Meditation is a way to train the mind to reach a state of peace that brings physiological and psychological benefits.
There is a common misunderstanding that meditation is the same as relaxation. But when meditation is practised regularly, it can bring more benefits than relaxation. For instance:
• While meditation helps to relax the body, it also helps people gain better control over their thoughts and emotions.
• People who meditate regularly find that they think more clearly and that their memory and concentration have improved.
• Medical research has found that meditation is helpful for stress-related conditions because it lowers blood pressure, slows the pulse rate and slows the respiratory rate while maintaining the same levels of oxygen in the blood.
The most common forms of meditation come from the East and have origins in Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. In the West, these methods are practical self-help techniques for coping with our fast-paced lives.
Alison Finney is a certified hatha and kundalini yoga teacher in Ottawa. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance and the International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association and is the founder of PranaShanti, a health and yoga resource. For more information, visit www.pranashanti.com.
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