Meditation is a way to train the
mind to reach a state of peace that brings physiological and
psychological benefits.
There is a common
misunderstanding that meditation is the same as relaxation.
But when meditation is practised regularly, it can bring
more benefits than relaxation. For instance:
While meditation helps to relax the body, it also helps people
gain better control over their thoughts and emotions.
People who meditate regularly find that they think
more clearly and that their memory and concentration have
improved.
Medical research has found that
meditation is helpful for stress-related conditions
because it lowers blood pressure, slows the pulse rate and
slows the respiratory rate while maintaining the same levels
of oxygen in the blood.
The most common forms of
meditation come from the East and have origins in Buddhism,
Hinduism and Taoism. In the West, these methods are
practical self-help techniques for coping with our fast-paced
lives.
Alison Finney is a certified hatha and kundalini
yoga teacher in Ottawa. She is registered with the Yoga
Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers
Association and is the founder of PranaShanti, a health and
yoga resource. For more information, visit www.pranashanti.com.
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