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Meditation has its origins in Eastern culture, but it has been practiced for centuries in cultures all over the world.  Meditation refers to a large variety of practices and techniques and includes guided meditation, transcendental meditation and mindful meditation practice.  Many different techniques can be used, such as the focus of the mind on certain objects or words, or on the breath.  Sometimes a particular posture can be used but isn’t necessary. Let this be part of your beginners guide to meditation.

Meditation can be learned by anyone, doesn’t require getting special equipment, and can be done anywhere.  Meditation and yoga for stress relief can make a big impact. Even after the first session, you may experience a reduction in stress.  It’s been found by researchers that just 20 minutes a day is all one needs to do to reap the long-term benefits.  Even meditating 10 minutes a few days a week could produce positive results.

Psychological and physiological health can be improved by regularly practicing meditation.  Meditation can induce the pattern of brainwaves to achieve the alpha state, which is the state of consciousness that encourages healing to take place.  Meditation can be a way to relax, to promote mental clarity, to bring about psychological health, to assist in treating many different diseases and maladies, and for general health of mind and body.

It’s been found in studies that meditation activates the part of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system, controlling the body functions like digestion and blood pressure.  Stress has a powerful negative impact on these functions, so meditation can help relieve the causes of stress-related disease, like digestive disorders or heart conditions.

A study reported in Psychosomatic Medicine described 90 cancer patients who practiced mindful meditation for seven weeks.  At the conclusion of this study, patients said they experienced less depression, confusion, anger or anxiety.  They reported having more energy and fewer gastrointestinal or heart problems.

At the Maharishi School of Management in Fairfield, Iowa, a group was studied whose members had meditated for four months.  Researchers found reduced levels of cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone, and these people who had meditated reported they could better handle stress in their lives, which includes tips on dealing with anxiety and depression.

Research can help confirm some of what we know about, but there are obviously many benefits we can claim without research.  Meditation offers benefits to almost everyone, and has no reported ill effects.