How to Use Meditation to Reduce Stress

Meditation has been around for thousands of years. Historically, meditation was supposed to help the holy men, the sages, the medicine men acquire a deeper understanding of the mystical and sacred powers of the world in which they lived. Today, meditation is commonly used as a tool, a strategy, a process to reduce stress.

Meditation is an accepted mind-body practice in complementary and alternative medicine or integrated medicine. However, I doubt whether your insurance company would pay for any instruction you receive about how to medicate.

Anyone can practice meditation. It is simple and you don't need extra equipment. The beauty of meditation is you can practice it anywhere. You can meditate on a commuter train, in your doctor's waiting room, or in a closet.

A person uses certain techniques when they meditate such as a specific posture, focused attention, or repeating a mantra. Its purpose is to eliminate the stream of thoughts that causes chaos and stress for you as they crowd your mind. The result is improved physical and emotional well being.

Meditation is one of the best ways to manage stress because it gives you a sense of calm, peace and balance that benefits your overall health. The beauty of it is that these benefits can last from your meditation session to your entire day. It clears away your information overload that builds up every day and creates chaos and more stress.

Meditation is most meaningful for me because it helps me reduce my negative outlook and emotions. It also helps me focus on the present.

Meditation actually refers to a group of techniques such as mantra meditation, relaxation response, mindfulness meditation and Zen Buddhist meditation. Most of these techniques started in the religious and spiritual traditions of the East.

Many people practice meditation for health issues including anxiety, pain, depression, stress, insomnia, and physical symptoms associated with chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer.

What's interesting is that medicine doesn't know exactly how meditation works on the body and the mind. The research shows that it does cause physical changes in the body and there are some theories about why this happens, but nothing conclusive. There are, however, a couple of theories.

One of the theories is that meditation may work by affecting the automatic or involuntary nervous system. This system regulates many organs and muscles regulating your heartbeat, breathing, and digestion.

In another area of research, scientists are testing whether meditation is associated with changes in brain function. Still another theory is that by practicing meditation you may improve your mind's ability to pay attention. Paying attention, of course, could lead to other benefits, because we need to pay attention to do everyday tasks and to help regulate our moods.

Please keep in mind that mediation is not a replacement for your conventional medical care or an excuse not to see your physician or postpone an appointment.

And one more piece of advice: if you're looking for an instructor to help you meditate ask about the training and experience of that instructor before you register for any classes.

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