Practical meditation tips
Carrying this peaceful feeling over into your daily life is effortless, according to Trainor, and she believes if you commit to taking the time to meditate, the body takes care of the rest.
Lynn Cardinal, co-founder of The Kaivalya Centre in Ottawa, says meditation taught her about the power of the mind. Through the meditation teachings of philosopher Patanjali, she learned that any limitations she thought she had were self-imposed. Through meditation she learned to control her thoughts and use positive thinking to overcome obstacles she had perceived as insurmountable. Although French is her first language she was able to learn English, something she thought she could never do.
How it works
The most basic definition of meditation is "learning to guide my thoughts," says Trainor. It is a way for people to reach a deep state of relaxation that allows them to release deep-seeded stress. It is about spirituality -- not religion -- and getting to know your inner self.
There are two main types of meditation. Mindfulness meditation requires keeping your mind quiet and free of thoughts so you can release stress and relax. Listening to music or repeating a universal mantra, such as "Ohm," are common techniques used. Concentrative meditation involves listening to your thoughts, in order to learn about yourself, and knowing how to control them. Deep-breathing and positive thinking are utilized.
You can open or close your eyes and just sit comfortably. Lying down is not recommended because you may fall asleep and sleeping is not meditating. You can meditate with a group or alone, using an instructional tape or even listening to guided meditation over the Internet. There are many different options and the only way to find the best one for you is to experiment with different types.
Although both Cardinal and Trainor say the learning curve is higher when an instructor teaches you meditation, they both believe people can teach themselves how to meditate. Cardinal suggests spending 20 to 30 minutes meditating every morning and evening but if you're too busy, any amount of time is better than nothing.
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