Losing Weight Rapidly

Wanting a slimmer and sexier body is no lofty ambition. Many people have succeeded in sculpting their physiques to make them look healthy and desirable. However, this end is not attained in just a snap or skipping one night's dinner. For some people though, patience is not a virtue. They seem not to be able to afford so much attention, time and money to get the body they have always wanted. As a result, these people result to rapid weight loss practices and programs which may not be as effective as these people are led to believe they are.

Medifast diets are one of these rapid weight loss practices which may not be very inviting as they seem according to research. Medifast diet programs, as scientific research shows, are only good while they last. Rapid weight loss often results ironically, to rapid weight gain. People who undergo low carbohydrate or low calorie diets normally revert back to old eating habits simply because human beings can not actually live on with this type of diet scheme for the rest of their lives.

Now there is also scientific research showing that rapid weight loss does not imply an individual is losing unwanted excess fat; it is commonly water that is lost with following rapid weight loss practices. This could cause certain alarm but actually, water lost is regained very quickly. So there is actually zero net weight lost after all. So one should not be foolish enough to be so gullible with the advertising of certain diet pills out there in the market; especially those which claim to aid lose a whopping amount of fat in a short time. They will only dehydrate the body. And just so it is clear, the body can only lose two pounds of fat per week, one could be exceptionally lucky if he can lose three, but normally, it's just two.

The other quick weight loss technique is using nutrisystem.Featuring pre-portioned and calorie-controlled meals and snacks that are delivered to you every 28 days, NutriSystem is a convenient and effective weight loss program.

Bottom line is "no pain, no gain". If one wants a beautiful body, one must sweat it out. And as for those rapid weight loss products coming out on the market, if they are too good to be true, they probably are not. Read More...

Eyeglasses and Lifestyle

Holiday Fun Eyeglasses now has become part of people's lifestyles. This is evidenced by the many models and types of glasses are very diverse.

But do you know who the man who first introduced the glasses? He is George Airy, which is an English astronomer who first wore the glass lens in 1827 as a proofreader view.

Before the year had begun glasses found in various forms, such as clipped to the nose, glasses one receiver, is tied to the head and so on, while the glasses are hooked to the ear (spectacles) was discovered in 1727 by opticker (author's term) England, Edward Scarlett.

The whole world is now familiar with spectacles including Indonesia, the condition of tropical Indonesia allow time for the sun for more supply. Now is no longer strange to see the pedestrians using the sun glasses, if the previous user of sun glasses is identical to motorists or tourists tourist location.
Eyeglasses is an important stuff for a lot of people, cheap price is becoming the one consideration they need,so the answer is $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses.
New arrivals they have,would be waiting,they offers more selection models,material and style.


Read More...

Choosing Right Massage Therapist School?

Stress can cause many changes to our lives.It is known as the number one cause for many health issues.
Relaxation is something we all need in our lives. Relaxation is sometimes hard to do when your body is all stress and tense from everything that is happening in your life. Stress can’t always be relieved at one time. It took time for that stress to pile up and it will take time to relieve it so relaxation will easier.Have you thought about trying to get relaxation from a massage ?
Massage is believed as one of relaxation therapy.Massage therapy is one of the best know means of manipulating the body with the hands and other tools in a manner that relieves tension, exercises muscles and provides therapeutic stimulation to the body.
Now,massage therapist becoming prospective carrier is becaused people have high need for massage therapy service. Massage School of therapy - certificaton building on over 20 years of personal and professional relationships, honesty, integrity and excellence in the massage therapy field.
Massage therapist school can change your career and change your life,learn the many benefits of massage therapy training. Massage therapy school cost is an important consideration in choosing massage therapy school if you're thinking about a career in massage therapy,
or choosing a massage school.If you are interested in massage therapy school, you can easily hop online to check out a variety of options. There are virtually schools all over the country. You can also acquire about the pay rates for massage specialists.
If you are interested in pursuing a massage therapy career, you need to attend to an accredited school in order to learn the fundamental techniques in massage. These schools can be found in different parts of the world. These schools even offer short courses to entrepreneurs who are interested in opening a business on this field. Read More...

Meditation and Relaxation

Numerous studies have shown that there is a direct link between meditation and relaxation. What distinguishes this from the other techniques is that with meditation, your mind continues to be focused and alert when you learn to focus on an object, a thought or by visualization.

