meditation

Too much stress? You need a simple stress meditation. Of course
learning to meditate might intimidate you
and it's tough to find the time for daily meditation. A solution to both problems is a meditation you can learn right now
that will take a minute to do each day.

An Easy Stress Meditation

When you breath through your mouth
it expands your chest. Breath through your nose and you'll notice how your abdomen extends. Nose-breathing causes the diaphram to pull air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain
and it also tends to relax you. Breathing through your nose is healthier
and it's the basis of this one-minute meditation.

Here's how you do it. Close your eyes
sigh
and let the tension go out of your muscles. It may help to tense up your muscles first
then release that tension. Then let go of your thoughts
as much as possible
and take four or five slow
deep breaths through your nose
paying attention to your breathing.

Can Meditation Be This Easy?

The short answer is yes. No
you're not likely to get you into a deep meditative state with this simple stess meditation. However
you will get benefits
including a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.

It helps to develop a "trigger" for your meditation. For example
do your four breaths when you get into the car
or right after lunch each day. These triggers are places or times that remind you
so your meditation becomes a habit.

You can say this isn't "real" meditation
but there's nothing wrong with enjoying the relaxation you'll get from this technique. If you want
you can always pursue deeper meditation later. Meanwhile
remember that not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not try this easy one-minute stress meditation?

Wondering how people who live to be 100 with a great quality of life do it? In his book
“Aging Well
” Harvard researcher
George Vaillant
M.D.
found out just what centurions do. They cultivate a sense of peace
well-being and maintain a positive attitude. How? Here’s one of their biggest secrets: meditation. What’s ironic about meditation is
it has just become known in the West as a healing technique
but it has been practiced for ages in the East. So in my quest to give you easy sensible ways to purify your energy
I'll begin by defining meditation
then I'll show you how easy it is to apply to your daily routine.

Meditation Defined
Meditational exercises primarily use the experience of the body and thought as a means to reconnect with the environment and its healing power. Meditation
when practiced frequently
has been proven to promote inner peace and wellness. Meditation is also a mental practice in which the mind is directed to one area
often the breath. It draws its energy from the human connection to nature and creates a sense of unity or one-ness with it.

This unity has been shown to increase communication with the spirit of the body. It has also been known to allow positive thoughts in and to stimulate positive physiological and psychological effects. Meditation techniques are easy to learn and can easily be incorporated into any lifestyle. If practiced regularly
meditation will bring balance to your body and mind.

General benefits of meditation and breathing exercises include:

• Deep inner peace
• Improved self-esteem
• Increased creativity
• Physical health/healing
• Reduced medical care
• Slowing/reversal of aging
• Reversing of heart disease
• Stimulation of the body’s immune system
• Reduced stress

I have found there is really no one right ways to meditate. Here are a couple of my favorite meditational exercises that will get you started. Remember
there is no wrong path here. Try these
or simply sit in silence for 20 minutes
daily. You’ll be glad you did.

Meditative Grounding Exercise

• Sit with your legs crossed in a comfortable (Indian-style) position with your hands relaxed on you lap. Close your eyes and imagine a beam of light dropping from the base of your spine through the earth and connecting you to its center.

• Allow this beam of light to expand in width until it is wider than your own body and envelopes it. This is your personal space.

This exercise places you totally in your body and reminds you that you are anchored to the earth. Remember
the more grounded you are
the more aware you are. Sense the presence of your higher self: listen to its voice.

Energy Cleaning Exercise

Now that you are grounded
it’s important that you cleanse this personal space. Often we collect other people’s energies and are not aware of it. We do this both through interaction with others and basic activities of daily living.

• To remove all foreign energies from your space
imagine holding a brush and sweeping away the debris.

• Allow the debris to fall to the ground and become washed away. Let the light from the previous exercise envelop your body and spread its healing energy to the edge of your space
forming a protective force field around you.

Cleaning out the area surrounding your body will keep you grounded
define your personal boundaries and declare your space. Then choose who and what you wish to enter you space
keeping disease and illness out.

Breathing Exercise

• Follow your breath as you slowly inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Count with each exhale until you reach 10 then begin again at one.

• If you find yourself past 10
acknowledge this and begin again at one from wherever you are.

• Imagine your body’s cells being replaced with fresh
pure oxygen and positive healing energy from this power source. Picture yourself exhaling old cells
stress
illness and worries.

• Let your thoughts pass through your mind like drifting clouds. Let them in and gently let them pass through. If the mind should harbor a negative thought
refocus on the breath.

• Thank any persistent negative thoughts for coming into your mind then gently let them go.

• Listen only for the positive
pronounced voice; the voice of your body.

Retrieve Your Energy Exercise

Since foreign energy often resides in your space
let’s also assume that you leave energy in other places. After completing the preceding exercises it is necessary to re-energize and call energy back.

• Imagine you have an energy magnet used to attract your energy back to you. Visualize energy flowing back to you
filling your body with light
health and empowerment.

• Allow a few minutes for the process.

Journal Questions:

1. Record in your journal any problem or trouble you may be having – emotional
physical or otherwise. Let problems go and give them over to your meditation.

2. Do you notice solutions coming to you throughout the day? Do you notice with regular meditation that your body and mind are becoming calmer and clearer?

Ideas To Consider:

1. Make time for your spirit daily. Exhibit behaviors and self talk that show your reverence for yourself.

There are so many different types of meditation. How many? Who knows
but enough so that you can find the one that's right for you. To get your search started
here are six types of meditation you can try.

1. Breath watching. Can meditating be as simple as paying attention to your breath for a few minutes? You bet. Relax in whatever position works best for you
close your eyes and start to pay attention to your breathing. Breathing through your nose gets your diaphragm involved and gets oxygen all the way to the bottom of your lungs. As your mind wanders
just re-focus your attention on the air going in and out of your nose. Just do this for several minutes
or longer as you get used to it.

2. An empty mind meditation. Meditating can create a kind of "awareness without object
an emptying of all thoughts from your mind. The techniques for doing this involve sitting still, often in a
full lotus" or cross-legged position
and letting the mind go silent on its own. It can be difficult
particularly since any effort seems to just cause more business in the mind.

3. Walking meditations. This one gets the body involved. It can be outside or simply as a back and forth pacing in a room. Pay attention to the movement of your legs and breathing and body as you walk
and to the feeling of your feet contacting the ground. When your mind wanders
just keep bringing it back to the process of walking and breathing. Meditating outside in this way can be difficult because of the distractions. If you do it outside
find a quiet place with level ground.

4. Mindfulness meditation. A practice Buddhists call vipassana or insight meditation
mindfulness is the art of becoming deeply aware of what is here right now. You focus on what's happening in and around you at this very moment
and become aware of all the thoughts and feelings that are taking your energy from moment to moment. You can start by watching your breath
and then move your attention to the thoughts going through your mind
the feelings in your body
and even the sounds and sights around you. The key is to watch without judging or analyzing.

5. Simple mantra meditation. Many people find it easier to keep their mind from wandering if they concentrate on something specific. A mantra can help. This is a word or phrase you repeat as you sit in meditation
and is chosen for you by an experienced master in some traditions. If you are working on this alone
you can use any word or phrase that works for you
and can choose to either repeat it aloud or in your head as you meditate.

6. Meditating on a concept. Some meditative practices involve contemplation of an idea or scenario. An example is the "meditation on impermanence
in which you focus on the impermanent nature of all things, starting with your thoughts and feelings as they come and go. In the Buddhist
meditation on the corpse
you think about a body in the ground, as it slowly rots away and is fed on by worms. The technique is used to guide you to an understanding that your rationalizing mind might not bring you to.

There are many other meditations you can try, such as the
meditation on loving-kindness" or "object" meditation
and even meditating using brain wave entrainment products. Each type has its own advantages and effects. For this reason
you may find that at different times and for different purposes you want to use several different types of meditation.

Singapore healthcare industry has achieved fame with a series of breakthrough medical procedures including the following events.

