MEDITATION
Meditation is a mental discipline that induces a state of total relaxation and inner harmony.
Various techniques of meditation are available.
These all involve focusing the mind on an object or activity.
In Eastern societies it is used as a means of spiritual enlightment.
In Western societys it tends to be used as a means of dealing with stress.
Meditation is a useful self help technique that can be used without any adherence to any religeon.
Meditation is a state of heightened mental awareness.
Meditation involves withdrawing from external reality and achieving deep relaxation.
Meditation has been shown to reverse the damaging effects of stress.
When you are under pressure the brain will tell the adrenal glands to produce certain hormones.
This will cause your blood pressure and muscle tension to increase.
When you meditate your brain waves change to a certain distinctive alpha pattern that is linked with deep relaxation and mental alertness.
Regular meditators are able to shift into this pattern at will.
The stae of altered awareness experienced during meditation is associated with certain electrical activity in the cortex of the brain.
This activity may be charted as brain wave patterns on a graph.
The normal states of consciousness such as being awake, sleeping and dreaming can be detected in the wave patterns produced by the brain.
However the state of meditation differs from these.
Brain waves associated with quite, receptive states are called alpha waves.
EEG graphs show that meditation produces alpha waves of a much higher intensity than those that occur during your sleep.
MANTRA MEDITATION : A word or a phrase that is continually repeated.
It may be repeated aloud or in silence.
It may be a positive statement or relate to personal beliefs.
ROSARIES : Rosary beads may be used in the meditation process to count repetitions.
TIBETAN PRAYER WHEEL : Each rotation of this cylinder will stand for one recitation of a mantra.
OM : A sacred mantra widely used in meditation.
BREATH AWARENESS : Focus your attention on your breathing.
You think of a peaceful word with each outward breath.
Meditation is however practised in the worlds major religeons including Judaism, Islam and Buddhism.
Meditation was mainly introduced to the West through Indian Yoga practises which were brought to England in the 19th century.
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