Meditation is an ancient art which has highly modern relevance. Everyday life today is busy, stressful, and full-on – most people find it tough to achieve a balance between getting everything done and taking time out to relax. If you have too much on your plate and find it difficult to deal with stress then you may benefit from the powers of meditation.

How Meditation Helps Your Health

• You gain greater clarity of thought and focus. Meditation is the act of focusing your mind and turning your attention inwards. This action is transferable to your everyday life even when you are not meditating – you are better able to concentrate on tasks and see things in perspective.
• Lower levels of anxiety. Meditation is used as a technique to lower levels of anxiety and treat anxiety when it is a long-term health condition.
• Better reaction to stressful situations. Many people find they are better able to deal with stressful and irritating situations in everyday life when they are meditating on a regular basis. Meditation gives you perspective on these irritations.
• Meditation affects the cortisol levels in your body. Cortisol is a stress hormone and lower levels of this hormone benefit your body – many diseases and conditions are linked to stress and lowering stress levels is a big advantage when it comes to your overall health.
• Balance your emotional state. Meditation can help you feel more in control and in a better emotional place. Practicing meditation on a regular basis leads to a more positive outlook, according to many people.

How to Meditate

There are many different ways to meditate but the overall aim and technique is the same. Meditation allows you to focus your mind and turn your attention inward so you feel more relaxed and better able to deal with stress.  The simplest way to begin to meditate is to choose five minutes when you won’t be disturbed, sit in a comfortable position, and close your eyes. Focus on your breath as you sit in silence. If thoughts come into your mind then acknowledge them and let them go. Here are some of the techniques you can use for meditation. Experiment so see which practice best suits you and your lifestyle:

• Guided meditation is the process of visualizing situations or places where you feel secure and which you find positive and uplifting.
• Mantra meditation is where you use a word or phrase, repeated silently, to focus your mind and prevent intrusive thoughts.
• Mindfulness meditation encourages you to focus on the present moment and be aware of exactly what you are feeling and experiencing.
• Transcendental meditation uses a mantra to bring inward focus.
• Yoga is a form of meditation where postures are combined with deep breathing to bring inner clarity and peace.