“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind”. – Caroline Myss, author of “Anatomy Of The Spirit”.
And what a better way to silence the mind than with mediation. We are all victims to the hectic “modern” life we lead today, overloaded with stress and work and oh, that constant pursuit of money, career and prestige. While working under stress may make you more productive, stress is like a time-ticking bomb ready to explode any moment? Too much stress can lead to serious illnesses, such as anxiety, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, etc. It is your responsibility to take care of your body and mind. And meditation is your ticket to perfect getaway of serenity.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is an old Buddhist practice for reaching a state of deep peace with calm and silent mind. Thanks to the great benefits it provides, meditation is becoming more popular and as a result it is available in many ultramodern meditation centers worldwide. Although meditation techniques vary in mode and number, they all have the same purpose which is to encourage concentration, boost positive emotions and encourage an individual to see the true nature of things.
Let’s get introduced to some of the most popular mediation techniques of the present day.
- Zazen – This meditation technique is performed in a sitting position (person must keep the back straight). The core of Zazen is that there is no special attention to the breathing technique and it is usually performed with a concentration on a certain aspect of Buddhist scripture. It helps in achieving ultimate harmonization of the mind and the body. Zazen is the primary meditation technique in Zen Buddhism and is very popular among meditation fanatics.
- Mindfulness – People call it “anxiety healer”. The mindfulness meditation practice helps in being content and alive in the present moment. It is a conscientious activity that keeps the person focused on current activities and body sensations. What is really cool about mindfulness is that it can be practiced anytime and everywhere. Walking, cleaning, showering and cooking are just one part of the bevy of options for practicing this special meditation technique.
- Qi Gong – One of the most popular among world’s revolutionary meditation techniques. Qi Gong is part of the ancient Chinese health care system and as a special meditation technique, it focuses on breathing. Once the appropriate breathing technique is learned, the body energy circulates through all organs and energy centres in the body. This process (pattern) is called microcosmic orbit. According to Qi Gong, there are 3 main energy centres: below the navel, central part of the chest and the center of the forehead. In fact, the Qi Gong is a practice of cultivating energy that is immensely important for health maintenance and boosted vitality.
