especially in the beginning.

If the beginner's personality will be mollified with esthetics, perhaps light a candle into which one can gaze, incense is pleasant, perhaps a little bell to signal the beginning and end of a meditation session. Comfort is helpful, and if a special outfit or type of clothing would be pleasing, go for it.

A hair shirt is not required. Twenty minutes is normally an effective length of time to sit in the beginning. When first starting to sit in meditation, one may become bored. This is the untamed and wild mind suggesting that we should be on to something else. Other activities are awaiting. There are people to see.

When you notice this, you will be on to exactly what sitting in meditation is about. One may best deal with the tumultuous mind by patiently and gently bringing it back to the object of concentration. It very often is the breath, it may be the candle flame upon which you have chosen to concentrate. One may use a pleasing symbol such as a chickadee.

Watching the breath is the most well-known method, but this is your meditation. The only result you will need is to quiet the mind. Meditation is a process, and to realize the benefits, you only need the investment in time and patience.

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Understanding a Good Yoga Class

Many of my new students often do not know what to expect in a Yoga class or have general misconceptions about Yoga. This is not surprising as Yoga is often misunderstood. At one extreme, it is a pure spiritual practice that can corrupt your existing religious beliefs. At the other extreme, it is a set of powerful exercises done in dance like moves. In between these extremes, you have everything from indulging in carnal pleasure to levitation.

To be honest, there is some truth in every version but as they say - half a truth is half a lie. It is important to have a general understanding of Yoga before attending a Yoga class. This is to ensure that your needs are aligned to what you can expect in a class. As this article is not about finding the best meaning for Yoga, I will broadly summarize Yoga. Yoga can be divided into 2 main categories:

Hatha Yoga - Focus is purely physical and includes postures, cleansing and symbolic gestures. Raja Yoga - Focus is on the mind and includes breathing and meditation.

All other modern day branches of Yoga will fall into either or both of these categories.There are 3 accepted authoritative texts on Yoga:

Gheranda Samhita Hatha Yoga Prathipika Patanjali Yoga Sutra

Patanjali Yoga Sutra explains Raja Yoga. The Gheranda Samhita and Hatha Yoga Prathipika advocate Hatha Yoga before Raja Yoga. The reason for this as explained in the Gheranda Samhita, is that a person should attain control of the body, before he or she can begin exercises in control of the mind.

So what should you expect from a Yoga class? Firstly, it is important that prior to beginning a Yoga class for the first time, the instructor asks you to indicate your expectations. In my experience, these expectations can vary a great deal. You may want a toned body or maybe develop flexibility. You may be looking at relieving a chronic disorder or just having fun with a group of like minded people. Whatever your expectations, it is important that your instructor understands it and matches your expectations with the right class and grouping.

Secondly, a good Yoga class should be focused. It is impossible to cover the entire spectrum of Yoga over a short period and it may not be realistic to do so. A good Yoga class should be structured in such a way that it meets your current needs. Yoga classes should be grouped into general categories that meet your evolving needs. For example, you may want to do yoga initially to achieve a toned body. After achieving this, you may want to focus on flexibility and progress to breathing or meditation.

Thirdly, the best Yoga classes are conducted in small groups. It is easier for the instructor to monitor everyone in a small class. Mistakes can be caught and rectified easily. This greatly reduces the possibility of injury due to wrong practice of postures. Small groups also allow the instructor to respond to effectively to the group's rhythm and pace. Group dynamics dictate that there are optimum group sizes for a particular function. There is no magic number to the size of a Yoga class, but keeping it small means everyone gets to interact with one another and form strong relationships. Motivation levels can be higher as a result.

Fourthly, a good Yoga class focuses on the correct, techniques and practices. I have seen so many people performing Yoga postures incorrectly and am concerned by it. The authoritative texts mentioned above are a good source for the correct techniques and methods. Many people however do not have the time to read these texts. However, it is important to ensure that the Yoga that is being taught to you is based on these scriptures. You will find the following in a Yoga class that adheres to correct practices:

Minimal body aches, muscle strain or injury

Breathing techniques are emphasized with the postures With some exception, almost every posture has a counter-posture. For example, a forward bend posture will be followed by a backward bend posture.