But which should you focus on? The answer depends on the individual. The important thing is that it is something that they are comfortable with.

One of the simplest things to concentrate on is your breathing. In fact, most meditation techniques start out this way so that your muscles will be relaxed and your mind and body become one.

Sometimes, staring into an object can produce similar results. The best part about is that it doesn’t have to be physical because when you are trying to get some sleep, you can focus on a cloud or the open ocean.

If thinking about an object is not your thing, then you can try to focus on sounds or words. This is the reason that there are CD’s that you can buy which play calming music or with someone in the background talking to you during your meditation and relaxation session.

When such things are used, this is better known as a mantra mediation or transcendental meditation. This technique has been studied widely in the medical field because the body gains a state of profound rest. As you wake up, your brain and mind becomes alert ready to get back to work.

The biggest challenge with meditation and relaxation is the fact that you will often be distracted with other thoughts as you try to block them out. When you are doing this at home, it is beyond your control if a car drives by or there other sounds coming from the outside. The same goes if you feel an itch and the tendency is to scratch it.

Since ignoring it won’t do any good, you just have to accept it. This skill is called “poised awareness” or “attention awareness” and by being able to have a passive attitude these things will no longer affect you.

Let’s face it. All of us need time to relax when the pressure builds up otherwise we crack. You can drink a beer after work or watch television when you get home but the truth is, such activities does not truly relax the body.

For that, the best answer is meditation so you not only relax the body but also the mind. You should do your best to stay awake because instead of concentrating on your breathing, you could already be dreaming which is not what this exercise is all about.

Those of you who feel more energetic with meditation and relaxation should do this on a daily basis. After all, it only takes 15 or 20 minutes or so to recharge your batteries.

Does this change who you are as a person? The answer is no. You just become more calm and disciplined when everyone around is going crazy so you can make the right decisions at the right time. Soon, people will notice the change in you and say something about it. Some might even ask how you do it and when that happens, you will know that this activity which you have been doing for the past few days or even weeks has finally paid off. Read More...

No More Sitting On The Floor Thanks To Meditation Chairs

One of the most challenging things when meditating is finding the right sitting position. This is because your legs could become numb after some time which is why even if there is already meditation cushion in the market, there are some who still prefer to use meditation chairs instead.

When you look at a meditation chair, the first thing you will notice is that this does not look that different to a dining chair. It has 4 legs and a back rest. However, what it does best is make you more comfortable than when you are sitting on the floor by being able to mold to your body which prevents cramps and provides complete relaxation.

The material that makes this possible is called buckwheat hull because it conforms to your shape thus providing a firmer seat. It is also able to do this because of the ergonomic design which prevents the user from slouching during the most intense moments of meditation as it is angled slightly forward.

A good example of a meditating chair is the Seagrass. This was designed by a meditation practitioner who felt that it is very difficult to meditate while sitting in a lotus position. This chair allows you to cross the ankles or the feet or pull them up if you are tired of having them rest on the floor. It also provides proper spine support so you will never experience any back pain after the session.

The Chinese meditation chair is perhaps the oldest since it has been around for centuries. It didn’t have ergonomic features like the ones we have now but it has a very wide base so that the user has sufficient room to also cross their legs. It also did not have any cushioning but you can easily fix that.

Another example is the Tilt Seat that is also known as the kneeling chair. The beauty of this meditation chair is that it does not put any pressure on the knees and this can also be used as a study table because you can easily read a book when you put a cushion on the floor.

There are other meditation chairs available and they come in other shapes and sizes. One option for those that want something bigger is the meditation bench. Because of the larger area, those of you who still prefer the lotus position can do so without putting pressure on the legs. Something similar to that is called the cane chair for meditation.

When choosing the right seat, you should always consider your height, size and comfort level. Don’t forget support for the back so this also helps improve your posture.

The nice thing about meditation chairs is that they are light and portable. It can easily be stored in the closet when you are done and the designs that most retailers have can easily compliment with the rest of the items in the room.

The meditation chair is designed to make you feel comfortable in the 15 or 20 minutes when you are in session. How you make your mind and body relax is already up to you so if you are serious about improving your health or combating stress, then investing in one of these will surely be good for you. Read More...

