A part of Eastern culture for thousands of years, meditation is defined as a relaxed yet focused mental state. Prayer, focused breathing and guided imagery are examples of meditative practices. Other meditation techniques include slow concentrated movement or repeating syllables or sounds to help you to filter out distracting sounds or thoughts. The practice of maintaining focused attention on your daily activities is a technique known as "mindfulness meditation."
Purpose of Meditation
In Western culture, medical professionals may recommend meditation as a means to relax, manage pain and to enhance your physical, mental and emotional sense of well-being. Because meditation eases anxiety, a regular practice may help to enhance the immune response and enable medical patients to better manage chronic disease, emotional and mental stresses and the side effects of medical treatments.
How to Meditate
Although novice practitioners sometimes assume the goal of meditation is to eliminate all thoughts from the mind, those who meditate seek to maintain a relaxed yet attentive state of mind. Unwelcome thoughts should be acknowledged and dismissed without judgment, so you can return your attention to the present moment. Depending upon your personal preferences, you can meditate while sitting, standing or engaging in slow movement. Although it permissible to meditate while lying down, practitioners may find they are more inclined to fall asleep when in a prone position.
Expert Insight
In the year prior to a 2007 government survey, approximately 10 percent of Americans used some form of meditation, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Although science previously assumed that relaxation was the only direct effect of a meditative practice, ongoing investigations indicate the brain undergoes physiological changes that may lead to temporary or permanent change in the neural pathways of the brain.
Considerations
If you think a meditation practice will help you to enhance your health and sense of well being, seek instruction from a qualified professional who can help you to discern an appropriate method for your needs. As with all complementary and alternative therapies, it is important to inform your primary healthcare provider of any activities or treatments you intend to pursue.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Meditation, A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress; April 2011
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Meditation, An Introduction; June 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Mind-Body Medicine; Steven Ehrlich; September 2009
- The Merck Manual Home Health Handbook: Mind-Body Techniques; Steven Rosenzweig; February 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Relaxation Techniques; Ernest Hawkins; September 2009
- National Institutes of Health: From Alpha to Gamma: Electrophysiological Correlates of Meditation-Related States of Consciousness; J. Fell, et al.; August 2010
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