ท In 1995
Singapore doctors carried out the world's first successful peripheral blood stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.
ท In 2000
Singapore doctors performed Asia's first unicompartmental arthroplasty.
ท In 2001
Singapore doctors carried out Southeast Asia's first heart transplant using an Electronic Heart Assist (Left Ventricular Assist Device) on a 36-year-old patient suffering from severely impaired heart function.
ท In 2001
Singapore doctors successfully separated a pair of craniopagus
conjoined (joined at the head) twins from Nepal in a milestone operation that lasted more than 90 hours.
ท The world's first successful cord blood transplant from an unrelated donor on a patient with Thalassaemia Major
was performed in 2001.
ท In 2002
Singapore doctors performed Southeast Asia's first Adult Living Donor Liver Transplant.
ท The revolutionary procedure of tooth-in-eye implant was performed successfully in 2004.
ท Singapore doctors successfully separated conjoined twins at the stomach in 2005.
ท In 2005
Singapore performed Asia’s first kidney cum bone marrow transplant.

In addition
Singapore has the most JCI-accredited hospitals in Asia. With internationally accredited hospitals
Singapore offers medical facilities that match the international healthcare standards at lower rates. This is one of the major reasons behind the booming medical tourism industry in Singapore. The following statistics will give you an idea of the medical travel scenario in Singapore.

ท Every year
more than 300
0
healthcare visitors come to Singapore to seek medical treatment.
ท In 2005
Singapore attracted 374
0
patient visitors.
ท Asia’s medical tourism market will worth up to US$4 billion by 2012 and Singapore is focused to attract one million patients by year 2012.

Patients from Indonesia
Malaysia
the Middle East
Bangladesh
India
Australia and even from U.S. and U.K. are coming to Singapore in large numbers. So many patients from all corners of the world are flocking the hospitals in Singapore to seek specialist care in the areas of cardiology
gynaecology
orthopaedic surgery
oncology
otorhinolaryngology
urology
neurosurgery and opthalmology
along with general surgery and general medicine. There are a number of reasons behind this phenomenal increase of patients opting for medical travel to Singapore. Here
we are sharing just some of the key points with you that we think have been instrumental in making Singapore a hot spot in international healthcare scene.

ท Specialized Centers – There are specialized centers of treatment including neurology
cardiology
ophthalmology
oncology and much more. These centers provide highest level of healthcare service that caters to patients coming from all across the globe for health screening as well as treatment.

ท Experienced Professionals – There are wide pool of expert doctors to take care of the simple to most complex health problems. Besides
there are expert professionals working at the Singapore healthcare establishments to ensure optimum healthcare solution.

ท Cutting Edge Technologies – Hospitals at Singapore have state of the art infrastructure to ensure top class treatment of the patients. The most advanced technologies puts Singapore at par with the US and UK hospitals.

ท Advanced Treatment Procedures – Singapore is the biomedical research hub of Asia. There are extensive R&D facilities to explore new and more advanced medicines and treatment procedures.

ท Peace of Mind – Singapore is a multilingual and multi-cultural city with truly cosmopolitan sprit. So
while you are in Singapore for medical reasons
you will never feel out of place. Your companions will be safe too as Singapore is well-known for its low-crime environment. Moreover
the organized travel and tourism industry is ready to take care of your travel and accommodation requirement in Singapore.

So
if you are suffering from any health problem or you want a proper health screening
come to Singapore and experience truly international quality healthcare facilities at unbelievable cost.


http://www.singaporemedicine.com

Contact Us

http://app.singaporemedicine.com/asp/fee/fee01a.asp

Serenity refers to a state of peacefulness where the mind is calm and unruffled by the external environment. This higher spiritual echelon
or inner peace
is accompanied by a sense of contentment and bliss. Human beings are distinct from all other life forms due to their intelligence and consciousness. The conscious mind perceives the external world and feels various emotions based on experiences and perception.

These feelings
emotions
and sentiments
in turn
determine our inner equilibrium or “inner life.” Consciousness
which stems from internalization of social values and morals
also plays a major role in directing the inner equilibrium. Most of the time
the inner life or equilibrium of a human mind is in a disturbed state. The mind is never at peace
and chaos reigns due to anger
shame
feelings of guilt
and sadness. The human mind strives to achieve the right balance or equilibrium. The eternal quest for the ultimate goal—bliss—proceeds in many directions.

Some seek respite in various forms of addiction
or others by passionately submerging themselves in work or pleasure. These paths
however
never satiate the true desire for peace or tranquility. Serenity
or peace
is achieved by striving for inner peace first. The most important step in this direction is to recognize the inner child of the mind. The second step emancipating the inner child from all forms of abuse and loving it unconditionally
like a child.

Self-love is the key to serenity. Self-love doesn’t require one to be directed by the inner child. One should take control as a conscious being and love one’s self
yet not be dictated by it. Some find serenity in nature; for others
serenity is found in visiting with family and friends. True serenity is achieved by empowering the inner life and allowing it to reflect the external life.

What is relaxation?

In common terminology
relaxation means that we leave ourselves free of tension. Relaxing mind may mean that the mind is not under stress or active. In today's lifestyle
this looks difficult. Isn't it?
Now a days
most of us believe to be being under stress during most of the week and relax only on the weekends. This is considered the common way of life. Is this the right way of living? Is living a relaxed life all the time not our right? Let us reclaim it.

Bad stress -

If you ask anyone that why is he/she under stress most of the week
what answer do you expect to get? I have so much work to do
deadlines to meet
tasks to be completed
prepare for the new launch etc. Don't you think that something like this will be the response?

Let us discuss why most of us are stressed all the time.
At some time in our life
while we are chasing the dreams we lose our habit of sitting back and reflecting. We begin giving auto responses. If we are held up in a traffic jam
our response is - either to worry about the work ahead
or blame the system or some such negative thought. Not many of us think - All right. If the traffic is not moving
let me relax
listen to some good music
or go back to some childhood memories
remember good friends
let me make the best use of the time to relax and enjoy life. Not many of us respond in this way. We respond in stressed way whenever we come across any similar situation. This habit is taking a big toll on our quality of life.

Stress - A way of life.

We have taken stress as a way of life. Very few of us think about why they are trying to work at such a hectic pace and if ultimately
we are going to leave this world with a lot of incomplete work
why not at least work in a relaxed way? What is the use of working so much
if we kill all the joy. In search of a better tomorrow
we kill the present. Isn't it?

Stressed work environment
stressed family life
no time to just walk around doing nothing but watch the nature...Why? It is as if we want to achieve most in the shortest possible time and therefore have no time to relax Working non-stop all the week is a way of life for a large majority. The increase in cardiac attacks
depression etc
are all the results of this stressed lifestyle. When we get stressed
we look around for the latest stress busters
latest therapies
etc. to counter the stress.

And then by the time the week ends
we again go out somewhere to relax. Sometimes holidays also tire
don't they?

Why not lead a relaxed life all through the week?
Why not work in a relaxed frame of mind? Why get stressed?
Reflection about our own life is very essential if we want to reclaim our right to live peacefully. Will it help
if we bring some beautiful scenes of nature on our computers? Will it help
if we find time to watch a butterfly flying on our screens? The beauty of a colorful flower. Can it make us little relaxed?
If your answer is yes
download screensavers and find time to watch them whenever you find time while working. Look at them
wonder about the beauty of nature
think of their perfection and just relax.

When Oprah Winfrey was interviewed by the legendary US television reporter Barbara Walters she was asked "what's the reason you put yourself on the line week after week
year after year
on the cutting edge of human emotion?" Oprah replied "Teaching people to take responsibly. I believe the secret to life is to take responsibility
once people grasp that I believe everything in their life changes. Once people understand it and live it
they are at cause for their life rather than living in effect and in reaction."

Public issues aside most people agree Bill Clinton was a very charismatic leader. Yet by his own admission in his autobiography he talks about painful acts in his childhood
anger and emotion that drove him to a better life. He hit a level of threshold where he was finally dissatisfied enough with his life to make changes. He was literally propelled forward to improve his life
and dream
and apply and learn the tools and strategies to assist himself and those around him. It's up to us to make a decision
to release all our negative emotions
to live in the present and to move into the future with improvement. The best thing about the past is that it's over.

Make a decision right now to release any old emotion you had with other people and move forward empowered. Put your shoulders back. Now stop and do something a little ridiculous. Float way up in the air in your mind
imagine you’re near a big ravine
put 100 singers down each side and hear them singing now. Hear the lightning coming down the side of the cliff. Feel the static electricity in the air. Now imagine a big puma in front of you
licking its lips. Now step inside the puma
feel the muscles and the strength and look way down the bottom
way off into the distance
so small it’s barely a speck
way down the bottom of the cliff is a person or situation you were facing. Hear the singers sing "Your Butt is Mine". Most of us don't feel good because we don’t do what could be described as "ridiculous mental conditioning".

