1. Meditation

2. What is Meditation? Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness.

3. Why Meditate? Meditation can help people pay more attention to their present emotions, thoughts and sensations Meditation can help people pay more attention to their present emotions, thoughts and sensations Meditation can release tension, stress, and anxiety Meditation can release tension, stress, and anxiety Meditation can help to heal the body, mind and spirit of a person Meditation can help to heal the body, mind and spirit of a person

4. Why Meditate? Meditation can bring clarity and peace to a busy mind Meditation can bring clarity and peace to a busy mind There are many ways to meditate, none are better then another There are many ways to meditate, none are better then another

5. Why Meditate? Physical Benefits: Physical Benefits: –You are more rested after even a short meditation. This allows the body time to rest, heal and rejuvenate. –Reduces stress levels –This helps keep the body younger and healthier –We lose brain cells more slowly and give sick and aging cells a chance to rejuvenate

6. Why Meditate? Mental Benefits: Mental Benefits: –Experience inner peace and harmony –Awaken new patterns of thinking –Negative tendencies vanish –Mind becomes steady –People who meditate regularly are more cheerful, have more powerful speech and lustrous eyes. –They also have more energy and better health

7. How do you Meditate? Meditation is best done daily, for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. Slowly work up to this length of time. Regularity is key. Meditation is best done daily, for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. Slowly work up to this length of time. Regularity is key. Find a spot that is always the same for regular practice. This helps establish habit. Find a spot that is always the same for regular practice. This helps establish habit.

8. How do you Meditate? Ideally, meditate around the same time daily. It is thought that the most effective times are early dawn and dusk when the atmosphere is most charged with energy. Ideally, meditate around the same time daily. It is thought that the most effective times are early dawn and dusk when the atmosphere is most charged with energy.

9. How do you Meditate? Sit in a comfortable easy sitting pose. Sit tall and keep the spine lifted. Sit in a comfortable easy sitting pose. Sit tall and keep the spine lifted. Consciously regulate the breath. Find the inhalation and the exhalation, noticing the length and depth of each breath. Consciously regulate the breath. Find the inhalation and the exhalation, noticing the length and depth of each breath. Begin for 5 minutes at a time and gradually increase the length. Begin for 5 minutes at a time and gradually increase the length.

10. How do you Meditate? The monkeys (thoughts) in the mind have lots of bananas to throw at us. When you start to focus too much on these monkeys, find your breath again to regain focus. The monkeys (thoughts) in the mind have lots of bananas to throw at us. When you start to focus too much on these monkeys, find your breath again to regain focus. Don’t be frustrated if you don’t get it right away. Meditation takes practice and some skill. Just sitting quietly is beneficial for the body and mind. Don’t be frustrated if you don’t get it right away. Meditation takes practice and some skill. Just sitting quietly is beneficial for the body and mind.

11. Types of Meditation Some of the methods are: Some of the methods are: –Breathing – following your inhalation and exhalation –Mantras – repetition of a mantra like OM or Sat Nam –Body Scan – visualizations –Walking meditation –Guided meditation –Tratak – fixed gazing, like watching a candle flame or a blade of grass in the wind –Sounds – using sounds to concentrate and follow