Finally, you stand to gain the most from a Yoga class when it is fun. Ask yourself, are you having fun in your Yoga class? If you are not, you may not be motivated to practice or attend classes. This would result in a waste of time and money. While it may not be possible to guarantee a high level of fun in every class, it is certainly possible to induce it by:

Having an instructor with a fun personality Matching expectations to the right type of class Joining the right group class

Many other factors play a role in the best Yoga class but I have emphasized some of the main areas here. Broadly speaking, a good Yoga class is one where your expectations are met. It is focused on your current needs and consists of a small group (in a group setting). It emphasizes correct techniques and practices based on Yoga's authoritative texts while maintaining healthy levels of fun.

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Meditation Techniques for Beginners - A Useful Guide to Meditating

Meditation Techniques for Beginners

Throughout the day, most people spend a lot of time bouncing from thought to thought. Although many of these thoughts are necessary for bringing us to solutions and for helping us to prioritize our tasks throughout the day, the clutter of too many of them can lead to stress or exhaustion. Remember that is not just the body that needs time to rest. Conscious resting of the mind would do wonders to ease symptoms of depression, stress and even physical fatigue.

Meditation Techniques for Beginners

When your brain is getting overly jumbled, or before it even gets to that point, it is a good idea to give yourself some time for meditation. Get into a comfortable chair, sit cross legged as you try the following easy, meditation steps to clear the mind of superfluous mind chatter.

Start by helping yourself to calm the nervous system down (doing so will get the body and mind in the right conditions for meditation). Try a few deep breaths to begin- counting to four or five for each inhale and exhale. Try this breathing for as long as you like, doing your best to keep your mind on the process of breathing and counting.

Examine how the body feels now-allowing the shoulders and face to be neutral and soft, and relaxing the hands and feet. If you feel any areas of tension in the muscles, then take another deep, counted breath and imagine those areas softening as you exhale. Now, spend a few moments or minutes enjoying the sensations of the body being relaxed.

While you were smoothing out your breath and relaxing the body, you may have noticed a little, or even a lot, of mind chatter peeking through. Now, almost as if you were catching these thoughts with a net, examine each one as you find it entering the mind.

Stay as objective as possible, like each thought belongs to someone other than yourself. Make no judgments about your thought. Offer no advice to yourself. Just see the thought as it is.

After you acknowledge a thought, imagine it floating all the way to the sky through the crown of the head until it is too far away to think about any longer. Repeat this process of catching and releasing thoughts until the space between each one lengthens. Gradually, your mind becomes a quiet place-one which is being in the present moment without working itself.

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3 Benefits of Yoga Nidra!

Perhaps you have heard of Yoga Nidra and how yogis refer to it as "Yogic Sleep" and find yourself wondering what benefits can it bring into in my world? Believe it or not, there is an almost endless amount of benefits that you can experience when you begin practicing Yoga Nidra on a daily basis.

In fact, scientific studies have shown that a 20 minute Yoga Nidra session is equal to 8 hours of sleep. That's why in this article you will discover 3 benefits of Yoga Nidra and how it can improve your life in so many different ways.

3 Benefits of Yoga Nidra!

Yoga Nidra Benefit #1 - Allows you to experience a greater sense of inner bliss

Once you experience the state of inner bliss in any of its shapes or forms there is a certain amount of power, calmness, and sense of peace that begins to take over you.

What's more is that unlike outer stimulation's that require lots of energy and effort but to achieve and maintain.

The feeling of inner bliss grows inside of you and allows you let go of many of things that are no longer serving you which interestingly enough leads to more things that can and do serve you in the real world as well.

Yoga Nidra Benefit #2 - Strengthens and improve your relationships both personal and in the work place

Oftentimes there is an unconscious struggle that we have in a variety of different relationships that we have with people that is based on a fear of being alone, abandoned, or not being a part of the group.

Yet, when you begin to tap into the benefits of practicing Yoga Nidra on a daily basis you will begin to feel the connection of:source" that is much greater than anything you can imagine.