Stop now and imagine a room in your mind
walk down the stairs
as you walk down with each stair releasing negativity and building up strength. At the bottom is a door. Open it. Inside is a beautiful garden. Imagine the sight
the sound
the feel and the smell. And in this garden are some people you need to meet. You need to have a conversation with them that goes something along the lines of "I forgive you". You may not be aware yet of the cords that still connect you to these people.

Now
stop and take two giant blades and drop them down and cut those cords and see the people fly off into the distance to go about their own growing. Now feel a pleasant feeling in your body. Lock this feeling in.

Consciously feel the release. Now visualize in front of you how you want to be
a more advanced version of you. Filled with whatever positive emotions you desire. Stop and imagine the qualities you need. Notice how does this new you look? Notice how his new you is feeling? Notice how this new you sounds? If you haven’t yet noticed then feel the strength from being around this new you. Notice how this new you stands and breathes. Now step into this taking on all the qualities of this new you. Make a commitment with this deepest part of yourself to take this new you around with you wherever you go.

What would this new you do? What would this new you stand for? What would this new you contribute? What would this new you be interested in? How will this you respond when you get off track? How will it feel when you live you life at this new standard? Step into this new you and feel the feelings in your body.

Decide to take your relationships to the next level. People love to talk about their own interests
learn to cultivate the art of being a good listener and people will like you - even if you have to sacrifice some of the conversational enjoyment for yourself to give to others. Watch the difference in your own life. People build up rapport with others by speaking at about the same speed and the same volume as the other person.

Consciously dwell on something that makes you feel strong. Clear your head. Adapt some positive characteristics of a role model. One of the best ways to gain confidence is to decide right now to have it
and embrace it.

This article is designed to help you understand the relatively new technology of Binaural Beats
as used in the Holosync recordings. You should be aware of how this technology works
the benefits it can bestow and any potential dangers that may come from its use.

By far the most popular binaural beats recording is Holosync. This program is designed to remove negative programming from your past and free you from past traumas
bad memories
emotional issues and negative beliefs. But does it work? To answer that question let me explain a little about the technology.

Binaural Beats are specific frequencies that can bring you into a profoundly deep state of meditation within minutes using the latest innovations in sound technology. They utilize a specific audio mixing technique designed to alter the listener's brain wave activity. By sitting or lying down in a quiet environment and wearing headphones these beats can be used to create Alpha
Theta and Delta brainwave patterns.

When brainwave patterns change it has been documented that there is also a change in chemical reactions within the body which can have a profound effect on your entire physical structure. In effect these beats have the same impact and benefits of a deep meditative state akin to hypnologic trance or transcendental mediation. Now very few people can enter such deep states of hypnosis and transcendental meditation takes a lifetime to perfect. So the immediate benefits of using a binaural beats recording is apparent.

An added benefit of using such technology is that the states it creates allow you to access the subconscious parts of the mind. Those parts that are subliminal and just below the conscious threshold. Binaural beats can be used with many other self improvement tools (such as subliminal recordings
affirmations or visualization etc.) to increase your personal development dramatically as it creates deep states of relaxation and can put you into Alpha and Theta states. Therefore they can be used as an aid to alter beliefs
heal emotional issues or create behaviour changes. One of the great benefits they can give is a quick energy boost equivalent to a few hours sleep. It is believed that by using binaural beats you can:

1
Create deep states of meditation.

2
Boost your intelligence and creativity.

3
Slow aging.

4
Remove emotional blocks
old traumas and create profound emotional changes at an extremely deep level.

5
Eliminate Stress & anxiety.

The beauty of binaural beats is that they can be used to induce these states and create these changes with no effort on the part of the listener. You just wear a set of headphones and let the sound technology do the rest.

The discovery of binaural technology is mostly accredited to Dr. Gerald Oster. Oster first published research about binaural beats in 1973 in Scientific American after he had conducted extensive studies.

However
this is not as well known
binaural beats where in fact first discovered as far back as 1839 by an Associate Professor
at the University of Berlin
called Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. Dove accidentally discovered that when two similar sounds
which are only slightly shifted in frequency
are given separately to left and right ear they cause a pulsation or beat type effect within the brain.

However
it was Dr. Oster who uncovered the full benefits of using this new technology when he discovered the effects that binaural beats have on the mind and body.

There are many producers of binaural beat technology competing in the market today. It is possible to create your own with the proper software. However
an in-depth knowledge of brainwave patterns and their effect on the mind and body is advisable before ever trying to create your own. I have read several forum postings that state the use of binaural beat technologies has created negative and even damaging results on listeners. For that reason I believe it is safer to stick to the tried and tested pre-made recordings that are available for a reasonable fee. You can purchase separate binaural beat recordings to induce almost any emotional state or you can even enrol on a binaural beat program for self improvement that takes several years to complete.

I
myself
have no experience of any damaging effects due to the use of binaural beats. However
if you are using binaural beats for personal development purposes their use can be uncomfortable. All my experiences have been extremely positive
although not always pleasurable. Let me explain.

ECC machines have been used in the past to monitor the brain activity of life-long meditaters. These experts at meditation showed alpha
that and even delta brainwave patterns while in a self-induced meditative state. Through binaural beat recordings you can create such states easily.

The alpha brainwave patterns are only apparent during a relaxed state. Alpha brainwaves are the most apparent brainwave state encountered during hypnosis and when we experience this state
which do constantly throughout the day
we are extremely susceptible to suggestion. This is the state that you enter during hypnosis. Theta brainwaves allow for the absorption of huge amounts of information while Delta brainwaves are most apparent when you enter a state of deep but dreamless sleep. It is the Delta state that is the main aim of such practices as transcendental meditation. Although for many entering the delta state while fully conscious can be very relaxing
for most it is not
for it is during such brain activity that internal change occurs.

Through deep meditative states you can activate profound positive changes in your body
mind and emotional state which remain permanent. As binaural beta recordings bring you into these states effortlessly
you can gain all the benefits without any of the work. This can be a very profound and extremely life-changing experience. You will find past buried memories resurface as the beats direct your brain to restructure its neural network and raise your "comfort level" to a new high. It only takes a few listening sessions before you see positive results. You will feel less stressed in situations that previously sent you up the wall
will be more focused in the moment and your tasks at hand
much more centred and composed. The technology literally eliminates negative emotional
mental and physical patterns. The discomfort I spoke of earlier comes from the restructuring of your brain's neural network as old buried uncomfortable memories are triggered in the brain before the connecting emotional response is wiped away. You are still left with the memory of the event but you no longer have any emotional attachment to it. Don't worry
for some reason
it doesn't affect positive memories! It may be due to the natural state of the mind and body
for this system of mind/body is always seeking equilibrium and harmony
which tends to lead to feelings of joy and happiness.

Binaural beats is a proven technology that can create brainwave changes which alter your mood and changes the chemical reactions in your body to encourage faster healing and harmonious interaction between cells. However
there is currently research being conducted to determine if these beats can actually direct the brain to reformat DNA encoding. If this is possible the possibilities are almost limitless - decrease in illness
genetic disorders
a reversal of aging etc.

If personal development and self improvement isn't your main aim for investigating binaural beats (and don't want to get younger) then the single recordings designed to induce specific mind/body changes is enough. You can get recordings for an energy boost
meditation
to spark the creative areas of the brain
induce deep sleep and even one that acts like a digital drug!

All these changes happen effortlessly and easily. You will need a place to sit or lie quietly and a good pair of stereo earphones. The recording does the rest.

So here is the story. I crashed a dirtbike. I know its a short one
but why bore you with details that you really dont need to know? Why is it that when we get power in our hands
we attempt to use it to the fullest. It's as if we will never have it again. Lets get out of that habit
it hurts.

Moving along with the story
I clearly needed some therapy for the injuries that I suffered in the accident. So I went to my physiotherapist and asked her what we should do. We did all the massaging and ultra sounds
and then it happened... We did the acupuncture therapy. OH what a feeling!

Its a little wierd at first
becuase they stick a bunch of needles all over your body. Apperently
every spot on our bodies is connected with some sort of feeling. Clearly
I chose the spots labelled "happy". So I am laying there
needles all over my body
in silence
and i catch myself thinking about childhood memories of playing football with my dad! Our subconscious minds are truly amazing.

