What If You Stopped Talking to Yourself All the Time? - Alan Watts #meditation

10 Surprising Facts About Meditation

Many of us are already aware of meditation and its incredible benefits. Learning to meditate can help us to achieve a better quality of life, in the sense of improving our overall mood and lowering our stress levels. Meditation has been around for an extremely long time, but there might be some aspects you are not familiar with. If you want to know more about the art of meditation, then here are 10 surprising facts.

1. It makes you more alert

Regular meditation helps to enhance your brain function, so your concentration is vastly improved. Several studies have been carried out to test how meditation affects your concentration, and many have demonstrated that those who regularly meditate are more alert than others.

2. It makes you smart

Harvard University Medical School recently published a study revealing that regular meditation improves grey matter density within the brain. This helps to expand on your ability to learn new information and preserve it. It can also assist in controlling your emotions too.

3.  Anyone can do it

All ages can benefit from meditation. You don’t need to be a specific age, gender, or even be a spiritual person. The beauty of meditation is that it has no limits. Some schools around the world now teach their students how to meditate as its advantages can work for everyone.

4. You can meditate anywhere

While meditating in a quiet space is highly effective, some are able to meditate in any location. You can meditate while walking, travelling on public transport, or while sat at your desk. Do what works best for you.

5. There is more than one way to meditate

Many people believe that there is only one form of meditation, but there are actually many techniques. From simple breathing methods to mantra meditation, the ones you choose to explore will depend on what suits your needs.

6. You can’t control your thoughts

While meditation aids a healthier emotional state, you can’t control your thoughts. If you are going to meditate, it’s completely natural that your mind will wander to other aspects. Letting your thoughts be free is all part of meditation. The more you practise, the more positives you will see, but the key is to accept your thoughts and not push them away.

7. A few minutes of meditation can benefit

If you don’t have a lot of free time, meditating for just a few minutes can restore your life. For those new to meditation, just five minutes can really help.

8. It’s linked to mindfulness

Mindfulness meditation is a popular technique. While meditation and mindfulness are linked, they’re not completely the same.

9. It can boost your overall health

Though meditation has astonishing benefits for the mind, it can also help to boost your immunity, lower your blood pressure, and reduce tension in your body.

10. You can use audio

Using audio during meditation shapes an efficient program. Whether you prefer soft music or an audio podcast, beginners or those who struggle to focus can progress. For a free brainwave meditation audio, try Zen12 and gain an hours’ worth of benefits in just 12 minutes.

Taking the Mystery out of Meditation

For many people, the word “meditation” conjures up images of monks in a monastery, draped in long, flowing garments as they sit around in silence seeking that oh-so-elusive state of enlightenment. But, really, that’s not what it is at all.

It might surprise you to learn that you can practice meditation anywhere and at any time. In fact, if you weren’t busy reading this article, you could do it right now. All it takes is a few minutes of your time and the ability to focus on something. So why do so many people struggle with the concept?

You probably know that meditation began thousands of years ago as a spiritual practice. But we’re in the 21^st century now, things have moved on a lot since then, and it’s time to get rid of the myths and old wives’ tales surrounding meditation and muddying the waters once and for all.

Myth No. 1: You need to clear your mind

If you’ve ever tried it, you’ll know this is literally impossible. The idea is not to empty your mind, but to slow it down so you can regain a bit of perspective.

Myth No. 2: You need to sit still for hours on end

Who’s got that kind of time? It’s better to meditate for 5 or 10 minutes every day than not at all. Just sit somewhere and focus on your breathing. Simple, right?

Myth No. 3: You need training to do it right

Basic meditation is achievable by anyone. You can do it as you walk to the bus or tube station, or when you’re soaking in the tub. Find something to focus on like your breathing or your footsteps. Your mind will wander, but just bring it back to what you were focusing on and… voila! That’s meditation.

Myth No. 4: You need to be a bit of a geek

Geeks can meditate if they want to, but so can everyone else. You don’t have to learn Sanskrit to do it – just sit somewhere and breathe. You’ll be joining a group of more than 30 million Americans, including NFL players and US Marines. They can’t all be geeks, can they?

Myth No. 5: It’s too difficult!

No, it’s not difficult at all. The only difficult part is getting started, finding the opportunity to meditate that first time. And speaking of time…

Myth No. 6: It takes too long

How long do you spend checking messages on your phone? Reading updates on Facebook? Watching TV? Sending Tweets? You’ve got plenty of time to spare – so take 5 or 10 minutes to do something that will seriously benefit your physical and mental health.

The secret is to fit meditation into your lifestyle. Spend a few minutes in the garden breathing in the aromas around you. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds in your neighborhood. Take 2 minutes before you get out of bed in the morning to think about the people you love. They’re all examples of simple, practical methods of meditation, and you don’t have to be a monk to achieve any of them.

Download your free meditation MP3s at http://bit.ly/2Z4wXSp

Guided Meditation for Taking Care of Yourself and Cultivating Self-Love

This is a guided meditation to take you on a journey of relaxation. You cannot give what you do not have. Fill yourself up with love. It will reduce your stress level, as well as improve your overall health and well being when practiced regularly. Headphones recommended for optimal experience. Do not listen while driving. Meditation written and read by Sara Raymond

The Scientific Power of Meditation- How exactly does meditation affect your body?

I use to think Meditation and Mindfulness was nonsense.