Of course, this connection with source will allow you to let go of many of the fears and unhealthy emotions that were getting in the way of you communicating with those you interact with in a healthy and empowering way and more than that the practice of Yoga Nidra allows you to connect with people as you get in the habit of connecting with your true self on a daily basis.

Yoga Nidra Benefit #3 - Gives you a significant increase of clarity in your mind

As you begin your practice of Yoga Nidra what you will notice is that each time you drop in to that state of being you go deeper and deeper within yourself and begin to let go of unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and energies that are no longer serving you.

As a result of letting go of all this what you will find is that you now have a certain sense of clarity in your mind that allows you to see things in a whole new and exciting way.

Overall, when it comes to improving your life in a healthy and empowering way the practice of Yoga Nidra or any of the other empowering meditation techniques that are available to you is a great way to do so.

In fact, it truly is one of the only ways that you can communicate with the one person on this earth that truly knows who you are and that person is deep within yourself now.

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Types of Meditation and Their Differences

Since ancient times, meditation has been a common practice for Buddhist, Islams, and Hindu. Today, it is common to see teachers, singers, priests, moms, dads, grandparents, teenagers, and even children practicing the art. It has become a healing technique that not only is used to gain a closer walk to God spiritually, but has become a mental and physical practice too.

What is It?

Meditation is a practice used to clear the mind using controlled breathing, a guided coach, meditation music, or even through different body positions. It is used to regulate the mind which in turn allows the body to regulate itself. Meditation allows a peaceful, restful, sense of serenity to come to the body. Many people also turn to meditation to help in healing the body of certain conditions.

Different Techniques

Passive - is a type of mediation that allows the mind to unwind and un-focus often resulting in daydreaming or sleep.
Active - is used to help the body be in a meditative state at all times throughout the day. The peacefulness brought about by active mediation helps the person bring peace into daily situations.
Religious - used to help bring one closer to God. A more precise name for religious meditation is 'thinking'. Often, this type of meditation comes with CDs with a guided coach who takes the mind down a serene path enabling it to focus on God's Word and the message it holds for daily life.
Yoga - has many, many different ways of meditating including: Himalayan, Modern, Traditional, and about 190 more Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Yoga meditation is used to channel, master, quiet, still, and coordinate the body and mind.
Receptive - is used to help one be receptive to daily situations. One example of receptive meditation is Zen.
Focused on Concentration - is used to totally focus one's attention on a single object whether it be breathing, a candle flame, or some other object.
Generative - helps one gain a sense of love and kindness using imagination and memories.
Reflective - meditators focus on a single object while staying open to the emotions they feel during the exercise.

While there are many different types of meditation, these will give you a better understanding as to what each type deals with. When choosing the type you would like to explore, remember to set aside several minutes a couple times a day to help reap the best benefits.

Today

The more meditation is considered today, the more people realize it is not the same as it was hundreds of years ago. It has grown and evolved into something that anyone can use in their daily life to help to center their mind and, if desired, have a closer walk spiritually with God. Using mediation to have a less stressful life can be beneficial for all ages in today's world. Lifestyles are hectic and even the youngest child feels the stress of today.

While each different type of meditation has its own unique aspects to get you into a centered frame of mind, they all have the same purpose of clearing your mind and setting your body on a healthful relaxed track. Choosing which method is only a matter of what you expect to accomplish mixed with the best techniques for your lifestyle.

Which one will you choose?

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Mindfulness Meditation For Healthy Blood Circulation

The following article is a mindfulness meditation I practice from time to time when I want to give a "conscious boost" to increase the health of my blood flow, blood chemistry, and improve my overall circulatory system function for optimum health.

As a two time open-heart patient survivor at age 39, I am obligated to monitor the health of my blood both as prescribed by my cardiologist to maintain my blood's Protime ratio (thin relative to thickness of my blood) to prevent blood clots, and also as part of my conscious intention practice to harness the self healing power of the mind/body connection that we all have access to, and are personally responsible for optimizing.

For this meditation you will need a few ingredients...

1) At least 5 minutes
2) A quiet peaceful place to meditate
3) Sunshine
4) Fresh air without congestion
5) Conscious intention
6) An open mind

Begin by finding a quiet place where you will be exposed to a moderate dose of sunlight. This could be your backyard, in the court yard of your office building, or if you live in the inner city... a park close to your home.

