Though meditation is the getting a lot of positive
press these days, there are still many misconceptions
about what it is, what it does, and who it's for.
Let's talk about some common apprehensions about
meditation and reveal it as a natural, scientifically-
validated, human ability that has powerful benefits
anyone can enjoy.
So what are some common misconceptions about meditation?
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In my years of teaching and writing about meditation, I
often find that people think of meditation as some kind
of "exotic" or "esoteric" activity. For many people it
has a "woo-woo" connotation. It's what New Age folks
do or it's for those who want to give up their lives and
go live in an ashram in India and follow a guru.
Looking at many people and groups who promote meditation,
you could easily and logically come to that conclusion.
Many of the groups who engage in meditation also live
alternative lifestyles. However, it's important to
separate meditation itself from the lifestyles of some
who practice it.
In essence, the technique of meditation is simply
focusing your attention in specific ways for a period
of time to shift your state of being and develop your
inner skills. Let's look at this more scientific and
straightforward view of meditation.
As long ago as 1971, Dr. Herbert Benson, Associate
Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School,
published research on what he called "the relaxation
response."
The relaxation response is a natural
human physiological ability that comes from activating
your parasympathetic nervous system, your body's
natural recovery mode. The relaxation response
provides a natural counter-balance to your stress
response or "fight or flight" mode, which happens
when you get revved up to handle life's pressures and
demands.Dr. Benson discovered that through a simple meditation
practice you can train your body to relax. Here is a
summary of
Dr. Benson's six steps (adapted from Dr.
Benson's book "The Relaxation Response" p.
162-163):
1. Sit quietly in a comfortable position
2. Close your eyes
3. Progressively relax your muscles from head to toe
4. Become conscious of your breathing. Breathe in and
out through your nose. As you exhale, mentally repeat
a one syllable word such as "one" or whatever works
best to give you a sense of inner peace and comfort.
5. Continue for 10-20 minutes
6. Maintain a relaxed accepting attitude toward any
thoughts or feelings that arise. When you notice them,
let them go, and return to paying attention to your
breathing and your word.
The more you practice this, the better you get at
relaxing your body and quieting your mind. You train
yourself to activate your relaxation response, just
like you'd train any other natural ability. Many
people also find that meditation makes them feel more
comfortable in their own skin, more accepting of
themselves and others, and better able to make good
decisions in their lives.
By practicing meditation regularly, you'll shift away
from feeling like a victim of the circumstances around
you. Instead, you discover that you are able to calmly
recognize what is happening and choose what is best for
yourself and others.
In deeper states of meditation, many people feel
oneness with Life. Many people use meditation as a
way to prepare themselves to effectively engage in their
other mental training, emotional release, or spiritual
practices.
So you can see that there's nothing too far out in
this approach to meditation. Yes, there are many
different meditation styles. Depending on your
interests, there are many different objects that you
can focus your attention on.
Yet, in essence, meditation is about developing your
natural inner skills of attention, concentration,
relaxation, presence, and awareness. You can practice
these skills and benefit from them no matter what your
belief system or lifestyle.
Remember, meditation is a natural human ability.
Enjoy your practice!
Kevin & Matt
The Mind-Body Training Company
P.S. Practicing meditation is one of the best ways to
bring more peace and joy into your life. For a solid
grounding in the basics of meditation, energized breathing
and manifesting what you desire with the Law of Attraction,
check out this program:
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