Once again though
back to my story. Now
my physiotherapist is located in the heart of downtown Calgary. For those not familiar with Calgary
it's just a city with to much traffic. So I'm in my "happy" state after the therapy
and I'm driving home in rush hour traffic. This is how good acupuncture works - I was in a lineup 3 miles long of traffic
LETTING PEOPLE MERGE!

The following is an excerpt from the book The Shaolin Workout
by Sifu Shi Yan Ming
Published by Rodale; May 2006;$29.95US/$39.95CAN; 1-59486-400-4
Copyright ฉ 2006 Sifu Shi Yan Ming

More chi! Train harder!

Sifu often encourages his students with the cheer "More chi! Train harder!"

What does this mean?

Chi (also spelled qi) is often translated as "life force." It is similar to what we in the West mean by "energy
but it's much more than that. Chi is the vital force that flows through all things -- humans, animals, plants, rocks, microbes, mountains. Chi connects us to all other things in the universe. It is the source of all spiritual, mental, and physical energy and health. It is dynamic, circulating in us like our blood. It has been compared to electricity flowing through circuits, and to the force flowing around magnetic poles.

When our minds, hearts, and bodies are in harmony and in balance, the chi flows freely, helping us to live beautiful lives. When our lives are out of balance, the chi may be blocked or depleted. Stimulating the correct flow of chi can heal us when we are sick and invigorate us when we are tired.

Chi is the force that gives kung fu masters like Sifu their incredible power. It is through stimulating and guiding the flow of chi that we train and push our bodies to actions we might never have known we could do before. This is why we constantly cheer one another on with the cry
More chi! Train harder!" The more chi you put into your exercises and movements
the harder you are able to train. The harder you train
the more you master your body and its movements
and the more chi you'll have.

Some beginners fear that they'll never be able to master certain stretches or movements. It's not unusual to experience some muscle pain when first performing certain exercises and stretches. A "pulled muscle" is a muscle that's not used to being stretched and worked. In the modern world
we use our legs for so little. We sit all day in our cars
at our desks
on the sofa
watching TV. Now you're suddenly asking your muscles to do some work. It's no wonder they're sore!

The wrong way to respond to that sore muscle is to tense up
physically or mentally. Tension will only block the flow of chi to that muscle.

The right way to respond is to relax your body and your mind
extend your body and your mind
and train harder. Athletes have that saying
No pain, no gain.
That's what "Train harder!" means as well. Don't back away from the work
don't tense up
and certainly don't give up. If you give up on your exercises
you give up on yourself. Have faith and confidence in yourself
and tomorrow the stretch you found difficult will feel easier. The next day
it will be easier still.

Today
think about how you can apply this warrior's attitude to your whole life. The more chi you put into your life
the more you'll get out of your life. When you feel like you just can't face another day of washing and folding the kids' laundry . . . when your boss drops an extra stack of paperwork on your desk an hour before quitting time . . . when you get home exhausted after fighting rush hour and plop down on the sofa
and your son asks you to help him with his math homework. Whatever chores
problems
or responsibilities you face today
don't flinch from them
don't avoid them
don't feel defeated by them. Tackle them head-on. Put more chi into it and get it done. Train harder!

Reprinted from: The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way by Sifu Shi Yan Ming ฉ 2006 Rodale Inc. Permission granted by Rodale
Inc.
Emmaus
PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com.

Author
Sifu Shi Yan Ming
a 34th-generation Shaolin warrior monk
is respected not only in the martial arts world but also in the entertainment world by stars like Jet Li
Jackie Chan
Wesley Snipes
and the Wu-Tang Clan. His kung fu classes have been featured in USA Today
The New York Times
New York Daily News
and Entertainment Weekly. Brian Gray of Inside Kung Fu magazine has called him a "living treasure of China." He has also appeared on the Discovery Channel
MTV
and CNBC
among other major networks. Sifu Shi Yan Ming lives in New York City.

One Answer….for all questions - This too will pass...

This meditation technique is quite different from thje conventional meditation techniques. This technique is actually a contemplation exercise and involves thinking over life. Though people of all age can try this technique
it is basically suitable for people with mature age (I mean 18 & above). The reason is that only those who have lived a certain (substantial) duration of life can reflect back on their past. Very young people who are still in the initial phase of their life are less likely (though not impossible) to analyze their life from the angle which this meditation demands. Nevertheless
this meditation technique is very useful for knowing our true self.

Method:

First read this thought provoking story :-

Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them


" Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation
in every circumstances
in every place and in every time. Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?"

All wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all question? Something that works everywhere
in every situation? In every joy every sorrow
every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion
an old man suggested something which appeal to all of them. They went to king and gave him something written on paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger
when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way
only then he'll have to see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.

After a few days
the neighbors attack the Kingdom. It was a collective surprise attack of King's enemies. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. King had to fled on his horse. The enemies were following him. His horse took him far away in Jungle. He could hear many troops of horses were following him and the noise was coming closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing in the end of the road - that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it
he would be finished…and he could not return because it was a small road…From back the sound of enemy's horses was approaching fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun
and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was very small but very great.

The message was - " This too will pass."

The King read it . Again read it. Suddenly something strike in his mind- Yes ! it too will pass. Only a few days ago
I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today
the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days of luxuries have gone
this day of danger too will pass. A calm come on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom. The revelation of message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forget about those following him. After a few minute he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were not on that path.

The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regain his lost empire. When he returned to his empire after victory
he was received with much fan fare at the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on King from every house
from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself
I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me.: With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.

Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He open it and read it again:
This too will pass"

He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness.

If this too is going to pass
it is not yours.
The defeat was not yours
the victory is not yours.
You are just a watcher. Everything passes by

We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life come and go. Happiness come and go. Sorrow come and go.

Now as you have read this story
just sit silently and evaluate your own life. This too will pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent. They all come and pass away. Life just passes away.

There were friends in past. They all have gone.
There are friends today. They too will go.
There will be new friends tomorrow. They too will go.

There were enemies in past. They have gone.
There may be enemy in present. They too will go.
There will be new enemies tomorrow and......they too will go.

There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks
all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. If there are problems in the present
they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away. Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true face. It will change with the time. However
there is something in you
which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable ? It is nothing but your true self.

You are just a witness of change. Experience it
understand it.

Everyday for 10-15 minutes sit in silence. Just think over the sentence
This too will pass.
Pondering over your own life will make you realize the true meaning of this sentence. Everything passes yet your real identity remains the same. That real you is your true self. To know that self is true meditation.

Meditation chairs can enhance the experience of exploration by allowing you to sit in a comfortable and relaxed position during your relaxation session. If you have back problems or limited flexibility
the chair offers a comfortable alternative to sitting on the floor.

For those just beginning the practice of meditation
a sitting device can be an effective way of enhancing focus and concentration. There are different types of chairs available including meditation benches
ergonomically designed tilt chairs and inflatable cushions.

A meditation bench allows you to sit in alignment without putting undue pressure on your back. A tilt chair also supports your back while allowing you to remain in the optimum upright position. Many companies providing meditation supplies also manufacture portable meditation chairs
inflatable cushions and folding benches
so that you can meditate in any setting or environment. A portable chair is an excellent investment if you are continuously on the go.

Meditation chairs have several advantages over sitting on the floor or a regular chair. Meditation requires harmony of body and mind
in the sense that physical discomfort should not interfere with the meditation experience. To expand our consciousness and achieve clarity of mind
it is important to be as comfortable as possible during the meditation session. Sitting in any one position for a length of time is bound to cause cramping and distress. Specially designed chairs can provide the proper support and alignment necessary to allow you to get the most out of your meditation experience. It is important to note that regular chairs do not mold to the body in the same way as an ergonomically designed meditation device.

The best chairs have a slight forward angle
which prevents you from slumping during meditation. However
take care that the chair is not too steeply angled
as this will cause overarching. The ideal tilt should be no more than a few inches. The best option is to purchase a meditation chair that you can adjust according to your height
weight and comfort level. Having an experienced person on hand to guide you through the meditation process and adjust your posture is also a good idea.

A sitting device may be particularly useful if you are practicing Zen meditation
which requires several sitting postures. Zen meditation chairs can be made out of numerous materials and come in several different styles. You can choose the style that best suits you as long as the device enables your diaphragm to contract and expand freely.

Meditation is all about discovery and inner peace. Contrary to popular belief
self denial and physical discomfort detracts rather than enhances the experience. It is difficult to expand our minds and awareness when our legs are cramping beneath us. A meditation chair is a device which allows us to focus on what’s really important during our meditation session. With the proper tools and surroundings
the meditation experience is sure to be a positive one.
http://www.meditationandmore.com

Meditation Basics: Counting breaths is not like counting sheep.