Next sit in a comfortable position facing the sun so that you can feel the sunlight warming your face.

You may be aware of times when you've laid on the beach or caught a few rays on your break how when your eyes are closed, you can still see a soft reddish glow shining through your eye lids as your eyes are still "seeing", but are actually seeing the sunlight shining through your eyelids.

To begin, stare briefly into the sun and then close your eyes. You will see a bright dot of light that has been impressed upon your inner mind, which is actually the reflection of the sun like when you look at a bright light bulb that creates an impression of light in your mind, when you close your eyes.

Focus on this dot of light as it fades away to center your brow chakra for the purpose of this meditation (conscious intention.)

At this point of concentration, we are going to focus on your blood's circulation that is literally being illuminated through the sunshine shining through your eyelids.

As human beings, our bodies are designed to absorb nutrients from the sun. I won't go into the biochemical process that occurs here, because as long as we know that we're absorbing healthy nutrients like vitamin D from the sun... that's really all we need to know to practice this mindfulness meditation.

As you are observing the reddish glow appearing through the back of your eyelids, focus on the specs of shadows and light that appear to look like blood cells flowing through your eyelids.

Actually, the shapes, forms, mind art, and vein like streams are literally the refraction of light caused by the blood flow that is literally flowing through your eyelids, as the sun shines through them.

Eventually, the blood cells that are flowing through your eyelids, will arrive at your heart, your legs, and your brain as your blood flow circulates throughout your entire body and recycles itself 3 times every minute.

When you observe the blood flowing through your eyelids being illuminated by the sun, you will eventually notice how the shapes that seem random, are random yet are flowing in a certain direction as the blood follows the natural blood stream of the veins and capillaries that are under the surface of your eyelids.

During this mindfulness meditation, focus your intention on the blood that is constantly flowing through your eyelids, and travels to every other part of your body.

All the while the blood vessels that pass through your eyelids are transmutating sunlight and delivering it to every other part of your body through your circulatory system.

While practicing this mindfulness meditation, focus intention into each blood cell that passes over your eyes, and speak to it reciting healthy affirmations like; "as each blood cell passes through my eyelids, it absorbs all the healthy nutrients from the sun that my body needs, and is restoring my blood chemistry to perfect health. My red and white blood cell count is at it's healthiest. My cholesterol level is optimum. My blood renews and regenerates itself delivering essential nutrients to every part of my body carrying with it the light of the sun!"

Yes, it's true! And it's also true that our skin absorbs the rays from the sun to soak up vital nutrients as well. Your blood actually absorbs light from the sun as the nutrients we absorb from the sun are transformed and delivered to our bodies, as our body converts light energy into the actual nutritional resources we need to function at our optimum health.

Practice this easy Healthy Blood Mindfulness Meditation for 5-20 minutes at least once per week, and not only will you feel more alive and rejuvenated as you increase the communication through conscious intention between your conscious mind and the cells of your body, you will most likely appear healthier as your skin beams with a healthy glow.

If you live in hotter climates like the Sonoran desert like I do in Tucson, AZ, be sure to limit your exposure to the sun so that it doesn't exceed healthy levels. We all need a certain amount of sun light to both receive nutrients from the sun and to well... just feel alive and enjoy the sun shine on our face, but over exposure to the sun can have adverse effects as well. Live well!

To assist you in quieting your mind for this mindfulness meditation, you can download a free guided meditation music sample you can load into your mp3 player to take with you when you find a peaceful place to do this mindfulness meditation. Simply go to My Monk Buddy to download a 5 minute "Twilight Wind" free meditation music mp3 and loop it in your mp3 player for the duration of time you choose to do the meditation.

Featured at the core of this 5 minute "Twilight Wind" sample, is an audio technology called Parallax(TM) Audio Neurotechnology that is designed to relax you very deep, and does wonders to eliminate your daily stress, worry, and anxiety. Parallax(TM) will literally synchronize the left and right hemispheres of your brain influencing what neuroscientists call "brain synchrony", and "hemispheric synchronization". It's time to heal and let go of the stresses of the world!