Stress Management with Relaxation Techniques

If you are fatigued out, you apparently apperceive that alleviation techniques which will additionally advice to relax the apperception will be an astronomic advice in absolute your problems. This commodity will outline some alleviation techniques which are acclimated in accent administration and will point to a website which has abundant advantageous information.

Relaxation techniques assignment on the abstraction that you can't be airy and anxious at the aforementioned time. Alleviation contest advice abate all-overs and stress. Alleviation training can advice you to ascendancy your body's acknowledgment to stress. There are basically two capital ways: Learn how to about-face off the anxiety arrangement through assorted alleviation methods. There are added adult versions of these able-bodied methods, like the battery of alleviation and accelerating relaxation. If we accede cerebral theory, its basal apriorism is that peaceful thoughts account alleviation and demanding thoughts account stress. A beating provides abysmal alleviation and improves physiological processes. Many bodies use specific alleviation techniques including yoga, brainwork and breath techniques. Sometimes spa-like music is acclimated forth with a collaborative counselling access to arm-twist the alleviation response. Although not accurate able if acclimated alone, yoga, brainwork and accelerating beef alleviation are actual important to advice apathetic the apperception and anatomy bottomward and assuredly comedy an important role in authoritative the furnishings of the buzz. Make time for alleviation and leisure activities. Perform alleviation contest or get a massage.

Progressive Beef Alleviation Technique

Tighten all the anatomy you can find: legs, arms, back, face- Hold for 10 seconds- Then, release- Repeat a few times. Other activities that absolutely abate accent accommodate circadian exercise, award effective outlets for your emotions, socializing, assuming alleviation contest and bistro a advantageous diet. Meditation, alleviation abilities and beef alleviation are all means for you to arctic out and feel good. Accent administration and alleviation are two techniques that can be finer acclimated to amusement stress. Accent administration and alleviation can advice individuals booty ascendancy of their own situations and finer accord with stress. There is a aberration amid accent administration and relaxation. You can activate to use the alleviation techniques that assignment for your specific needs, anatomy and mind. Accent administration and alleviation are two kinds of therapy, absolutely generally self-therapy, that can be acclimated calm to advice admit and allay accent in circadian life. Read More...

Listening Relaxation Sound a Good choice

Relaxation complete is one of nature’s gifts. Some things you acquire to pay for, but alleviation complete is consistently accessible and chargeless alike back it is the adequate complete of silence.

However, because of the fast clip of activity you may acquire absent blow with the activity of your alleviation sound. Alleviation complete can advice you booty a breach so that you can breathe and adore the joy of living.

The fast clip of activity is ONE allegory which you acquire accustomed after questioning.

Working as a advance I advise alleviation by the bedside for heart, achievement and blight patients in hospitals. I acquire taken agenda of one allegory which states that alleviation should be a one time thing.

Most patients agree, from experience, that to be advantageous you charge to apathetic bottomward and aroma the roses. Slowing bottomward is a action and not a quick fix.

Relaxation is not allotment of life; alleviation is a action of active in anniversary moment.

If you acquire this myth, carefully or unconsciously, again it is actual difficult for you to be acquainted your alleviation sound. Back you accede your alleviation complete you are calmly able to booty a breach and can breathe and adore the joy of living.

If you acquire in the allegory that alleviation is a one time affair again you are ambience yourself up for a massive bloom challenge.

As a simple exercise I appetite you to see how continued you can authority your breath. Breath is a accustomed allotment of active and if you are not practicing alleviation circadian you may acquire chock-full breath after alike actuality acquainted of it.

Listening to your alleviation complete is a simple way to convenance Relaxation. You can booty a breach and breathe and adore the joy of living.

In conclusion:

Your alleviation complete although chargeless and readily accessible has been forgotten. The fast clip of activity has affected you to acquire the allegory that alleviation is a one time thing.

In your breath exercise you may acquire apparent or been reminded of the acceptation of alert to your alleviation complete which will acquiesce you to booty a breach so that you can breathe and adore the joy of living Read More...

Shopping For Meditation Supplies

A quiet room is all you need in order to meditate. But if you are like some who feel that meditation supplies are needed, go ahead and do so.

The first thing you have to concern yourself with is space. For that, you have to check which room in your house you can use as a meditation room. Ideally, this should have adequate space to put a cushion, a mat or a bench. It should also be clutter free so it looks very relaxing.

