Meditation

Yoga meditation guidance was described thousands of years ago by ancient and mystical sages. Since civilized societies began to emerge, meditation has evolved into a structured practice. Although there is not a lot of recorded information dealing with the history of meditation, its roots can be traced back to ancient times.

Some meditation experts suggest thinking of your mind as a glass of muddy water and meditation helps bring clarity. Many forms of meditation result in the clearing of one's mind. Meditation promotes a sense of calm and heightened awareness. And that's the real benefit of meditation: teaching your mind to accept whatever thoughts, feelings and sensations come along, without judging them or yourself.

Scientific studies show that the regular practice of meditation can be a powerful healing tool. Meditation helps reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, and improve concentration, clarity and creativity. Additionally, many studies have shown meditation can significantly lower stress, chronic pain and anxiety.

From the dawn of time, meditation has been a vital part of self transformation and holistic health. Many physicians consider meditation a key element of an integrated health program.

While scientists are studying whether meditation may afford meaningful health benefits, they are also looking at how it may do so. Researchers say that meditation works at least in part by lowering your body's responsiveness to the stress hormone norepinephrine. But meditation interrupts that flood of stress chemicals, so you don't feel on guard or tense. As your entire being becomes absorbed in meditation, every stress and strain of daily life will fall from your shoulders. Through meditation, one can cultivate a wonderful inner quiet that will melt away stress and nervousness.

In general, meditation produces a reduction in multiple biological systems, resulting in a state of relaxation. Studies of brain physiology during meditation have most frequently employed the electroencephalograph (EEG) for the measurement of brain wave electrical activity. During meditation, the brain's activity, as mapped by an EEG, alters significantly. These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very profound influence on the heart and its activity.

The most well-known brain waves evident during many kinds of meditation are called alpha waves. The scans provide remarkable clues about what goes on in the brain during meditation. Although study results vary, there were similar findings: meditation lowers bodily metabolism, slows brain waves, and induces relaxation. Those most deeply involved in the meditation showed the greatest changes in brain structure.

This is accomplished as Meditation brings the brainwave pattern into an alpha state, which is a level of consciousness that promotes the healing state.

The researchers observed that the variability of beat-to-beat heart rate was directly affected by meditation. These results reveal that meditation can have a deep and very profound influence on the heart and its activity. If meditation is practiced regularly, these beneficial changes become relatively permanent.

One of many benefits of meditation is that it opens your mind to new ideas. What is more important is the acquisition of the purity and concentration of mind in moments of meditation. Purity of the mind achieved during meditation is essential to gain access to Higher Self.

[Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com]

Rob Daniels is a long term practitioner of Yoga and Pilates additional articles available at Religious Podcasts http://www.religious-podcasts.net and Yoga Store http://www.yoga-store.net

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