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How to Meditate

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How to Meditate

IMAGE Meditation is becoming a popular way to relax our overworked minds. It involves focusing continuously on one thought, word (mantra), object, or mental image for a period of time. It can also involve focusing on your breathing or on sensations in your body. The goal of meditation is to quiet your mind, which may reduce stress and the connection it has to long-term diseases like heart disease.
Meditation is thought to suppress the part of the nervous system that increases heart rate, breathing rate, or blood pressure while enhancing the relaxing side of the nervous system.
There are many types of meditation, but here is some basic information that to help you get started.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is believed to help you achieve calmness, relaxation and psychological balance. These changes accompany deep relaxation and may include:
  • Reducing heart rate and blood pressure by opening blood vessels
  • Reducing respiratory rate and oxygen consumption
  • Reducing blood flow to skeletal muscles
  • Reducing muscle tension
  • Increasing immunity (resistance to or recovery from illness)
  • Increasing energy, awareness, and mental focus
Researchers have studied relaxation therapies, including meditation, as a way to treat a number of conditions, such as:

Basic Techniques

There are many different types of meditation and no right technique for everybody. You need to find out what works best for you. Most types of meditation include the following basic elements:

Position

Before engaging your mind, follow these guidelines to make your body comfortable:
  • Sit in a comfortable position on the floor or in a chair.
  • Make sure the cushion you sit on is slightly higher in the back than in front, tipping you forward slightly.
  • If you choose a chair, keep your knees comfortably apart and rest your hands in your lap.
  • Keep shoulders level and your elbows away from your side to promote air circulation.
  • Keep your spine straight and vertical, but not rigid.
  • Sitting in a cross-legged position is not necessary, but try to get as close to this position as possible as it promotes relaxation and detachment.

Focus

In order to direct your thoughts, do the following:
  • Find a quiet location.
  • Focus your attention by repeating a mantra, or staring at an object.
  • Keep an open mind.
  • Minimize distraction and keep your mind from wandering.
  • Breathe through your nose, if possible.
  • Be attentive to your breathing, but stay relaxed and breathe naturally.

Progress

At first, you may find it difficult to focus but like most things, meditation should become easier with regular practice. Experiment to find out what technique works best for you. Consider taking a meditation class where many different techniques are taught. Some have a spiritual focus and others are more focused on stress reduction. Talk to the instructor about your goals and preferences to understand if the class may be right for you. With a little practice you'll be on your way to a more peaceful existence.

RESOURCES

Mental Health America http://www.nmha.org/

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://nccam.nih.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

Canadian Meditation Institute http://www.canadianmeditation.org/

References

Depression alternative treatments. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated August 20, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2012.

Fibromyalgia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated August 10, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2012.

Generalized anxiety disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated November 8, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2012.

Hypertension alternative treatments. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated August 17, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2012.

Insomnia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated July 9, 2012. Accessed November 13, 2012.

How to Meditate. How to Meditate website. Available at: http://www.how-to-meditate.org/index.php/Accessed November 13, 2012

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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