1. By Heather Sissons

2. What is meditation?
DFN - "Consciously directing your ________________ to alter your state of consciousness."
- A pretty good dfn that fits most varieties of meditation.
You can direct your attention to whatever fits you best.
Ex: breath, heartbeat, mantra (ohm)

3. What meditation is… Allowing your mind to be _________ and attentive.
Increase awareness of the world around you.
Being in the moment – not worrying about the past or future
A process more than a goal

4. Meditation is not… Falling asleep. Going into ________________.
Becoming lost in thought.
Forgetting who or where you are.

5. Types of meditation Two groups:
Concentrative - focus on ________________
Meditation of mind
Meditation of body
Meditation of senses

6. Types of Meditation
Mindful - quiet ________________ of stimuli without thought or worry
Mindfulness meditation

7. Concentrative Meditation
Meditation of mind
Involves use of a ________________ or an internal visual image.
Meditation of body
Involves attending to breath or other physical sensations such as rocking or overall feeling.

8. Concentrative Meditation
Meditation of ________________
Involves attending to sounds or external visual stimuli

9. Mindful Meditation Mindfulness meditation
Involves attending to a the __________ of all stimuli in your environment, without concentration.
Smith (2005)

10. Why Meditate? Traditional view – _____________ growth
Contemporary view – relaxation, stress relief

11. How to meditate
1. Find a quiet, comfortable place where you will not be ________________.
2. Calmly attend to a stimulus (breath, mantra, etc.)

12. How to meditate
3. Calmly redirect your attention back to the target stimulus when you get distracted.
4. Feel yourself __________ and continue attending to your target stimulus.

13. Misconceptions Meditation is very difficult.
Not true, with _____________ it becomes easier and easier.
Meditation requires you to turn off your thoughts.
Also false, you don’t turn off your thoughts, you just don’t focus on and worry about them.

14. Misconceptions You have to sit in uncomfortable positions to meditate.
No, you should sit (or lay down) in a comfortable position for best results.

15. History and Theory
The consciousness of mind and culture

16. Each culture has their form of meditation tied with their own beliefs.
Meditation began from ______________ religious practices. (ex. Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.)
Their mind set and way of life promote meditation to achieve peace of mind and enlightenment.
Each culture has their form of meditation tied with their own beliefs.
Meditation spreads throughout the world today.

17. Types of Meditation Transcendental Zen Mindfulness or insight
________________
Meditation Position Ref.

18. Types of Meditation Guided ________________ Music And many more…
Meditation Position Ref.

19. Transcendental Meditation
DFN: A technique of meditation derived from Hindu traditions that promotes deep relaxation or state of rest, through the use of a mantra.
________________: A sacred phrase, word or sound chanted repeatedly as part of meditation and prayer, as an aid to concentration and the development of spiritual power
One of the more widely known mantras is the letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, Om

20. Amharic Mahout Mahesh Yogi
Born 1918
Taught by _________ Swami Drahamananda Saraswati, the divine teacher ( )
Instructed to create universal meditation technique
Himalayan mountains, 2 yrs
1959-Formal teaching
U.S popularity-70’s

21. Zen Meditation
DFN: Enlightenment can be attained through meditation, ________________, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion practiced mainly in China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Purpose: Through a clarified mind- you shed views and interpretations of concepts such as victory and defeat, self and others, right and wrong. Thus, reaching a realm of great rest and tranquility.

22. Mindfulness or Insight Meditation
DFN: Focusing on awareness and _______________; observing your thoughts and environment. Being fully present in the moment, without judgment, simply observing and moving on. Becoming aware of your thoughts gives you power to manipulate them.
Most importantly, no thoughts can be judged or given emotional energy
Feelings of losing control when free association yields all possible thoughts.

23. Meditation and Music

24. Listening “It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen” –Oliver Wendell Holmes
Definition: To listen is to make a conscious effort to __________
Two types of listening:
Active- Active listening intentionally focuses on a
sound or group of sounds with the intention of providing feedback in order to establish understanding of what is being communicated.
Passive- Passive listening is when no feedback
response is intended, such as when listening to the radio or watching television.
While listening is an active state of awareness, it is also passive in the sense that it is receptive.
Listening, opposed to just hearing, suggests a more attentive state in which we intend to hear.

