 Meditation techniques have been practiced for thousands of years. Originally the goal was to help individuals deepen their understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. And for many, meditation continues to be a spiritual and religious practice. Variations of meditative practice are found in all of the world's religions.
But for a growing number of people, meditation is about stress reduction. So how do you meditate and where do you find the inspiration to quiet your mind? Follow these steps to explore different types of meditation.
What is meditation?
Meditation is a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practice that falls under the category of mind-body techniques. These types of therapies strengthen communication between your body and your mind. Other types of mind-body techniques include support groups, hypnosis, biofeedback, and creative outlets such as art, music or dance therapy.
While there are different paths to meditation, in general, when you're meditating, you're concentrating. The focus of your concentration can be anything — an object, a sound or even your own breathing. The goal of meditation is to focus on the moment, clearing away your worries
Can meditation help you achieve stress reduction?
Meditation is used by people who are perfectly healthy as a means of stress reduction. But if you have a medical condition that's worsened by stress, you might find the practice valuable in reducing the stress-related effects of allergies, asthma, chronic pain and arthritis, among others.
Can meditation help relieve the symptoms of other medical conditions?
Meditation isn't typically used in place of traditional therapies, such as medications your doctor prescribes. Instead, you might use meditation to supplement your other treatments. Medical research into meditation is limited, and the validity of some studies has been questioned. Keeping that in mind, some research shows that meditation may be beneficial for certain conditions when used along with medications or other interventions recommended by your doctor, including:
* Anxiety
* Depression
* Stress
* High blood pressure
* Heart disease
What are the different types of meditation?
Several different forms of meditation exist. Meditation can involve movement or complete stillness.
Tomorrow we will look at some different types of meditation.
Labels: anti-aging, meditation, stress reduction |