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Best Meditation Technique

Meditation technique, just like anything else, has been through a lot of changes since its first inception thousand of years ago. Today, we know people are practicing Healing Meditation, Zen Meditation, Mantra Meditation, Hindu Meditation. The list goes on with Moving Meditation, Passive Meditation, Candle Light Meditation, and a few others. For beginners, the overwhelming numbers of techniques, literature and advertisements could be very confusing. For those who has already started one technique, this could also create a problem, because each technique claims that it's the best technique.

Before we go on deciding which Meditation technique is the best, let's begin with what is Meditation? Meditation is one way you communicate and become one with The One, The Beginning of Everything, or God we used to call It. The true essence of meditation is to feel and experience the unity itself. After all, we are all Light Beings seeking human experience, not the other way around. A lot of beginners are not well informed about this, and they meditate for healing, for "spiritual growth" or even ascension without really understanding what that means.

Some people go all the way to meditate with an extreme measures, just because it has been the only way in their cultures. Some belief meditation could make one to become "God like" or some kind of super human. People are doing this because they feel that they are only human who needs more power to become more like Spiritual Beings. They forget that we are all part of The One. We do not need more and special power to become like Him, we only need to be fully conscious that we are part of Him. We already have the Power.

Now that we are fully aware what meditation is all about, and what meditation could and could not do to you, what is really the best Meditation Technique? The best technique is the one which brings you closer and closer to The One. The best technique is the technique which "remind" you who you really are, regain your full potential and full consciousness. This technique never ask you to give your power away to any living person or even Light Masters. It could be accessed directly from The One, not through any particular ritual or certain teachings.

The fact of the matter is, meditation technique is as personal as the individual itself. Trust your intuition, follow your heart, and go with the technique you're most comfortable with. Always think of your teachers as your fellow traveler with respect, but do not give your power away.

Do your meditation regularly in the stage of Pure Unconditional Love. This must not feel like a chore, do it because you are fully aware that we are all part of The One, we are all Light Beings seeking human experience. Happy Meditating.

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Six Types Of Meditation

There are so many different types of meditation. How many? Who knows, but enough so that you can find the one that's right for you. To get your search started, here are six types of meditation you can try.

1. Breath watching. Can meditating be as simple as paying attention to your breath for a few minutes? You bet. Relax in whatever position works best for you, close your eyes and start to pay attention to your breathing. Breathing through your nose gets your diaphragm involved and gets oxygen all the way to the bottom of your lungs. As your mind wanders, just re-focus your attention on the air going in and out of your nose. Just do this for several minutes, or longer as you get used to it.

2. An empty mind meditation. Meditating can create a kind of "awareness without object," an emptying of all thoughts from your mind. The techniques for doing this involve sitting still, often in a "full lotus" or cross-legged position, and letting the mind go silent on its own. It can be difficult, particularly since any effort seems to just cause more business in the mind.

3. Walking meditations. This one gets the body involved. It can be outside or simply as a back and forth pacing in a room. Pay attention to the movement of your legs and breathing and body as you walk, and to the feeling of your feet contacting the ground. When your mind wanders, just keep bringing it back to the process of walking and breathing. Meditating outside in this way can be difficult because of the distractions. If you do it outside, find a quiet place with level ground.

4. Mindfulness meditation. A practice Buddhists call vipassana or insight meditation, mindfulness is the art of becoming deeply aware of what is here right now. You focus on what's happening in and around you at this very moment, and become aware of all the thoughts and feelings that are taking your energy from moment to moment. You can start by watching your breath, and then move your attention to the thoughts going through your mind, the feelings in your body, and even the sounds and sights around you. The key is to watch without judging or analyzing.

5. Simple mantra meditation. Many people find it easier to keep their mind from wandering if they concentrate on something specific. A mantra can help. This is a word or phrase you repeat as you sit in meditation, and is chosen for you by an experienced master in some traditions. If you are working on this alone, you can use any word or phrase that works for you, and can choose to either repeat it aloud or in your head as you meditate.

