MEDITATION

Many people believe that energy flows through the body, and that illness occurs when the flow is blocked. Meditation is a way of harnessing this inner energy to promote healing and well-being. Meditation forms a part of the practice of most religions, often as part of an associated mystical tradition. However, it can also be a cultural or secular activity, and it is increasingly practised as people seek places of retreat to help them cope with the pace of modern life.

Meditation is simply 'time out' from the hustle and bustle of daily life. You can learn it from a book or teacher, but ultimately the only way to meditate is to practise it regularly.

Adopt a comfortable position in a quiet place, gently focus your mind and become still. You may find it helpful to repeat a word or phrase inwardly, to focus your eyes on a flower or religious object or to concentrate on your breathing, which should become slower as you relax. If your attention wanders, gently refocus it. Gradually relax your mind and your body.

During meditation many of the muscles relax, the breathing slows and the blood pressure decreases. On returning to activities following meditation, people report decreased anxiety, anger and other inner tension. Mentally, there is often greater clarity of thought and a release of creativity. Conditions that may respond to meditation include:

• Blood pressure problems and other circulatory disorders.
• Stress and stress-related problems.
• Chronic pain, including muscular pain, headaches and migraines.
• Respiratory problems , including asthma.
• Problems with sleeping.

This list is not intended to be comprehensive.

Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental meditation (TM) is based on the idea that you can achieve a state of restful alertness by mentally repeating a short phrase, or mantra. TM lessons are given by trained teachers and should be practised for 15-20 minutes each day.