1. meditation

2. what is meditation
Meditation is that which gives you deep rest. Meditation is an activity in which the practitioner just sits and allows the mind to dissolve. In Art of Living, meditation is a simplified activity which can easily be practiced by all. Meditation is not concentration. It is de-concentration, says its founder, Sri Si Ravi Shankar.
The rest in meditation is deeper than the deepest sleep that you can ever have. When the mind becomes free from agitation, is calm and serene and at peace, meditation happens.

3. Benefits of meditation
There are numerous benefits of meditation. It is an essential practice for mental hygiene.
A calm mind
Good concentration
Clarity of perception
Improvement in communication
Blossoming of skills and talents
An unshakeable inner strength
Healing
The ability to connect to an inner source of energy
Relaxation, rejuvenation, and good luck are all natural results of meditating regularly.

4. benefits

5. Spiritual benefits
Meditation does not have a religion and can be practiced by anybody regardless of the faith they follow. 1.Effortless transition from being something to merging with the infinite and recognizing yourself as an inseparable part of the whole cosmos. 2.In a meditative state, you are in a space of vastness, calmness and joy and this is what you emit into the environment , bringing harmony to the creation/planet. 3.Meditation can bring about a true personal transformation. As you learn more about yourself, you will naturally start discovering more about yourself.

6. Importance of meditation
Meditation is food for the soul: it nourishes the universal values of compassion, caring and sharing, responsibility, non-violence and peacefulness. It helps us bond with others. These are important values to guide us and make us accept all of mankind as our family: more so in times when the world is being fragmented.
Humankind has an innate tendency to look for a joy that does not diminish, and meditation fulfills this important need.
Even when everything is going fine for us we often find ourselves being restless. Meditation can relax our stress – conscious and unconscious – and give us the sense of comfort and stability that every human being craves.
It helps us meet life’s ups and downs with centeredness, confidence and resourcefulness. Importantly, it gives us resilience so that we can not only can we remain unshaken by storms of emotions that come in everyone’s lives, but also get back on track sooner.
Meditation is the greatest grief-counsellor.

7. How to meditate
Choose a clean, distraction-free spot or room in your home, though you can do it sitting in your chair at the office during lunch-hour, too! If it is at home, it is better not to use this space for any other activity.
Ensure the lighting is soothing and the ventilation sufficient – and the noise-levels under control.
You can listen to guided meditations, but it is better to start with a group.
Meditate at the same time every day, so it becomes a sustainable routine. Early morning is an optimal time.
Don’t overdo it. Start by meditating for minutes. Keep a timer
Shut up – the cellphone. Tell your family you are on Do Not Disturb mode for a short spell of time, till your meditation is over.
And, please, wear comfortable clothes, preferably of natural fabric.

8. How to meditate

9. Types of meditation
The different types of meditation techniques that have evolved from Hinduism, Christianity, and Buddhism can be classified under five categories:
Concentration
Reflective Meditation
Mindfulness Meditation
Heart-Centered Meditation
Creative Meditation

10. Types of meditation

11. Concentration meditation
There are several types of meditation techniques in concentration meditation category that can help you overcome distractions within and outside your mind and sustain mental focus. The different types of techniques that will help you gain concentration include: 
Zen meditation
Transcendental Meditation
Om meditation
Shine Meditation or Samadhi
Chakra Meditation
Concentration is at the heart of all the types of meditation, but in some techniques, focus is predominantly on building concentration.

12. Concentration meditation

13. Reflective Meditation
Reflective meditation is also known as analytical meditation and refers to disciplined thinking. In order to successfully practice reflective meditation, you will need to choose a question, theme, or topic and focus your analysis or reflection upon it. Initially, your thoughts may wander to other topics but then you need to train your mind to come back to the topic in question. In order to do this, you need to learn concentration meditation first.
As you practice this every day, your mind will be more in control and not wander off. It is one of the most important types of meditation and is considered to have a calming effect on the mind. It stimulates transformative power and provides you with great conviction and strength to change the course of your life.

14. Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation is one of the important meditation types that helps you learn a simple thing: to pay attention or be "mindful". This type of meditation is known to provide pain relief and help for those suffering from anxiety and depression. There are different types of techniques in this category that you can practice, like:
Vipassana meditation - read what Olga writes about it !
Deep breathing meditation
Body scan meditation
Visualization meditation
Mindful breathing
Sitting Meditation
Walking Meditation
Mindful eating
Mindfulness meditation is one the most powerful and alternative meditation techniques, which lays emphasis on cultivating a highly receptive mindful attention toward any action or objects within your sphere of influence.

15. Mindfulness Meditation

16. Heart-Centered Meditation
Heart-centered meditation will help you release all your fears and sadness and bathe in the radiance of loving kindness and compassion. It is also known as the heart chakra meditation. Practicing this meditation over a period of time will help you to heal your heart and that of others.
This meditation technique helps in opening the heart chakra and removes any negative energy that exists. In order to practice this meditation technique, choose a quiet place, set the right posture and focus on the heart area while inhaling and exhaling slowly but smoothly. You can also connect your heart to the heart of a teacher or a person you feel that is compassionate. This is considered as one of the important types of meditation techniques.

17. Creative Meditation or Visualization
A different type of meditation technique, this form of meditation will enable you to consciously cultivate as well as strengthen different qualities of your mind. It focuses on strengthening qualities, such as appreciation, joy, compassion, patience, empathy, love, gratitude, compassion, humility, fearlessness, and tenderness, among others.

18. The end
By kamya kapoor
11=I