The best support to get when you sit down should enable you to keep your back straight and prevent you from slumping during meditation. These come in different sizes and colors so check them out.

Another thing you can have in the meditation room is a small table. You can put in two or four and this is for the incense and your CD player. When you are shopping for incense, it is best to try out each one because there are some that are stronger than others. The same goes with the music because some prefer the sound of whistling trees while there are others who prefer the sound of running water.

You should also consider the lighting in the room so you create the right environment suitable for meditation. If your light has a dimmer then that could do the trick. If you prefer to use candles, make sure they are placed in strategic areas of the room. The candles could be scented or unscented which is entirely up to you because there are already incense sticks.

When you have a meditation room, do you ever ask yourself why you are doing this? If you are doing this for you and your family, you can also buy a few picture frames and put their photos then place this on the table.

For those that want to relax, change this with images of nature like the ocean, the rainforest, the mountains or the clouds.

The use of incense and scented candles can only do so much to freshen up the room so why not use flowers instead? You can buy a nice vase from the store then buy these from the florist or cut them from your own garden. Often times, you will find that the smell of flowers does a lot to bring a sense of calm to the room.

With the right meditation supplies and furniture around, it is easy for you to close your eyes, drift off to that special place and come back feeling refreshed. You can try other scents and other sounds later on so don’t be afraid to try other things as well especially when this is already part of your daily routine.

If you travel regularly, you can continue your meditation routine by taking your meditation supplies with you. Surely, it isn’t that hard to buy an inflatable cushion, some candles or oils then put this into a bag and maybe upload the music to your MP3 player.

Meditation takes time to master and having a special room with sufficient meditation supplies will really help a lot. You can order these online or get this from the specialty store so it won’t be that hard for you to replenish them when you are almost out. Read More...

Meditation Techniques

Meditation techniques are known to vary depending on the origin of the practice and the culture in that place. It also varies depending on the personality of the person and where he or she comfortable with.

Meditation techniques can be classified as "concentrative" that involves the means of focusing into a specific object and the other can be termed as "expansive" that involves a person's free flowing thoughts, observation, and reflection. The following are just some of the most common meditation techniques that are used for effective meditation:

1. The Mantra Meditation. This is one those meditation techniques that involve production of sound or the combination of one or more sounds that are played in a very spontaneous manner. When the sounds are spontaneously played, it can greatly affect the metal process and psychic consciousness of the person practicing it.

2. The Trataka or Steady Gaze. When translated literally, "trataka" means to "gaze steadily" into a specific object. This is one of those meditation techniques that have been commonly practiced by majority of the religious systems in the world such as Sufism and Christianity. Here, the person meditating is asked to gaze steadily in a certain an object and focus his or her attention to it.

Because of its effectivity in holding a person's concentration for a long period of time, the "trataka" is considered as one of the most effective yet simple means of meditating. The most common form for this meditation technique is through a use of a candle that is practically set up at the person's distance of the arm and leveled with the eyes. It is more effective if the candle is lit.

But if you are not a veteran in this field yet, do not attempt lighting the candle because it can lead to an accident. Among the benefits of this meditation technique is that it helps in the improvement of the person's external and internal optic function, alleviates visualization disabilities as well as poor eyesight, develops deep mental concentration, enhances the person's ability in maintaining single point sight as well as developing a person's sense of intuition.

3. The Chakra Meditation. This is also one of those meditation techniques that greatly help in the manifestation of energy and mind control. It is also known to be very effective in developing a person's deeper consciousness. For beginners, there are actually seven Chakras available to be tried on but the most popular among them is the "chakra anusandhana," which can be self-tutored. This meditation technique helps awaken the chakra of a person in a very gentle and balanced way. It is also one of those meditation techniques that are easy to do. What you can do is to sit or lie and close the eyes.

Once you have done this, you can now adjust body as well as your clothing for proper breathing control. Once you get hold of it, you can let the chakra flow into you slowly. Although this is very effective, don’t overuse it because it can lead to various side effects including exhausted mental capability. If you decide to do this, always make sure that a professional to avoid creating imbalance that can lead to various personality disorders guides you.

Other effective meditation techniques also include Vipassana Meditation, Raja Yoga Meditation, Zazen, and Nada Yoga, which have their own respective practices and postures. Read More...

