I don’t know about you but when I hear the word meditation I get pictures in my mind of Buddhist monks, monasteries, and very uncomfortable crossed-legs. I get those pictures and I’ve been a regular meditator for nearly two decades. I’m neither a monk nor capable of sitting in the lotus position.
I started meditating because I suffered from chronic anxiety. The meditation was a significant factor in healing that problem. I do it nowadays because of the benefits it continues to bring.
You see meditation is quite amazing in how, over time, it brings about powerful beneficial changes to physical and mental health. The problem with meditation is that you can’t get it in a bottle or a blister pack. Unfortunately, in order to obtain the benefits, you actually have to do something that takes up some of your valuable time. You need to set aside some me time when you are left alone and refuse to respond to interruptions.
Then you have to do something really boring like focusing on your breathing, or repeating a word or phrase (mantra) over and over again. It’s so dull that much more interesting thoughts keep on wandering across your mind to try to liven up the proceedings. So it can seem really difficult – at least when you first start. But this isn’t a how to meditate so I won’t go into that. This is more about a why to meditate.
So let’s look at some of the benefits.
- Blood pressure reduction (without medication)
- Reduces pre-menstrual symptoms
- Helps you lose weight
- Slows down aging
- Boosts serotonin (so no need for prozac or other SSRIs)
- Boosts sense of intimacy
- Improves tolerance
- Reduces stress
- Boosts immune system function
- Harmonises mind body and spirit
It also has no negative side effects, unlike many of the drugs that only help with some of these problems.
So if you want to get started then all you need to do is to decide that you are going to meditate regularly and decide on the time. One of the easiest ways to get started, which removes a lot of the difficulties encountered by beginners, is to actually use a Guided Meditation. With a guided meditation you listen to a recording and are guided as to what to focus your mind on. I find that when I listen to a guided meditation I can relax to a much deeper level because someone else is in charge. It’s a bit like going on a coach tour. Someone else has done all the work and found the best places to visit. Someone else does the driving – all you have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Then, at the end you feel so much better.
There are loads of guided meditations available. I’ve got one that takes you through your chakra energy centres, and I’m in the process of creating another that has a more spiritual than physical focus. I’m not suggesting that my guided chakra meditation is better than anyone else’s. The best advice I can give is to choose one that appeals to you.
I’ve had some really positive feedback about the benefits of my chakra mediation. Here’s one email I received:
“Michael
I have a very close relative who is very ill. This CD has been a like a gift from heaven. Thank you so much for creating it.
I love the Chakra Meditation CD! Listened to it five times and always drifted off into a hazy dream-like state within the first few minutes. I woke up relaxed, refreshed and hopeful each time. Today, I was determined to hear the content of the CD in full. I managed to stay awake and found myself tearing up (crying actually) during all three chakras above Anahata. The CD is both rejuvenating and relaxing. The message on the CD resonated more strongly each time I listened to it. I will continue to listen to it daily. I am very happy to have found your remarkable CD. It has been a wonderful meditation experience..”
Alex Dubrovsky
Becky enjoyed it too:
“…it’s really good. I was listening closely and then all of a sudden I was waking up as the music finished at the end. I felt really relaxed and positive. I was also wide awake which considering I’d just played rugby and was practically nodding off just before I listened was amazing.”
Becky Hindley
I strongly encourage you to try this out, and don’t forget to let me know how you get on.
If you go to my Chakra Meditation web page you can purchase the CD or imediately download the MP3 version and enjoy the benefits for yourself – it’s as close as you can get to meditation in a blister pack.
Check it out.
Michael