Meditation has been practiced for eons throughout the entire world and in many cultures.  It has its roots in Eastern culture.  The word meditation describes a diversity of methods and ways of practicing which can include mindful meditation, transcendental meditation and guided meditation.  The different types of meditation use a variety of techniques, including focusing attention on the breath, or on a word or a single object.  A particular posture can be employed but isn’t necessary to the practice. Let this be part of your beginners guide to meditation.

Meditation can be simple to learn, does not require special equipment, and can be done in almost any location.  Meditation and yoga for stress relief can make a big impact. After only one session a person can experience stress reduction.  It has been found by most researchers that only 20 minutes a day will produce long-term health benefits.  The effects can be felt even with the practice of meditation for only 10 minutes a few days a week.

Meditation, if practiced regularly, can improve psychological and physiological health.  The brainwave pattern can be brought into the alpha state by meditation.  This is the state of consciousness which encourages healing.  Meditation promotes relaxation, mental clarity, psychological health, healing from different diseases, and mind/body health generally.

It’s been found in studies that meditation activates the part of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system, controlling the body functions like digestion and blood pressure.  Stress has a powerful negative impact on these functions, so meditation can help relieve the causes of stress-related disease, like digestive disorders or heart conditions.

In a study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, 90 cancer patients practiced mindful meditation for a period of seven weeks.  Patients found at the end of that time that they suffered from less depression, anger, confusion or anxiety.  They experienced fewer heart or gastrointestinal problems, and they reported higher levels of energy.

A group of people who had meditated for four months was studied by researchers at the Maharishi School of Management in Fairfield, Iowa.  The people participating in this study had a lower level of cortisol, the “stress hormone” in their systems and they said they felt better prepared to meet the challenges of stress in their lives,  which includes tips on dealing with anxiety and depression.

While research findings are helpful, it’s not necessary to wait for science to validate all claims.  Meditation has many benefits to offer and there are no negative health impacts from it.