Music that You can Listen to While Meditating

For people who are into meditation, one of the most crucial factors for them to do the practice properly is to hear some meditation music. Depending on the form of meditation you are practicing, meditation music plays a very big role in achieving the success in any meditation session.

What is meditation music should be

People who have been practicing meditation for so long would definitely agree that the hardest thing to fight off during meditation is chatters or babblers. This is because this tiny sound can penetrate the mind and distract it from whatever it has been doing.

To be able to avoid the distraction brought by this simple sound, they have found a way to fight it off using meditation music. Of all the many kinds of music out there, people—especially those who are just beginning—are having a hard time choosing which one would suit the practice.

Here are some guidelines in choosing the meditation music for you:

1. Make sure that it doesn't have lyrics. In choosing meditation music, it is always best to choose music that has no lyrics because it can only distract your concentration. If you find plain rhythm boring, try to play something that has lyrics that your don’t understand so you don’t have to think what the song is saying. Aside from distracting your thoughts through the words you understand, music with lyrics will also encourage you to sing along which will totally shatter your concentration.

2. Relaxing music with soft rhythm is always advisable. For starters, this type of music will do you good because it will help you clear your mind and focus on something. But, if you are already in a higher level of meditation, you can choose music that have faster rhythm and beats or anything that your truly enjoy because this can no longer distract you.

3. Try to experiment. Although soft and relaxing music is always advisable, try to play other types of music. Who knows? You might find better concentration of you play something that you truly enjoy.

4. Simple and soothing music is sure to focus your attention. If you don’t have the luxury of time to experiment on types of music to be played during meditation, then try surefire hits, which are simple and soothing music. Some of these may include classical sounds, sounds from the nature such as clapping of thunder, sounds of big waves, sounds of insects, and the wind. Other alternative options may also include simple instruments including tibetan singing bowl, flute, sitar, and tamboura which are known to have meditative inducing qualities.

When choosing meditation music, it is very important to keep in mind that the type you should play must induce you to deep concentration and not into deep sleep. If you are the type who practices mediation in just one place, then it is best if you play the same meditation music all over again. But if you are the type who changes places, then it is best to bring along several types of medication music to help you adjust to the place.

You can download the meditation music that you like from various meditation sites in the Internet and burn in a CD. But if you burn have a portable MP3 player, it is best to upload the music there so you can listen to it anytime you want to practice meditation. Read More...

Learning About Reiki

What is Reiki? Reiki is a Japanese type of spiritual practice also used for stress reduction and relaxation. It is a technique that also helps promote healing either for self or for other people. It is characterized as a practice of "laying of hands".

The healing powers of the technique are based on the idea that there is an unseen "life force energy" that flows through each person. This life force is said to be the reason why people are alive. When one's life force energy is low, then people are likely to get sick or feel weak. If the life force is high, people fell healthy and happy.

Reiki is also a form of meditation used as a type of therapy for treating physical, emotional, and mental diseases. The name Reiki is taken from two Japanese characters that describe energy itself. The word "rei", which means "unseen" or "spiritual" and "ki" which means "energy" or "life force" is combined to become Reiki. In English, its meaning is usually given as "universal life energy".

It was Mikao Usui who was known to have developed Reiki in 20th century Japan. Story has it that Usui received the ability of healing after going through three weeks of fasting and meditating on top of Mount Kurama. Practitioners of Reiki use a technique similar to that of the laying on of hands.

This action is said to promote the channeling of "healing energy" to another person. The energy flows through the palms and brings along with it healing powers that can be used for self-treatment as well as for treating others.

Reiki is a simple, natural as well as safe method of dispensing spiritual healing and self-improvement. It is said to be effective in providing alternative treatment for virtually every known illness and malady. Not only that, Reiki also helps create an added beneficial effect, that of spiritual healing. This method is also said to work well when combined with other medical or therapeutic techniques to help relieve side effects and promote recovery.

Reiki, although seen as a very powerful healing technique, is an amazingly simple to learn. Reiki and the ability to use it effectively cannot be taught in the usual sense. The skill is said to be "transferred" to the student during a Reiki class.

This ability is not merely learned but is passed on by a Reiki master to the student during a gathering known as "attunement". After the skill has been passed on, it allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" that can then be used to improve one's health and enhance the one's quality of life.