25. Listening and Sound Sounds
Definition: Sound is that which is heard, resulting from stimulation of auditory nerves by ________________ in the air, either passive or active.
Music is a ______________ sound.
A musical sound is more than just the sounds of the city streets or the constant hum of conversation, a musical sound, or a tone, can be defined in terms of pitch and duration.

26. Music
Must have certain elements of tone, scale, pitch, and presentation, to be most effective during meditation
Affects brain at certain levels; our ______ can fluctuate between various music genres
Can activate neural pathways associated with euphoria and reward which promotes emotional happiness
While anyone can simply play music while meditating it may ___________ the person from gaining full benefit from their meditation session. You must ________________ to music in order to gain benefit from music during meditation.
Listening to and focusing on the music, (if done properly), can be meditation in itself.

27. What type of music is listened to during meditation?
The type of music listened to during meditation depends on the one who meditates.
________________ music is recommended during meditation if music is played but ultimately it depends on the person meditating and the type of music they are most comfortable with.

28. Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) as a Type of Musical Meditation
DEF: A therapeutic process using carefully selected music
A trained facilitator to create an environment in which one can experience personal insights that provide answers and guidance for important life issues
Provides an opportunity for emotions to be recognized, released, and then processed productively
Recognized as a psychotherapeutic method by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA)

29. GIM Continued…
The music during GIM evokes _______________, sensations, and feelings and the traveler and guide dialogue together about the unfolding journey
The traveler spontaneously describes experiences stimulated by the music while the guide supports and encourages
Sessions usually last minutes (Music in Health)

30. Tips for Effectively Using Music in Meditation
With Music
Use music you ___________; avoid music you assume will relax you
if using music as meditation, try not to concentrate on anything else ie:breathing technique
give in to the music. Let yourself feel what the composer intended to feel
With Sound
Sit in meditation and attend to the sounds that come to you
Allow yourself to hear ________________ the sound
Listen with full attention
What do you hear?...Disregard the name of what you hear
Instead, focus on the sensation you achieve

31. Music and Meditation in Medical Research
Music therapy and anxiety following surgery
Music therapy and back pain
Music therapy and cancer pain
Music therapy and children with developmental delay
Music therapy and depression
Music therapy and __________
Music therapy and migraines
Music therapy and stress management
Music therapy and postoperative pain

32. In Conclusion…
Music in general is ________________ for effective meditation
However, music affects the brain in areas that meditation alone does not
The combination of the two, music and meditation, can potentially produce a more effective meditation session and in turn a higher spiritual experience

33. The Benefits of Meditation

34. Physical Benefits Helps prevent heart disease Reduces ___________
Enhances immune system
Lowers blood pressure
Decreases risk of heart attack and stroke
Helps prevent digestive problems
Improves fertility

35. Physical Benefits Cont.
Reduction of free radicals
unstable oxygen molecules that can cause ________________
Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing
helpful to asthma patients
Graceful aging

36. Psychological Benefits
Higher level of self-acceptance and insight about oneself
Reduces Stress
Decreases anxiety
Decreases ________________
Helps people better relate to one another

37. Psychological Benefits Cont.
Increased emotional stability
Decreased irritability and moodiness
Improvements in those with ______________
Improved learning ability and memory
Increased IQ
Harrison, Linda J. (2004). Sahaja Yoga Meditation as a Family Treatment Program for Children with Attention Deficit-Hyperactive Disorder. Clinical Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 9(4),

39. Psychological Benefits Cont.
Increased brain wave coherence.
____________ of brain wave activity in different parts of the brain is associated with greater creativity, improved moral reasoning, and higher IQ.

40. Benefits for Cancer Patients
Decreased depression and anxiety
Decreased ____________ and confusion
More energy
Fewer heart and
gastrointestinal problems

41. Relaxation Response
Dr. Herbert Benson of the Mind-Body Medical Institute, which is affiliated with Harvard and several Boston hospitals, reports that meditation induces a host of ________________ and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the "relaxation response."
The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and brain chemistry.
The relaxation response is beneficial in reducing stress and controlling the fight-or-flight response.