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Practicing Meditation

January 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Kay Vee -

Are you one of those people who have been thinking about doing meditation? Or perhaps you’re already into it. Or maybe you haven’t given it a second thought?

Meditation isn’t just about sitting down with your eyes closed trying not to fall asleep. It is an ancient practice that anyone can use to boost many aspects of their life. It is also an integral part of the process of self-realisation, as proclaimed in eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism.

The primary purpose of meditation is to control the mind. The human mind is like a wild beast that needs to be tamed in order for it to function effectively. One who manages to keep the mind under control can work wonders in their day to day lives.

Posture:

A common posture for the practice of meditation is the padmasana posture, in which the meditator sits cross-legged with feet rested on the thighs. Image-googling ‘meditation’ throws up loads of such images. However, this does not have to be the posture for meditation.

Any position that is comfortable would do, as long as the spine is erect. If you find the padmasana difficult or uncomfortable, try meditating on a chair. It’s important to take that first step to get a feel of the calming effect of meditation.

Breathing:

Proper breathing is an integral part of the practice of meditation. Pranayama is the science of breathing that is recommended for proper meditation. Knowledge of pranayama can be immensely beneficial to a beginner of meditation as it greatly aids in calming the mind and preparing it for more intense concentration.

The benefits of meditation can be realised much more quickly if it goes hand in hand with proper breathing. It is important to understand that proper breathing helps to cleanse the chakras or energy centres located along the spine, and this ultimately leads to the manifestation of a number of benefits. These include better memory, clarity of thinking, increased will power, and confidence.

Concentration:

Another essential component of the practice of meditation is concentration. This is what most people find most difficult. The practice of fixing the mind on a single object or idea sounds impossible.

But it is important to understand that this ability comes gradually. It requires a lot of practice and perseverance. One must also understand that, without getting the posture and breathing right, it becomes much more difficult to achieve concentration.

So take it step by step. Posture, Breathing, and Concentration.

Once you have achieved the ‘meditative state’ – the state of intense concentration, you will begin to realise the benefits.

Perseverance is the key. Do not give up.

Kay Vee specialises in self-improvement and spirituality. His blog, Soul Confluence, presents a range of self-improvement articles with a blend of eastern wisdom and the scientific aspects of religion.

Soul Confluence

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Optimum Health Begins With Proper Breathing

September 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

happy1By Michael Huddleston -

Many people are not aware that with proper breathing health will follow. This is due to the fact that breathing supplies oxygen to the blood. Therefore, it is necessary to breathe properly in order to provide the blood with the right amount of oxygen it needs. Many people practice shallow breathing which is unhealthy. This is because shallow breaths can cause toxic effects to the cells of the body. The best thing to do is to learn how to breathe in a way that will be of the most benefit to your health.

The best approach to this topic is to assess your own style of breathing and determine if you need to make a change. Ask yourself if you breathe too fast or if you often become out of breath. Take note that breaths per minute for men average to be from 12-14 per minute, while women’s breaths average between 14 and 15 per minute. Also consider if your breathing has a tendency to become labored, or if you breathe in a shallow manner. If you realize that any of the above are true of you, then you would likely benefit from yogic breathing. Remember, with proper breathing health will follow.

The following steps will help you engage in yogic breathing:

1. Sit in a chair in a quiet location so that you will not be distracted.

2. Close your eyes and visualize something calming such as a lone figure skater gliding across a deserted frozen pond.

3. Allow your breathe to go in and out through your nose in a long and smooth movement, much like the figure skater gliding across the frozen pond. If you can’t inhale and exhale through your nose comfortably. Then try inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth instead.

4. Repeat the above actions for 20 repetitions, and then allow yourself to return to the way that you normally breathe.

5. Keep your eyes closed as your breathing returns to normal, and take note of how you feel after this exercise.

It is important that you check with your physician if you have any type of breathing or health issues before trying this type of technique. Also, never do more than 20 reps at a time, and don’t strain while breathing. The whole point of yogic breathing is to be in a relaxed state. When you become more practiced at yogic breathing, you can extend it into your daily activities. With this type of breathing health will surely follow.

Michael has been publishing articles for over 8 years. Come visit his latest website at http://www.toddlercarseatsreview.com/ which helps parents find the safest and most affordable   toddler car seats.

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