6. Meditating on a concept. Some meditative practices involve contemplation of an idea or scenario. An example is the "meditation on impermanence," in which you focus on the impermanent nature of all things, starting with your thoughts and feelings as they come and go. In the Buddhist "meditation on the corpse," you think about a body in the ground, as it slowly rots away and is fed on by worms. The technique is used to guide you to an understanding that your rationalizing mind might not bring you to.

There are many other meditations you can try, such as the "meditation on loving-kindness" or "object" meditation, and even meditating using brain wave entrainment products. Each type has its own advantages and effects. For this reason, you may find that at different times and for different purposes you want to use several different types of meditation.

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Simple Meditation Techniques for Beginners

I'm sure by now you're wondering how exactly you can get started with meditating daily. What techniques can be used for someone just starting out with meditation? I'd like to touch on a couple very simple meditation techniques for beginners and how to achieve the right mindset for meditation success.

To begin I'd like to highlight the simplest, yet most important aspect of any meditation techniques for beginners. It's a little thing called BREATHING! You might be thinking I breathe everyday, but I'm still really stressed out!? Well hold on a second it's not just breathing for the sake of staying alive, it's more so becoming aware of the simple act of breathing. So pure, natural,and calming, yet sometimes it seems as if it the one thing we forget to do!

I'd like you to sit up in your chair, or couch, or wherever you are at this moment, and take five deep breaths (in the nose and out the mouth.) I bet your feeling much more relaxed than you were a couple minutes ago. Now imagine what this simple act can do if used in sync with all of the other meditation techniques for beginners that you'll learn here.

Next on the list of meditation techniques for beginners is the act of being present in every moment. Practicing this whenever you get a chance will not only improve the quality of your life by leaps and bounds, but it will improve your meditation practice as well! How great is that! So how exactly do we implement this technique? Just try to be present in every act you do throughout the day. If you're washing the dishes simply focus on that act and that act alone, feel the warm water rush over your hands, smell the scents of the fruity dish soap, be aware of your breathing in that moment. You can apply this way of thinking to every event throughout your day! It can add vibrant moments of life to even the most mundane tasks!

I'd like to wrap up my meditation techniques for beginners with the question what time of day should I meditate? This has been a personal struggle for me; in the beginning finding time during the day to meditate was almost impossible! However, I did say almost. I started with meditating whenever I got a chance, a half hour there, and hour after lunch, I tried to squeeze it in whenever possible. However, the greatest, and most beneficial changes came when I would meditate every morning.

Something about waking up with the sun and exploring the inner depths of my mind would make it impossible for me to have a bad day! So now I ask you, when you begin try to pick a time that you have free everyday, consistency is key.If your not a morning person, then meditate at night, it's as simple as that. But just once give yourself the pleasure of an early morning meditation: you, your mind, and the sun all waking up at the same time and greeting the day. I promise you will love it!

That about wraps up my meditation techniques for beginners, but these techniques mentioned are just scratching the surface. Remember breathing, being in the moment, and picking the right time of day were the actions we just covered. I promise that if you implement or at least make a conscious effort to apply the above suggestions to your life and meditation routine, you will not regret it!

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Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness Meditation Techniques

Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned thinking mind into a deeper state of relaxation and awareness. Meditation involves turning distracted attention to a single point of reference. Meditation is also one of the medium or path to attain the ultimate spirituality and enlightenment. Buddhism has extensive study and references on meditation. In Buddhism, meditation is the path to achieve the ultimate peace that each soul looks for. Buddhist texts have recommended various meditation techniques. Buddhist meditation has expanded and evolved for more than thousand years. Some of the great human virtues like concentration, introspection, tranquility and mindfulness are developed with these meditation techniques.

Benefits of Buddhist meditation techniques are availed by Buddhists and people from other religion and communities. Buddhism mentions that meditation is a path to attain enlightenment and nirvana.

Non followers of Buddhism pursue meditation for mental and physical well being. Buddhist meditation is used by medical science to treat disorders of human mind.

Since Buddhist meditation techniques are free from any authoritative doctrines, they are widely used across the world. They are used for spiritual and health requirements.

Theravada tradition in Buddhism devised ninety methods of developing concentration and mindfulness. Similarly, the Tibetan tradition has thousands of meditation methods developing the visionary qualities in an individual.