"Just close your eyes and count your breaths
they say. How simple can it be?
Don't think about anything else though. Just concentrate on your breathing." Well
anyone who has tried this "simple" meditation knows that it just isn't that easy.

There are many obstacles to this seemingly effortless task. Our minds tend to wander naturally. If we try to completely focus on anything for more than a few seconds
random thoughts take over. And breathing is boring; let's face it. How can you concentrate on something so mundane when there are much more interesting things racing around in your head?

A typical session might go like this: I close my eyes
sit comfortably
and begin counting. Inhale one
inhale two
inhale... "Am I doing this right? I guess so
I'm already on... oh three." Inhale four... "Now
am I supposed to start over at one or just keep going?" Inhale one
inhale two
inhale three
inhale four. "Wow
I'm really getting the hang of this. Oops." Inhale one
inhale two... "Did I remember to pay the phone bill? I'm sure I did. I'm really good at staying on top of my bills. Not like Susan
she's always... Darn
I did it again." Inhale one
inhale two...

The good news is it does get better with practice. The bad news is it can still be a struggle for experienced meditators
especially during busy or turbulent periods in one's life. Luckily
there is more good news. There are some specific things you can do to help you focus and reduce the frustration in your meditation practice. In this article
I would like to offer three tips to help you with your practice. They are: Observe don't control
be compassionate
and enjoy yourself.

First
don't force or try to control your breathing. This is a mistake that a lot of beginners make. Many inexperienced meditators consciously or unconsciously alter their breathing in an effort to focus on it. What results is an exaggerated and often irregular breathing pattern. This can actually inhibit your meditation rather than help it.

What you want to do is just "watch" your breathing. You don't have to exert any additional effort at all. If you just wait and observe
you will breathe. Then
you can count. Of course
we all know this but many people still find themselves forcing it. If you catch yourself controlling your breaths
just gently remind yourself that it's not necessary and then wait for the next breath to come naturally.

This brings me to the next tip
compassion. In this case I mean for yourself in your meditation practice. As we've been discussing
it's not an easy thing to do to concentrate on one's breath. It's very important not to scold yourself when your mind wanders or you catch yourself controlling your breathing. If you think about it
the time you would spend reprimanding yourself for breaking your focus is just more time away from your meditation. It is best to softly bring yourself back to your practice as soon as you notice you're wavering. Don't get down on yourself and start thinking
I can't do this. This is never going to work for me.
These negative thoughts do nothing to help your practice and waste valuable time. Be compassionate. Just brush it off and return to your meditation.

Another way to look at these wanderings is to realize that they are an important part of your progression. Meditation is a skill. And like most skills
it requires practice. A baseball player doesn't step into the batter's box for the first time and start hitting homeruns. He makes mistakes and corrections
and improves over time. He can then gauge his progress by the reduction of errors. Even after he is an experienced batsman
he will still strike out more often than he would like. But his hits should increase as well.

In your meditation practice
your mind will likely wander more in the beginning. But don't give up. It will get better. Just like the baseball player
you will realize fewer mistakes over time and you will learn to recover from them more quickly. Sure
you will still have challenges and even slumps from time to time but you will also have more successes.

The final tip I would like to offer is to find enjoyment in your practice. Even though it may be tough at times
daily meditation can greatly enhance your life. Don't rate yourself and expect to progress or improve to a particular degree or within a particular timeframe. Unlike baseball
mediation is a life-long experience. Remember
this is your time. Let it be your oasis not a chore. No matter what else is going on in your life
your meditation time can be your escape. As a Zen master once said
It's just you and your breath and then it's just your breath.
Breathe in
breathe out
and forget about the world around you. Even when you're busy or preoccupied with some problem
even if you can only find ten or fifteen minutes to be alone with your breath
enjoy it.

I hope these tips will help you to enhance your meditation experience. They have certainly proved to be invaluable in my own practice over the years. Of course I still struggle from time to time with the very same issues we've discussed here. But through observing rather than controlling
being compassionate to myself when I falter
and enjoying my special time alone; I have made my life fuller and happier.

Some find the term
“monkey mind”
upsetting
derogatory
and insulting. This is a shame
as the point is lost
the ego is involved
and a natural human defense goes up. After all
we are supposed to be the “king of the primates
” aren’t we?

The first time I heard the expression
“monkey mind
” in regard to meditation
I thought of Swayambhunath Stupa
in Kathmandu
Nepal.
Sometimes
this is named
the “monkey temple
” and it made me laugh inside
as monkeys need supervision in human settings. The picture of unsupervised monkeys got into my head
and I was suppressing laughter during a serious conversation.

Monkeys can be nuisances
when allowed to roam without some guidance
and it is the same with the untrained mind that runs from topic to topic
without getting much accomplished. So please don’t waste time being offended by the term
and try to look at the comical side.

When you allow yourself to enjoy life
and try not to take anything too seriously
you can see that monkeys don’t have it so bad after all. Very often
the human mind spends too much time defending
worrying
posturing
influencing
fearing
and feeling embarrassed
to enjoy life to its fullest potential.

In fact
you are not your mind. You are responsible for your actions
but many things happen in the thought process before you do take action. For example: when you think
images and options are created. As a result of those images
you get a physical feeling somewhere around your heart.

Whether the feeling is
good or bad
you process it into action
or treat it as a fleeting thought that passes and may be forgotten. So if you have a fleeting evil thought and it passes - should you waste time feeling guilty about it? The natural safeguard for ethical behavior is your heart or “gut feeling.” This is the best indicator of wrong or right.

Mankind has the ability to influence the universe
and create different realities
but separating what is sacred
from what is evil
has been a dilemma for thousands of years. The disconnection from your inner self
nature
and God
has led to excessive confusion.

Thank God for meditation; it allows you to harness the power of the mind
settle down
and focus
on one subject at a time. If you take the time for a daily meditation practice
your decision-making process will be much more controlled and clear. The end result will be to look at the monkey with much more respect
appreciation
and a bit of humor.

Some of the greatest benefits for me have been my ability to tap into 'my well of inner peace' whenever I need to
my connection with
and to
spirit
achievement of greater clarity and balance at the end of each session
and overall wellbeing. Meditation also gave me something else.

The meditation journey for me involved profound inner change as I stepped into enlightenment. Once that door opened for me
well that was it! No turning back...ever - something which no-one ever told me.

Enlightenment
for me
is such a strange thing
and of course is many things to many people. When I stepped into this state of being
I waited for the whiz bang fireworks to begin
hear the blaring trumpets and the voice of God (which I imagined would be kind of booming and earth shattering!). I’m not sure what else I expected but what I experienced was a deep sense of stillness. The door opened
I stepped through the doorway
and how I perceived life changed forever. The clarity with which I saw things in that moment almost blinded me – yet it was so gentle.

This didn’t mean to say I ceased doing mundane things such as housework
cooking and cleaning. No - unfortunately that continued and continues to this day and will in the future also. Nope
for me enlightenment meant that I simply knew things and accepted; some possibly call this ‘Truth’.

I believe that Truth or Enlightenment is knowing absolutely everything about all things at the exact same time without pinpointing one solitary thing.

Truth is much like acknowledging anything really
in a passive way. Words are grossly inadequate in describing this sense of being. All I can say is it’s simply too HUGE to explain with words but it’s something I experience whenever I meditate
or zone out.

I’m not immune to daily issues however I’m not impacted to the same degree as before either. I can say that whilst chaos reigns around me I can easily tap into my well of inner peace. It’s helped me through the many trials and tribulations I call life and thank my lucky stars that I started practising meditation when I did.

Of course this practise is open to anyone who’s willing to put in the time and practise (it took me five months to really get going). Once you begin this journey you’ll notice how much more peaceful
centred and balanced you become.

I've often heard say "I'd love to meditate because of my anxiety and stress levels
however I have absolutely no time..."

If you have next to no time – many don’t and sometimes I don't – however you’d really love to begin meditating because you believe there are benefits for doing so
consider this. Three minutes is a passing conversation with a work colleague at the elevator door
three minutes flicking through a magazine at the newsagency or news stand
or three minutes admiring a merchandise display outside your favourite store window. You could do a three minute breath meditation
three minute journal writing
three minute focus on an object
or even take a three minute walk. See! In next to no time at all you could be meditating and accessing your own well of inner peace!

