3 Jan : The use of Meditation for healing is not new. These techniques are the product of diverse cultures and peoples around the world. It has been rooted in the traditions of the world’s great religions. In fact, practically all religious groups practice this in one form or another. The value of Meditation to alleviate suffering and promote healing has been known and practiced for thousands of years. It has been practiced for thousands of years. It originally was meant to help deepen understanding of the sacred and mystical forces of life. These days, it is commonly used for relaxation and stress reduction. Anyone can practice this. It’s simple and inexpensive, and it doesn’t require any special equipment. And you can practice it wherever you are — whether you’re out for a walk, riding the bus, waiting at the doctor’s office or even in the middle of a difficult business meeting. Some of the meditators, whose ages ranged from seventeen to forty-one, had been meditating only a few weeks, others for several years. All recorded changes associated with deep relaxation. The fall in metabolic rate was the most striking discovery. This was indicated by a dramatic drop in oxygen consumption within a few minutes of starting meditation. Consumption fell by up to twenty per cent below the normal level; below that experienced even in deep sleep. It took on average two breaths less and one litre less air per minute. The heart rate was several beats less per minute.
Understanding meditation
Meditation, considered a type of mind-body complementary medicine, produces a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. During this, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process results in enhanced physical and emotional well-being.
Benefits of meditation
It can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits both your emotional well-being and your overall health. And these benefits don’t end when your session ends. It can help carry you more calmly through your day and improve certain medical conditions.
Meditation and emotional well-being
When you meditate, you clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to your stress.
The emotional benefits of this include:
* Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
* Building skills to manage your stress
* Increased self-awareness
* Focusing on the present
* Reducing negative emotions
Concentrative meditation focuses the attention on the breath, an image, or a sound (mantra), in order to still the mind and allow a greater awareness and clarity to emerge. This is like a zoom lens in a camera; we narrow our focus to a selected field.
The simplest form is to sit quietly and focus the attention on the breath. Yoga and meditation practitioners believe that there is a direct correlation between one’s breath and one’s state of the mind. For example, when a person is anxious, frightened, agitated, or distracted, the breath will tend to be shallow, rapid, and uneven. On the other hand, when the mind is calm, focused, and composed, the breath will tend to be slow, deep, and regular. Focusing the mind on the continuous rhythm of inhalation and exhalation provides a natural object of meditation. As you focus your awareness on the breath, your mind becomes absorbed in the rhythm of inhalation and exhalation. As a result, your breathing will become slower and deeper, and the mind becomes more tranquil and aware.