In Buddhism, mindfulness meditation can be obtained by noble eight fold path of Buddha. It will develop right concentration, right introspection, right view about things and right mindfulness.

One of the important inferences or suttas in Buddhism is the Sattipathana sutta. In this Buddha outlined four foundations towards attaining mindfulness. These four foundations are the body, state of the mind, mental objects and feelings. Body is divided into breathing, postures, clear comprehending, reflection on repulsiveness of the body, reflection on material elements and contemplation regarding the cemetery. Mental objects are further divided into hindrances, aggregates, sense-bases, factors of enlightenment and four noble truths.

Serenity and insight are the two qualities of the mind attained through meditation. They are the two swift messengers of nibbana.

Buddha preached forty methods of meditation. Each individual needs to select the method that will suit his mind.

Meditation practices from others like Zongmi typology are included by Buddhism in its meditation techniques. Though different meditation techniques appear to be the same externally, they differ internally with respect to the motive and purpose. There are five types of meditative techniques namely Ordinary, Outside Way, Small Vehicle, Great Vehicle and Supreme Vehicle.

One of the greatest teachers of the western Buddhist order is Kamalashila. He mentioned that there are five basic methods of meditation. They are mindfulness of breathing, metta bhavana including all four Brahma viharas, contemplation of impermanence, contemplation of conditionality and six element practices. Contemplation of impermanence is further divided into four parts. They are contemplation of decomposing corpse, reflection on death and reflection of the Tibetan book of dead's which is named as 'Root Verses'.

Buddhist meditation techniques, such as mindfulness meditation are widely varied to suit any individual needs. Practicing them will help you attain tranquility of mind, general well being and spiritual blessings.

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How to meditate - 6 major Obstacles in meditation

I've struggled with meditation most of my life. Over a span of 15 years, I purchased meditation CD's, attended meditation classes and read books on meditation, yet was still unable to incorporate it into my daily life. The meditation CD's usually put me to sleep and the classes and books made me feel like a failure! In fact, my first meditation was quite painful and I always felt like I was too busy to meditate!

The sad truth is that while most of us are aware of the benefits of meditation, very few of us actually have a regular meditation practice. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to incorporate meditation into our daily lives. I overcame those obstacles and have been meditating daily for two years as well as meditating periodically throughout the day! Through meditation I have experienced more peace and joy in my life, I've become less reactive and less stressed and I have more energy and creativity! And I know you can experience these benefits as well!

But first, I think it's important to define what meditation is? Many of us have misconceptions about meditation. The most common misconception is that meditation is about getting rid of thought! That would set anyone up for failure! Meditation, rather, is about becoming the observer of thought rather than the reactor to thought.

Meditation, pure and simple, is being fully present in the moment! In this meditative state you are aware of the truth of who you are beyond your body and your mind.

Have you ever been in awe at a beautiful sunset? So much so that you forgot about what happened 5 minutes ago, and you weren't thinking about the future? You were completely in the moment and had this sense of aliveness inside? Well, that's meditation!

So now that we know what meditation is, how do we incorporate it in to our daily lives? I knew the reasons why I had struggled for years before I developed a regular meditation practice, but I was curious to see if others had the same reasons, so I conducted an international survey on the biggest obstacles to meditation and received over 400 responses from people in 46 different countries. Below are the TOP SIX biggest obstacles to meditation, and how you can overcome them!

Obstacle #1: Not having enough time

The biggest obstacle people face in developing a regular meditation practice is TIME. We don't have enough time to meditate! (Interestingly enough this wasn't just an "American" phenomenon. People from all across the globe mentioned they didn't have enough time to meditate).

Yet there are 4 simple ways to incorporate meditation into your life without taking ANY time out of your current schedule!

First, I invite you to convert your waiting time into meditating time.

The average person waits 45-60 minutes a day. We wait for appointments, we wait in traffic, we wait in line at the grocery store and we wait on hold on the phone. Yet those precious "waiting times" can be converted into meditating times.

So next time you are waiting for an appointment, take a moment to notice your breath. Or next time you are waiting in line at the grocery store, take a moment to smile from the inside.