Meditation could bring about profound changes for you too
as well as achieve overall wellbeing
peacefulness
clarity and balance
and connection to spirit and yourself. There are six billion people on this planet so your experience will be different to mine.

If you’ve never tried it before why not try it sometime soon
you might just get to thoroughly enjoy the benefits it can bring.

Michaela Scherr Transformational Coach

Meditation refers to a state where your body and mind are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report increased awareness
focus
and concentration
as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks
mystics and other spiritual disciplines. However
you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits. And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it. You could even try it in your own living room!

Although there are many different approaches to meditation
the fundamental principles remain the same. The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive
negative
and wandering thoughts and fantasies
and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

The negative thoughts you have those of noisy neighbors
bossy officemates
that parking ticket you got
and unwanted spam are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind
and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper
more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input no sights
no sounds
and nothing to touch and try to detach themselves from the commotion around them. You may now focus on a deep
profound thought if this is your goal. It may seem deafening at first
since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things
but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening those with impossibly arched backs
and painful-looking contortions you need not worry. The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This may be while sitting cross-legged
standing
lying down
and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus
then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing
the back should be straight
but not tense or tight. In other positions
the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Loose
comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room
or bedroom
or any place that you feel comfortable in. You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so
and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Silence helps most people relax and meditate
so you may want a quiet
isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also help in that regard
so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra. This
in simple terms
is a short creed
a simple sound which
for these practitioners
holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however
it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing
and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought
or even
while keeping your eyes open
focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to while in a meditative state silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works wonders.

There are also many meditation CDs on the market that have been scientifically proven to alter your brainwaves in such a way to help you achieve deep meditation. find out more about these here: Meditation CDs.

In all
meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So start now in creating your health and well being...start meditating today!

You can be the creator of your own manifest destiny. Through daily meditation practice and focus on changing your life for the better. In fact
you have the ability to redefine yourself in any direction you desire. The power that you can cultivate is limited only by your own imagination.

As I have mentioned earlier
this will change the lives of people who you come into frequent contact with. Therefore
you must always be kind
trustworthy
and considerate to others. You should make a change in that direction at this very moment.

Why the sudden need for character improvement? It goes hand-in-hand with using power and influence wisely. Remember Lord Acton’s saying: “Power tends to corrupt
and absolute power corrupts absolutely." The power of your mind has the ability to alter reality. Therefore
this is a power that must be controlled.

How is this possible? Here is an example: If you had two identical twin boys
who haven’t eaten for two days
and you put an apple in front of them; what would they do?

Most likely
they would fight over it
and the winner would eat
most or
all of it. You and I know they should divide it equally
but each of them has really felt starvation
and that is a reality you and I do not feel at the moment. So we are not talking about imagination
but three legitimate points of view
that each becomes our own reality.

Meditation will allow your mind to see multiple points of view
without judgment. If you can see only one point of view
you haven’t meditated long enough. The best leaders
negotiators
and diplomats
know that you have to understand the opposing viewpoint
to move forward
on any issue. There is always justification
on both sides
in any conflict
but true compromise is meeting the opposition in a different reality
than you both started from.

If you had the ability to travel in the space shuttle
your view of earth
from within your space vehicle
would be much different from the person living in poverty
within a refugee camp. You could not see
or feel
that person’s pain
and each of you would have a vivid picture of life on earth.

You can meditate from a mountain top
but once you have seen the full picture
you have an obligation to help mankind
with acts of kindness. Once you have discovered how easy it is to help others
you are no longer struggling with; “who is right and who is wrong.”

Your new reality becomes
“how can I help?”

It is not difficult to learn transcendental meditation. If you are looking to escape from the whirlwind of ringing cell phones
traffic snarls and screaming kids
transcendental meditation can provide a peaceful getaway from the craziness of everyday life.

In 1958
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi formally introduced his transcendental meditation technique. Since then
he has written several books
lectured and toured extensively all over the world and trained over 40
0
teachers. Transcendental meditation is now practiced in the workplace
at home and in medical settings. In addition
doctors and health professionals are increasingly prescribing transcendental meditation as means of combating anxiety disorders and stress.

You may be wondering what is transcendental meditation and what makes it different from other forms of meditation? One of the most exciting elements of the transcendental meditation technique is that it so simple and easy to practice. With the right focus and dedication
you can learn transcendental meditation in a matter of moments.

Basically
during the meditation session
your body enters a deep and peaceful state of relaxation
while maintaining alertness and clarity. First
the person chooses a word or image to focus on
perhaps a religious or cultural symbol that has special meaning. As the person replays this word or image over and over
the body descends into a deeper and deeper state of restfulness. The session can last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour and should take place in a calm and relaxed setting
with minimal noise and distractions.

No other meditation technique has been so extensively studied and researched. During transcendental meditation
the brain falls into a theta brain wave pattern (akin to sleep and deep relaxation)
which then carries over to the state of wakefulness. Physical benefits include increased mental comprehension
focus
retention and creativity. Another interesting benefit is the actual reversal of the aging process. In a study conducted by the International Journal of Neuroscience
the biological age of practitioners of transcendental meditation was
on average
twelve years younger than their chronological age. Transcendental meditation also has positive effects on age and stress related conditions such as insomnia
high blood pressure
decreased visual acuity
hearing loss and depressed cerebral blood flow.

It is interesting to note that adherents from all religions choose to learn transcendental meditation. Although it has roots in Hinduism
the transcendental meditation technique can be applied to any cultural context. In fact
those who learn transcendental meditation are encouraged to adapt symbols that have meaning and depth for the individual. For example
a rabbi may choose to focus on a symbol or image rooted in Judaism to enhance the effectiveness of the session. In contrast
an agnostic may choose an image from nature such as a beautiful meadow or sunset to achieve relaxation. The beauty of transcendental meditation is its flexibility.
http://www.meditationandmore.com

In today’s hectic world
learning to meditate can bring a sense of calm and inner satisfaction. The practice of meditation is a gateway into your inner consciousness
resulting in an enhanced awareness of your own existence and your overall relationship to the cosmos.

Whether you are looking to answer the age-old question
“Who am I and why am I here?” or simply to implement simple relaxation techniques meditation may just be the answer for you.

Although there are hundreds of established techniques how to meditate is really up to the individual. You can pick and choose amongst different schools of thought and find a technique that best suits your personality. However
although meditation has many different cultural contexts
there are certain general facets which transcend the bounds of any one specific culture.

According to Eastern philosophy
to meditate means to think on the eternal
or rather to expand your consciousness until you are at one with the cosmos as a whole. Transcendental emotions like grief
euphoria or even love can fade away
but the universe is forever. Eventually
with practice
learning to meditate can bring you in closer attunement with the very root and purpose of existence itself.

Even if you are not interested in the metaphysical implications of meditation
meditating has undeniable health benefits. Learning to meditate can have positive effects on stress induced illness such as heart disease and high blood pressure. In conjunction with traditional Western approaches to medicine
meditation can target the root causes behind stress-based conditions by calming and clearing the mind.

There are many relaxation techniques meditation incorporates. You can meditate sitting
standing or lying down
in a chair or on the floor. Learning how to meditate is not difficult. There are numerous programs online that can teach you the basics and help to get you started. These programs can guide you each step of the meditation process
provide tips on appropriate posture and teach you how to create the ideal setting for your meditation session.
http://www.meditation-techniques-and-alternative-healing.com

Christian meditation is a way of communicating with God. Christians can use this meditation to clear their minds of the busy thoughts of the day and concentrate solely on worshipping God and learning the truths of the Bible.

Centuries ago
monks began practicing Christian meditation by reading over verses in the Bible and then thinking about the truths in these verses. Often
they would say the verses to God as a prayer. In this way
the monks learned to speak to God in prayer
and learned how to tell God their own thoughts and concerns. By meditating on Bible verses and praying to God
the monks trained their minds to always think about God. They called this “contemplation”
and it helped them to have a close
loving relationship with God.

By following this method of communicating with God
the monks created what is called the “ladder of prayer”. The rungs of the ladder included reading Bible verses
thinking about the truths in the verses
praying to God
and learning to think about God always.

In the 1900s
two types of Christian meditation were used. Using a mantra
or word that is repeated to help the Christian focus on God
was one type of meditation. An example of a mantra would be the word Maranatha
which is an Aramaic word for “come
Lord”. Christians would also use what is called a Centering Prayer
which uses a sacred word or words to bring the Christian into God's presence. These two types of Christian meditation helped the people using them to take their focus off their own problems and to turn to God to hear what He had to say to them.

