| OK, you've heard about meditating and maybe even | | | | Some meditation techniques are actually quite physical, |
| thought about taking up the habit. But what are the | | | | so you may not experience a feeling of relaxation in |
| benefits of meditation? Can you expect anything other | | | | every different method you sample. |
| than feeling a bit more relaxed? | | | | 4. Pain reduction |
| 1. Quieter mind | | | | A number of guided meditations focus on pain |
| Most of us experience some form of "mind chatter". | | | | reduction. Because pain is subjective (we all |
| Some people call it talking to yourself. Others | | | | experience it differently), it's difficult to find any scientific |
| experience it as a nagging voice that keeps telling you | | | | proof for this. But you can test the idea quickly and |
| that you're no good at whatever it is you're trying to | | | | cheaply yourself - a guided meditation aimed at |
| do. Meditating regularly will help to reduce your mind | | | | reducing pain will cost you around the same as a |
| chatter and give you a quieter mind. In turn this will | | | | cheap restaurant meal, so you have little to lose and |
| allow you to concentrate more. Over time, you'll find | | | | much to gain. |
| your mind stays quiet for longer. | | | | 5. Increased awareness |
| 2. Improved heath | | | | Because meditation encourages you to focus more, |
| This isn't just a "sales pitch". Many hospitals around the | | | | chances are that you'll find yourself becoming more |
| globe use meditation to help reduce stress, especially | | | | aware of both yourself and the things around you. |
| when someone is suffering from a terminal illness and | | | | You'll start to notice things that you'd have ignored |
| has a weakened immune system. Of course, you | | | | before. So maybe you'll "catch yourself" before you |
| shouldn't wait to become ill - you can start practicing | | | | decide to puff on a cigarette or take an extra bite of |
| meditation now and experience the health benefits that | | | | that cake. Or maybe you'll just be a little bit more in |
| will follow from your meditation sessions. | | | | tune with the world around you. Whatever is the case |
| 3. Relaxation | | | | with you, I'm sure you'll begin to notice things changing |
| Partly because you often need to sit or stand still | | | | for the better over the days and weeks that you |
| whilst you're meditating, you'll find yourself becoming | | | | practice your meditating. |
| more relaxed as a by-product of your meditation. | | | | |