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Counting some health benefits of Meditation

Meditation is not for a few but is necessary for all human beings. The inner self of a person touches the Higher Self (the Param-Tattwa) during deep sleep daily. This unknown touch recharges the battery of man.

Meditation involves sitting in a relaxed position and clearing your mind. You may focus on a sound, like ‘ooommm’, or on your own breathing, or on nothing at all. It’s necessary to have 5-20 distraction-free minutes to spend. It’s helpful to have silence and privacy, but more practiced meditators can do it anywhere. Many practitioners of meditation attach a spiritual component to it, but it can also be a secular exercise.

Meditation is to the mind what sleep is for the physical body—it regenerates you.

Different types of meditation:

Meditation has evolved out of many different religions and philosophies, which means there are many different techniques to choose from.

Some examples include:

•Concentrating on the breath – consciously noticing the movement of air in and out of your nostrils, or counting the breath in variety of ways.

•Emptying the mind – allowing the mind to clear and ‘float’, gently pushing aside any stray thoughts, or allowing thoughts to float in and out of awareness.

•Looking at an object – focusing your attention, but not necessarily your thoughts, on the shape, sound and texture of an object, such as a tree or a candle flame.

•Movement – using a physical technique like yoga, Qi Gong or Tai Chi to still the mind by coordinating the breath and the body with gentle movement.

•Using a mantra – repeating a word or phrase over and over, either out loud or silently, to focus the attention, perhaps timed with the breath.

Meditation, if done on a regular basis, can do wonders for you. Here are some basic benefits which you will draw by regular meditation.

•It stabilizes the autonomous nervous system

•Meditation increases concentration, self-esteem, spontaneity, creativity, and depth of awareness.

•It reduces the heart beat.
 

•It reduces the speed of breathing.

•Blood pressure drops.

•Cardiovascular effectively goes up.

•The Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases.

•The skin receives more blood.

•EMG activity increases.

•Stomach function and bowel function improve.

•The endocrine function is heightened.

•Muscle flexibility increases.

•Mobility and flexibility increase.

•The hand-eye co-ordination increases.

•Body posture is improved.

•Stamina increases.

•There is a heightened energy level and vitality.

•Stability is improved.

•People's weight is stabilized at an ordinary level.

•The ability to sleep increases and the time people need to fall asleep decreases.

•Pain is weakened.

•There is a heightened degree of relaxation.

•There is a lessened degree of muscle tension.

•The production of serotenine increases.

Other benefits:

•Menstruation pains are softened.

•The intake of oxygen gets stronger.

•Depth perception increases

•Reaction-speed increases.

•Strength and resistance increase.

Remember, meditation is not an escape from the world and your responsibilities, but rather a preparation for them.

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