Meditation

As the speed of life gets faster and we lead ever busier lives so we tend to ignore both our physical and mental health so that we are all now suffering from stress to some degree. It is no surprise therefore that we are turning more and more to time honored practice of meditation.

As a consequence of its proven record of effectiveness, today meditation is being practiced not merely to soothe the mind and lower stress levels but also to treat a widening range of physical complaints.

Indeed there are several physical benefits to meditation which slows the heart rate and thus pressure on the heart, reduces levels of cortisol and other chemicals in the body which are associated with stress and reduces free radicals in the body thus further helping to reduce blood pressure. It also improves the oxygen flow in the lungs to aid breathing and can even raise levels of DHEA which helps to slow aging.

As far as its psychological benefits, meditation reduces anxiety and irritability and improves memory and therefore your ability to learn. Accordingly, it also produces a positive outlook on life providing you with a feeling of rejuvenation and youthfulness.

Some other important benefits to be derived from meditation exercises include:

* Producing a general relaxation of not simply the body and mind but also of your very soul.

* Helping with the treatment of various physical conditions for which there is a connection between the physical illness and the emotional state of the patient.

* Creating an opening of the door into the 'inner self' thereby releasing our innate creativity.

* Providing an enhancement to our natural self-confidence leading to a more dominant and stronger sense of will power.

* Creating an increase in levels of energy which make it easier to tackle the stresses of life.

* Creating a greater ability to deal with many addictions and vices ranging from tobacco and alcohol to narcotics.

And this list goes on.

However, just like everything else meditation can be a powerful force for good when it is used correctly but it can also cause more problems than it solves when it is not used correctly. The key therefore is to know exactly what guided meditation can do and to learn the art of meditation before you add daily meditation to your routine.