<h2>Meditation Explained </h2>

<h3>Why Meditate?</h3>

Scientists and doctors study meditation and recommend it. Meditation is now

proven to be more than just a ‘warm and fuzzy’ feeling. It works.

So there are many reasons why people begin to meditate. Some learn meditation

to become more relaxed, for improvement in health, to reduce stress, for clearer

thinking, to become more creative, to sleep better and to improve mental strength.

There are physical, emotional and spiritual Benefits of Meditation. It’s

safe, it’s simple and it’s free.

People who are not familiar with meditation may consider it to be prayer or

worship, but this is far from the truth. Meditation can be described as concentrated

awareness – so as you overcome distractions and focus your mind on something

you are becoming aware; you are meditating when you maintain a continued state

of awareness. There are a wide range of disciplines taught for bringing your

attention on to some object or thought or awareness. In fact what happens in

the process is that meditation moves your brainwaves into an alpha state. This

is a relaxed state with a level of consciousness where you are still aware.

In the alpha state learning and healing are promoted.

<h3>Brainwaves</h3>

Brainwaves are electrical activity emanating from the brain. There are four

categories of brainwaves as shown below:

Beta (alert/working): 15 to 40 hertz

Alpha (relaxed/reflecting): 9 to 14 hertz

Theta (drowsy): 5 to 8 hertz

Delta (sleep/dreaming): 3 to 4 hertz

Delta (deep dreamless sleep): 1.5 to 3 hertz

*Hertz = cycles per second

In the alpha state your brainwaves run between 9 to 14 cycles per second or

hertz, compared with your normal waking state beta: of 15 to 40 hertz. Deeper

states of relaxation move through theta, delta to the deepest delta, which is

a highly creative state of relaxation.

In fact you are meditating when you focus on birds singing, to

the exclusion of all other thoughts, or staring into the fire, just focusing

on that, or concentrating on your breath coming in and out, thinking of nothing

else.

Traditionally Eastern cultures have practised meditation for centuries as part

of their spiritual teachings, and until recently, say the last 30 or 40 years

, Westerners viewed meditation with a bit of suspicion. Now, the benefits are

so well documented and experienced by so many that it has become common practice

for many doctors and health practitioners to recommend meditation as part of

their healing plan.

There are two basic techniques of meditating and the different practices fall

in to either of these two categories, with some variations possible. In mindfulness

meditation the meditator sits in a comfortable position and focuses his attention

and awareness on an object or activity – such as a candle, breathing,

a visualisation or a mantra, keeping an open focus and awareness of the present

moment as he does so. This method allows for free flowing and observing of his

thoughts while using the focus as an ‘anchor’ he constantly brings

his mind back to the focus, when he starts to wander off in to different thoughts.

With concentration meditation which is used by most spiritual and religious

traditions, the meditator keeps his attention on a particular object like repetition

of a prayer or a mantra to minimize distractions, and continually brings his

mind back to the chosen object. Lawrence LeShan defined meditation in ‘How

to Meditate’ as “doing one thing at a time with your whole being”.

In some traditions both mindful and concentration meditation are combined.

It is possible to practice meditation even while walking or doing simple repetitive

tasks. It is in moments when your mind is clear that you get that ‘realisation’,

‘inspiration’ or ‘BFO’ (blinding flash of the obvious).

“AHA” you say, as something miraculously pops in to your head.

Learn How to Meditate

You can attend sessions somewhere in your city, usually free, to learn how to

meditate. There are many books and tapes to help you, most of them excellent

aids. It is easy and simple to learn. There are many tools to help you move

into a meditative state. The one I absolutely love is the Holosync audio tapes

from Centrepointe (centerpointe.com) (I don’t lightly recommend products,

but this advanced Neuro technology is light years ahead of anything else I have

tried and read about. I use it daily).

When you practice meditation regularly you begin to liberate the energy in

your mind and the quality of your consciousness will expand. You will become

more relaxed and happy, experiencing a sense of control of your life. You tend

to approach life in a much more peaceful manner, not stressing in ways you might

have done previously. This is not just a generalised statement, but is now being

proven by empirical research.

I maintain wholeheartedly that meditation is truly beneficial. Do try it.

Winsome Coutts has a passion for The Secret Movie, The Law of Attraction &

Personal Development/Self Help.

For free downloads, heaps of info and self help tools visit her website:

<a href="http://www.the-secret-dvd.net/">The Secret and The Law of Attraction</a>

<a href="http://www.4lifeselfhelp.com">www.4lifeselfhelp.com</a>