Meditation: A Beginner's Guide by Christin Snyder*The material presented in this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or prevent any illness.
In my article “Self-Healing Basics” I briefly discussed meditation and it's important role in whole-being wellness. Meditation has an abundance of benefits, but can appear daunting to newcomers due to many misconceptions surrounding it. Through this series of articles I will explore art of meditation in depth- addressing misconceptions, highlighting benefits, answering frequently asked questions, and also sharing different techniques.
I believe very deeply in power each person has to heal themselves. Meditation is one of several tools I teach to empower others on their quest for spiritual and personal growth. I have found that many who have comitted themselves to developing practice have reported dramatic results. Many have shared with me an enhanced sense of purpose, reduced stress and anxiety levels, and other life altering changes. There are numerous types and styles of meditation, and with persistence and practice everyone can find one to benefit them.
Meditation Myths:
There are many misconceptions and generalizations in regards to meditation that unfortunately keep many people from trying it. Before going into all of benefits and techniques, I feel it is necessary to first address some of these issues. In doing so, I hope to provide a better understanding of just how simple and worthwhile meditation can be.
One common misunderstanding surrounding meditation is belief that it is religious in nature. Although it is incorporated into religious practice in many traditions, it is not in and of itself, religious in nature. Neither is it reserved to any one faith system. Many people from a variety of cultures and traditions successfully integrate meditation into their lives without conflict.
Another commonly held belief is that meditation requires a lot of time to achieve results, however, as I will demonstrate later on, it truly does not require hours of rigid daily practice to be effective. Most of us do have busy lives, and meditation is an act that can be effectively incorporated into any lifestyle. Is it a discipline? yes. It needs to be developed into a routine, much in same way that walking dog or going to market are also established as routines. The benefits will be well worth few minutes a day invested.