Second, have a daily activity be your meditation. You can incorporate meditation into any of these daily activities:

*brushing your teeth
*emptying the dishwasher
*showering
*eating
*walking
*folding laundry, ironing

As you brush your teeth, notice your breath. Or notice the aliveness in your hands and mouth. As you empty the dishwasher, feel the aliveness in your hand as you put each dish away.

Third, have your dog or cat be your meditation! Have you ever noticed when walking your dog how your dog is completely in the moment, taking in its' surroundings? Well you can join your dog in this blissful state. When walking the dog notice the aliveness in your feet with each step. Notice the aliveness of the trees, birds, your surroundings. While petting the cat, notice the softness of the fur. Be completely present with your dog or cat!

Four, meditate while driving! Now, of course, do NOT close your eyes and meditate while driving. But you can be completely present while driving, with your eyes open. While driving, notice the aliveness in your hands as you touch the steering wheel. Or at a stop sign or in traffic, notice your breath.

These are simple ways you can incorporate meditation into your daily life without taking ANY time out of your current schedule. If we all did these simple things, we'd have a daily meditation practice!

Obstacle #2: Lack of Self-Discipline

The second biggest obstacle people face in incorporating meditation into their daily life is lack of self-discipline! Meditation takes discipline. I know many of us start out with great intentions to meditate daily or to exercise daily and we might do it for a couple of weeks, but then we lack the discipline necessary to continue.

That's why life coaches, personal trainers and other professions have been created! To hold us accountable and to keep us focused!

So if you lack self-discipline, find a meditation partner! Ask your spouse, partner, friend, coworker to join you in incorporating meditation into your daily life. Hold each other accountable.

Or even if you can't find someone that wants to meditate with you, tell your spouse/friend/partner/coworker of your intention to meditate daily and ask him/her to check in with you and ask you how you are doing.

Just as an exercise partner is beneficial and productive, a meditation partner can be too!

Obstacle #3: Not having the right place or space to meditate

The third biggest obstacle people mentioned is NOT having the right place or space to meditate! This is a "perceived obstacle." You can literally meditate anywhere; while driving a car or walking through a crowded mall.

People often use not having a special place or specific area as an excuse to NOT meditate. If we continually wait for the right circumstances to meditate, we'll never meditate.

I give people a meditation assignment: to meditate in a public place! They can walk through the wall and notice people and places, while observing their breath or noticing the aliveness in their feet.

Obstacle #4: Falling Asleep

The fourth most common obstacle to meditation is falling asleep. And yet many meditation CD's say that it's okay if you fall asleep because you are still receiving the benefits of meditation...The only benefit you're receiving is a peaceful sleep! And yet, that is a benefit too! Meditation is awareness. It's being fully present in the moment. When you're asleep, you're asleep, not meditating.

Here are some tips if you fall asleep while meditating:

*Don't meditate at night before bed. So often many of us want to meditate daily but don't think about it until we are in bed or getting ready for bed and then we try to meditate. Of course we'll fall asleep.

*Try meditating in the morning or mid day when you are alert.

*Meditate in small increments throughout the day. Again, notice your breath for a couple minutes while brushing your teeth or showering.

Obstacle #5: Too many distractions

The fifth most common complaint from people is that there are too many distractions to meditate. Yet distractions don't have to be distractions.

For example, during one of my meditations, my cat Vinnie came up to me and started meowing. He wouldn't stop either. He wanted my attention. Now to most people, this would be a distraction and a reason to stop meditating. Instead, I opened my eyes, sat down on the floor with him and petted him while noticing my breath. I incorporated my cat into my meditation. Instead of allowing him to become a distraction, he became my meditation!

If you are meditating and a distraction happens. Just notice it. Allow it to be. If it's something that needs your attention, tend to whatever needs to be done, while still observing your breath!

Obstacle #6: Not knowing how to meditate

So many people feel that they don't know how to meditate. We make meditation more complicated than it really is! Again, meditation is about being present in the moment. It's really about finding what works for you!

Again, you can incorporate meditation into your life without taking time out of your schedule. Your life can become a meditation. It is those moments throughout the day that we are fully present in the moment that matter. And through meditation, we discover the bliss of being that we are!

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