A woman named St. Theresa of Avila created five steps to help Christians focus on God when praying. These five steps are known as the five R's.

- The first R is Ready: this is the step in which the Christian realizes that he/she is in the presence of God. To be ready to continue in prayer
the Christian thanks God for the many blessings He gives
and confesses any sins.
- The second R is Read
and includes reading prayers
spiritual books
and the Bible.
- The third R is Reflect. In this step
the Christian focuses on what he/she has just read in order to come closer to God.
- The fourth R is Respond. It is at this step that the Christian speaks with God in an open and honest way about what he/she has been reading and thinking about. It is the most important step
as this is when God can share His wisdom and thoughts with the Christian.
- The fifth and final R is Resolve. This is when the Christian thanks God for what he/she has learned
and closes the time of prayer.

These different types of Christian meditation can all be useful in helping Christians to meet with God
come close to Him
and learn His truths. Christian meditation does not save a person from their sins; it is a tool that can be used by people who are already saved to build a stronger relationship with God.

If you've been counting sheep till the wee hours of the morning quite regularly
you're a victim of insomnia. This condition can not only make you dread the night
but also disturb your normal flow of life. And it’s common enough to afflict around 3.5 million people in the US alone!

What causes Insomnia?
There are some known causes of insomnia
like chronic pain
restless legs syndrome
nocturnal disturbances
too much coffee
and the like. But
today
mental stress is one of the main culprits for this problem. Worries and tensions keep the mind engaged at night
keeping you wide awake. If you're stressed only for a few times
you can cope with sleeplessness. But
if you're a chronic worrier
chances are you're an insomniac too.

How it can be cured?
Of course
there are sleeping pills to put you to sleep. But
you know how harmful they can be
if taken in excess. These over-the-counter pills do more harm than good
because of their terrible side effects. However
certain alternative therapies and exercises have proven effective against sleep disorders caused by stress
depression or other psychological factors.

A non-drug therapy
showing promising results
is called cognitive behavioral therapy. The therapy basically trains the patients to calm their mind and regulate their thought patterns for a sound sleep.

There are many breathing and relaxation techniques too that can promote relaxation and relieve stress. These techniques teach you how to breathe deeper and slower to become more relaxed and sedated.

However
the cure making waves is a product called the All Natural Sleep Patch Rest Quiet™. This new approach to getting a peaceful night's sleep is really a godsend for insomniacs. Read what one of the users has to say
“The sleep patches are nothing short of amazing. They are going to help millions who
especially after the age of 35
have trouble sleeping. I used one. I slept more deeply and soundly than I have for years. I could not be more enthusiastic about them.”

The method allows natural organic material to interact with the human body to improve relaxation and well being. The good news is it’s non-invasive
that is
nothing enters the body. Its new organic nanotechnology structures allow energy transfer between you and the patches. It’s believed that Rest Quiet™ helps the body in balancing its own natural meridians by the application of the Rest Quiet™ Patch to specific acupuncture points. And the result is a quiet
restful sleep!

Conclusion
Insomnia affects millions of people around the world. There are many causes and solutions but for those interested in natural organic solutions
Rest Quiet™ is safe
effective and without any side effects. You may also try natural ways but don’t forget to consult your physician before you opt for any such remedies.

And so the therapy began.

My next appointment was the following week for more root canal and the week after that also. Not only that my newly filled tooth was now even more painful than before so more work on my filling ensued (as well as more root canal). To cut a long story short I then chose to have a crown in place of a filling that may
or not
have lasted very long.

By now I was helping myself to their filtered coffee and newspaper on arrival.

So today
as I again sat in the dental chair I was prepared. I made sure I was sufficiently relaxed
centred and in the present moment before I turned up.

What did I do? I meditated before my appointment and then meditated through my appointment!

As the shrill piercing sound of the drill reverberated through my head and my face sprayed with water
I simply drifted away to somewhere else – somewhere peaceful. The dentist and the assistant continually asked me if I was okay – I’d slowly nod then zone out again
drifting away and closing the door to the sounds and movements of where my physical body was.

And then it was all over!

The next time you visit your dentist
it really pays to zone out during your procedure (if possible even before you get there) - especially if you’re nervous about any dental procedure at all like I am.

7 Steps to help you Zone out

1. Get a meditation session in before you arrive for your appointment. If you’re not sure how to meditate
do some slow
deep breathing exercises. I generally take around 4 to 5 slow deep breaths
focusing on the outward breath.


2. Be in the present moment. This is when you’re not thinking anything about the future – even 3 minutes into the future! Nor are you thinking about the past – not even 3 minutes ago. The present moment is now whilst you’re sitting in the dental chair
staring at the ceiling becoming aware of and concentrating on the rhythm of your breathing.

3. Once the procedure starts close your eyes and take your mind within. Focus straight ahead – wherever you perceive straight ahead to be once you have your eyes closed – and think of nothing – just blank – the void – staring at the colours and patterns you can see as you sit in the chair with your eyes closed.

4. If you’re about to receive an injection – as the needle goes in
breathe into that area and continue to concentrate fully on your slow breathing until the injection is over.

5. Once that’s over
resume staring into the blank void that is the inside of your eyelids!

6. If you find it challenging to think nothing
focus on a visual image that makes you feel really
really good about yourself then have a look around and see where you are.

7. Whenever you sense you’re starting to again focus on the drilling or whatever else is happening in your mouth
breathe in slowly and deeply focusing on the rhythm of your breathing and allow every single muscle you become aware of
to deflate and relax.

Meditation is a great ‘self help’ tool and when applied during a visit to your dentist – it makes the experience if not enjoyable
at least bearable!


Michaela Scherr Transformational Coach

When you are unhappy what do you do? Do you go out for a meal? Go to the cinema? The theatre
perhaps? Do you go shopping? Perhaps you like a drink to overcome your unhappiness. Or do you get a buzz from jogging or going to the gym?

Whatever it is scientist are in the process of proving that internal change is the only thing that can give you health and happiness. Everything else is an illusion.

What does this mean?

Your brain is the only thing that can keep you healthy and happy.

Richard Davidson
a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin and Jon Kabat-Zinn from the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre have just completed some interesting research that can actually be of benefit to you and me and the way we run our lives.

They took a group of 41 stressed
but otherwise healthy
individuals working in a biotechnology firm in Wisconsin. 25 were taught meditation. In this case: mindfulness meditation. The group met for a 2.5 to 3 hour meditation class each week. After six weeks they all attended a seven hour meditation retreat. In addition each member was asked to meditate
at home
for one hour a day using a guided meditation tape.

The other 16 were held as a control group and did not receive meditation training until the study was completed.

At the end of the eight week programme
in November
they also gave all the participants a flu jab. And guess what. “The members of the meditation group had a significant increase in antibody titers” in other words they have less chance of catching flu.

The bottom line appears to be. If you want to have good health and overcome the day by day blues and maintain happiness learn to meditate. When you meditate you change the way your brain operates.

In addition
they found
the more you practice meditation the better your daily performance.

''What we found is that the long time practitioners showed brain activation
on a scale we have never seen before. 'Their mental practice is having
an effect on the brain in the same way golf or tennis practice will enhance performance.'' It demonstrates
that the brain is capable of being
trained and physically modified in ways few people can imagine.
(Richard Davidson)

So give yourself the space each day to train your brain. It works.


Good Luck

Graham and Julie
www.desktop-meditation.com

There are 7 layers in our aura. When we use meditation
and try to 'clean' it
we have to clean every layer. Many new age mystics
just tell you imagine and visualise a white light coming down and engulfing
your whole aura
this sometimes does't work well. I usually clean every
layer as I go along. Start by doing some kind of relaxation procedure
like counting 1 to 10 or say to yourself
upstairs
downstairs
over and
over again until you feel bored and sleepy
or you can get some relaxation
music to help you get to alpha or theta brain states. Once you done
that
mentally say to yourself " I am at level 1' and move your awareness
from head to toe or vice versa
the idea is to scan your level 1 for blockages

once you sense 'something there'
move your awareness to it
it should
'melt' or disperse. If it is still there
try breathing it colors
you
have to experiment with the color that will remove the block
repeat the
same procedure with all other level
eg. I am level 2
I am in Level 3

When you say this
you are telling your mind to adjust to the next level
using intent
Intent is the force that changes the level. Some times if
you are at level 1
and you sense something 1 feel in front of you and
you cannot get it off
and you try the usual color breathing method
This
could be due to the fact that this blockage is actually at some other
level eg. Level 3 and you can usualy remove the block if you move your
awareness to level 3. Sometimes when you move your awareness into the
blockages
you get 'impression' like a past event or sometimes it plays
like a movie in your mind's eye
this is usually the reason for the block.

