Meditation Can Change Your Life

When you think of meditation, what image does it conjure up in your mind? Sitting cross legged on the floor… mystical gurus chanting unintelligible sounds… strange and religious….?

Or maybe you recognise that it’s a good thing; you may have even had a go at it in the past, but decided it is not for you, or you just can’t find the time to do it regularly.

Since I started meditating regularly about 2 years ago, my life has become a whole lot better. I have far more peace and inner contentment, I feel more in control of my emotions and I feel physically healthier.

Most people associate meditation with spiritual practice, but the many well-recognised health benefits have resulted in meditation now being implemented in the treatment of life-threatening illnesses, reversal of mental illnesses and management of lifestyle, to name but a few.

According to ‘Health and Yoga.com’, the health benefits of meditation include:

Lowering of oxygen consumptionr
Decreasing respiratory rater
Increasing blood flow and slowing the heart rater
Increasing exercise tolerance in heart patientsr
Leading to deeper level of relaxationr
Good for people with high blood pressure as it bring the BP to normalr
Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactater
Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headachesr
Builds self confidencer
Increasing serotonin production which influences mood and behaviour. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression, obesity, insomnia and headachesr
Helps in chronic diseases like allergies, arthritis etcr
Reduces Pre-menstrual Syndromer
Helps in post-operative healingr
Enhances the immune system. Research has revealed that meditation increases activity of 'natural-killer cells', which kill bacteria and cancer cellsr
Reduces activity of viruses and emotional distress

http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/meditation/objectives.htmlMeditation has also been shown to help to:
Focus attentionr
Increase ability to think clearly and to make good decisionsr
Increase the ability to control negative emotionsr
Let go of anger and resentmentr
Improve sleep patternsr
Lead to happiness and inner contentment

That’s a lot of good reasons for learning to meditate. But how do you do it?
Anyone can learn to meditate; it just takes a certain amount of discipline – rather like physical exercise does. The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the more you will benefit from the practice.

Here are my 8 easy steps to get you going:

1. Set aside a time and place where you won’t be disturbed. Lighting a candle to begin your meditation practice can be a helpful focus.
2. Put on some gentle music to help you relax and clear your mind.
3. Sit or lie in a comfortable position with your back straight. If you are sitting, let your hands rest comfortably on your lap. If you are lying, let your hands rest down by your side, with your palms facing upwards.
4. Take a few deep breaths from your tummy, allowing your tummy to rise as it fills with air, and deflate as you breathe out. Exhale right to the very end of the breath, getting rid of all the stale air in your lungs.
5. Let your breathing return to normal and begin focussing on your breath, following the breath in and following the breath out. As your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the focus of your meditation as soon as you become aware of it.
6. Imagine that with every in-breath you are taking in pure, clean energy to revitalise your body. Imagine that with every out-breath you are releasing negative emotions, conce
s, toxins from the body. See yourself letting them go away on the breath.
7. When you are nicely relaxed, just let yourself go, even deeper than concentration on the breath. Let go of everything and let your mind float free.
8. When you are ready to end, take a few deep breaths from your tummy, become aware of your surroundings again, wriggle your fingers and toes, feel your connection with the ground beneath you, have a stretch. Open your eyes when you are ready to do so.

For further help and advice on meditation, Soul Coaching or Personal Life Coaching, contact me on: carolpage@newpagelc.co.uk