Meditation -Holistic relaxation excercises
Meditation
by Rob Daniels
Yoga meditation guidance was described thousands of years
ago by ancient and mystical sages. Since civilized societies
began to emerge, meditation has evolved into a structured
practice. Although there is not a lot of recorded information
dealing with the history of meditation, its roots can be traced
back to ancient times.
Some meditation experts suggest thinking of your mind as
a glass of muddy water and meditation helps bring clarity.
Many forms of meditation result in the clearing of one's mind.
Meditation promotes a sense of calm and heightened awareness.
And that's the real benefit of meditation: teaching your mind
to accept whatever thoughts, feelings and sensations come
along, without judging them or yourself.
Scientific studies show that the regular practice of meditation
can be a powerful healing tool. Meditation helps reduce stress
and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration,
clarity and creativity. Additionally, many studies have shown
meditation can significantly lower stress, chronic pain and
anxiety.
From the dawn of time, meditation has been a vital part
of self transformation and holistic health. Many physicians
consider meditation a key element of an integrated health
program.
While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford
meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it
may do so. Researchers say that meditation works at least
in part by lowering your body's responsiveness to the stress
hormone norepinephrine. But meditation interrupts that flood
of stress chemicals, so you don't feel on guard or tense.
As your entire being becomes absorbed in meditation, every
stress and strain of daily life will fall from your shoulders.
Through meditation, one can cultivate a wonderful inner quiet
that will melt away stress and nervousness.
In general, meditation produces a reduction in multiple
biological systems, resulting in a state of relaxation. Studies
of brain physiology during meditation have most frequently
employed the electroencephalograph (EEG) for the measurement
of brain wave electrical activity. During meditation, the
brain's activity, as mapped by an EEG, alters significantly.
These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very
profound influence on the heart and its activity.
The most well-known brain waves evident during many kinds
of meditation are called alpha waves. The scans provide remarkable
clues about what goes on in the brain during meditation. Although
study results vary, there were similar findings: meditation
lowers bodily metabolism, slows brain waves, and induces relaxation.
Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest
changes in brain structure.
This is accomplished as Meditation brings the brainwave pattern
into an alpha state, which is a level of consciousness that
promotes the healing state.
The researchers observed that the variability of beat-to-beat
heart rate was directly affected by meditation. These results
reveal that meditation can have a deep and very profound influence
on the heart and its activity. If meditation is practiced
regularly, these beneficial changes become relatively permanent.
One of many benefits of meditation is that it opens your
mind to new ideas. What is more important is the acquisition
of the purity and concentration of mind in moments of meditation.
Purity of the mind achieved during meditation is essential
to gain access to Higher Self.
About the Author
Rob Daniels is a long term practitioner of Yoga and Pilates
additional articles available at Religious Podcasts http://www.religious-podcasts.net
and Yoga Store http://www.yoga-store.net
|