How to meditate? Breath
and watch your breath.

Among the documented benefits of meditation are less anxiety
decreased depression
reduction in irritability and moodiness
better learning ability and memory and greater creativity. That's just for starters. Then there is slower aging (possibly due to higher DHEA levels)
feelings of vitality and rejuvenation
less stress (actual lowering of cortisol and lactate levels)
rest (lower metabolic and heart rate)
lower blood pressure
and higher blood oxygen levels

How to Meditate Right Now

Here's a simple technique that will give you results in minutes. Sit comfortably
close your eyes
and tense up your whole body. Sigh deeply
then breath deeply through your nose and release the tension from every muscle. Just feel each part relaxing
watching for parts that may hold onto tension
like a tight jaw.

If you still have tension somewhere
tense up that part again
then let it relax. It may also help to repeat silently "relax" as the tension drains. This will train your body and mind to recognize relaxation. Later you may be able to relax more easily just by repeating "relax" a few times.

Breath through your nose. This is important because it brings in more oxygen by involving your diaphragm more. You can test this. Breath with your mouth and you'll notice that your breathing is shallower. Then breath through your nose and you'll notice that your abdomen extends more. Air is being drawn deeper into your lungs.

Allow your breathing to fall into a comfortable pattern
and pay attention to it. Pay attention to your breath as it passes in and out of your nose. Your mind may wander endlessly
but all you have to do is continually bring attention back to your breath.

If your mind is still too busy
try naming the distractions as a way of setting them aside. For example
say in your mind
itchy leg,
worried about work,
or "anger
and then immediately return attention to your breathing. Use any way you can to identify and set aside distractions.

That's it. Continue for five or ten minutes, or for 100 breaths. Afterwards, open your eyes and sit there for a few seconds. You'll feel relaxed, and your mind will feel refreshed. And you'll be better prepared for any mental challenges. That's how to meditate.

The stresses and strains of everyday life can bring with it a variety of emotional health problems. These can include depression
anxiety
insomnia
irritability and panic attacks. In this article I write about each of these potential problems and suggest solutions to overcome them.

Depression

I am sure that we all become depressed at different times of our life
I certainly do. It is easy to let things and people get us down. We can start to feel sorry for ourselves and to think that the world is working against us.

The brain has two halves
positive and negative. In these periods of depression the negative side assumes control and it can become very hard to get out of this rut.

I see the positive side of my brain as an apple and the negative side as a pear. If I only ever eat pears
I will not be able to experience the joy of eating apples. In short I have to give the positive side a chance to help me to reach a state of happiness and I need to learn to ignore the negative.

Anxiety and panic attacks

At times people start becoming anxious about their future or even about their present situation. This can in certain cases even lead on to panic attacks.

In my opinion worrying does not help the situation
it only makes things worse. I have to say that I do worry and that the cloud of doom does descend over my life at regular intervals. When this occurs I try very hard to break the cycle and I even talk to the demons in my head. I have a battle of wills with them. I tell them that they will not win and that I will not stress anymore. This is not that simple but is what I try to do.

Insomnia

Having trouble with sleeping at night can happen for a number of reasons
the main one of which is stress. Other causes are snoring
an intake of too much caffeine
a noisy environment or depression.

I have written about stress and depression already
it is also time to cut down on the coffee. A simple suggestion in potentially solving insomnia
is to read a book in bed before attempting to get to sleep. This book should help you to get your mind away from any anxieties you may have
it should relax your body and should also tire your eyes.

Irritability

When people lose sleep or work to hard they can become over tired and this can lead to irritability. This can cause people to have a higher pulse rate
making their muscles feel tight and can leave people also feeling anxious and lethargic.

It is important to therefore ensure that you obtain a good amount of hours sleep per night (at least seven)and that you only work a certain amount of hours per week. Money is important to people
however in my opinion health should be the priority.

Solutions to these emotional health problems

I have come to realise that I need to treat myself from time to time. I have always found it difficult to relax and would often feel stressed and under pressure.

I now use various methods at different times of the year to help me to chill out a bit and to reward my body. These include aromatherapy
using herbal products
attending tai chi lessons and I have even tried Yoga. I must admit I could never get to grips with Yoga
however have heard it can prove to be very beneficial to people who can.

Meditation

My favourite form of relaxation is by meditating. I do this by sitting on a straight back chair and by basically concentrating with my eyes closed. I pay particular notice to my breathing and it has certainly helped me to see things in a much clearer way.

In conclusion there are many ways of reducing emotional health problems and with determination you are able to see your way to a better and brighter future.

Steve Hill

Are you stressed out? Do you worry about your physical health? Your mental health? Your spiritual health? Do you wish you had less stress and anxiety in your life and more peace and harmony?

Well
I felt all of these things a few years ago and I thought I was going to go crazy or die. I was working 10-12 hours a day
6
days a week at a very stressful job. I had a wife and two kids at home who wanted
and deserved
my time and attention. I had a mortgage
two car notes
tuition
medical bills
overdue taxes
and credit card debt coming out of my ears!

I was running nonstop through my days trying to take care of everything and make everybody happy but I never had enough time to take care of myself. In bed at night
my heart would pound from stress and anxiety. I worried about my job
my marriage
the kids
the bills
the house
my heath
and even my sanity.

My health was of particular concern. I felt tired all the time. I was gaining weight. My back was always hurting. Climbing even one flight of stairs left me breathless and dizzy. I felt like I was falling apart physically
mentally
and spiritually.

I was really worried about myself but I didn’t know what to do. I tried the gym
several fad diets
home exercise machines
and even time management programs. I had about the same results with each new thing I tried. They all seemed to help at first
but I just couldn’t stick with any of them for very long. I now realize that they didn’t work because they were all short term fixes to a long term problem. I had to change my life.

I knew I had a lot to learn
but I couldn’t afford to buy a bunch of books and everything at the library seemed to be outdated. So I made a habit of stopping at the local Barns and Noble on the way home from work each day. I read everything I could find on stress
anxiety
health
diet
and self-improvement. I felt like a cheat just sitting there reading the books without buying them but nobody seemed to mind. I usually bought a cup of coffee or tea just to ease my conscience a little.

I read a lot of great books with wonderful insights on improving one’s life. Not surprisingly
one subject came up over and over; meditation. I had tried to meditate several years earlier but had gotten frustrated and quit before really giving it a chance. But
I was desperate and determined to try anything that might help.

One book in particular said
“Start right now!” I was too embarrassed to sit in the book store and meditate
but I didn’t want to waste another moment. So I went out to my car
adjusted the seat into a comfortable position
set my watch alarm for 30 minutes
then closed my eyes and started counting my breaths.

That turned out to be a defining moment in my life. Of course
I didn’t have instant success. Mediation takes practice and can be very difficult at times. But making the decision to incorporate meditation into my everyday life changed everything for me.

I continued to stop at the book store each night for a while and split my time between reading and meditating. Nothing else had changed in my life. I still had a stressful job
my marriage
my kids
my house
and bills but
somehow
I was feeling better—less stressed—even more energetic!

No
it didn’t magically solve all of the woes in my life. But once I started feeling more relaxed and less stressed
I was better able to focus on the other things I needed to do to become mentally
physically
and spiritually healthy.

I soon started a daily meditation practice at home. I also began a reasonable exercise plan that included walking
a light workout
and yoga. These things combined with eating right (most of the time)
have literally changed my life. I’m now happier
healthier
and at peace with the world around me.

I hope this story inspires some of you to take that first step and begin incorporating meditation into your own life. This is the perfect time to make the decision. What better New Years resolution than to change your life for the better? There are numerous meditation methods and practices out there and a myriad of resources available to you in book stores and on the web. I’m sure you can find something that works for you.

In fact
I’ve compiled a host of information on mediation
relaxation
yoga
and other related subjects at my website: www.imcalmer.com. I would also be very happy to share my own experience. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at mikes@imcalmer.com if you have any questions or comments.

In peace

Mike Suzuki