Although the practice of Reiki may be spiritual in nature, it is not considered as a religion. There are no set of beliefs that one should learn about before learning to practice the technique known as Reiki. The practice does not depend on any form of dogma.

It will work whether the student believes it or not. But it is said that the practice of Reiki helps people to keep in touch of their spiritual selves rather than the intellectual concept that it provides.

The practice of Reiki also aims to develop and promote living in harmony with others. Aside from practicing Reiki and its principles, the founder of the Reiki system, Mikao Usui also recommends the practice of simple ethical ideals that can lead to peace and harmony among people.

Getting to know what Reiki is may help people not only become a healing channel but also a tool to promote peace among other people. Read More...

Useful Meditation Instructions At Home

Different meditation techniques follow their own set of meditation instructions in order to be effective and lead a person to a higher level of relaxation and consciousness. These guidelines are there to help provide the steps that an individual can follow as he or she begins a meditation session. Duration may differ according to the different techniques and may involve different exercises to achieve that higher level of awareness.

Any meditation practice may be done at different parts of the day. But it is suggested that you do it in the morning. Morning is the ideal time to do a meditation session since it is the time of the day with the least interruptions. It is also good to find a place somewhere in the home that is quiet and private. Here is an example of how you can do your meditation in your own home.

First of all, try to sit upright, keeping your spine relatively straight. You can either sit on a bed, on the floor, or in a chair, whichever is most comfortable for you to sit on. You can cross your legs as you sit down, which is the usual position for meditation. But if crossing your legs will result in discomfort or stoppage of blood flow in the legs, try to uncross and extend them. You may also try to alter to a more comfortable sitting position. Meditation can also depend on how comfortable you are to be effective.

After finding yourself in a comfortable sitting position, the next step is to close the eyes and relax. Do this for a brief moment to calm your body and mind. The next step is to try and visualize a certain object. Visualization is one of the important steps in meditation. Try to focus on the object in your mind and try to be aware of its characteristics. Focusing and concentrating on something in your mind may take time and it will take a lot of practice. This is important since meditation depends on putting your focus on just a single object in your mind while minimizing the distractions as much as possible.

Now that you have visualized a specific object in your mind, try to feel yourself as if you are that object. Try to get a sense of how it is being that object. Feel how it is to be that shape, that color or that texture. Become the object in your mind. In doing so, try to feel calm and relaxed. Don't try to force your mind to do it. Just be aware of that object and let it effortlessly become you. This too may take some time to get used to. But practice will make you get better at it.

What is important in this meditation exercise is that you try to make yourself visualize a certain object effortlessly without forcing your mind to do so. What may be even harder to do the first time you are doing this exercise is how to maintain your visualization. There may be times that a passing thought or a distraction may occur in your mind that may let you lose focus.

With practice in following these simple meditation instructions, you may be able to get used to developing your focus and concentration and keeping your mind free form distractions. By then, you will learn how to relax not only your body but also your mind. Read More...

Using Meditation Tapes

Meditation has become a popular form of relaxation among people who always find themselves stressed out often in their lives. Meditation can be a very effective coping mechanism and as a valuable means to combat stress. The most convenient means of practicing meditation techniques can be done with the use of meditation tapes.

The practice of meditation can be perfected through the guidance of experienced masters of the different meditation techniques. Others join into meditation groups in order to enhance and improve the meditation techniques that they practice. But sometimes, people may not have the time to spend in joining such groups and may rather practice meditation in their own homes. In this case, meditation tapes would really become very valuable items to have.

An effective meditation practice would depend on a knowledgeable guide and a willing student. The guide is usually the master experienced in the techniques of meditation and will help provide students with the different steps towards relaxation. The willing student then tries to absorb and follow each step carefully in order to reach an enhanced state of relaxation. The meditation guides have these steps taken from ancient practices that have been handed down from generation to generation. And when it is impossible to have a live meditation guide walk a student to the different steps of meditation, the use of meditation steps would help bridge the gap.

There are many ways in which you may be able to find a meditation tape that you can use in the comfort of your own home. You may even be able to use it when driving to the office or when working, that is, depending on what type of meditation technique you plan on practicing. Choosing the right one may depend on certain factors that may allow you to meditate more effectively for relaxation.

When choosing a meditation tape, it is important to check them out before purchasing them. It is important that you may be able to listen to them first before deciding on buying them. Buying them through mail order may not provide you with an opportunity to check out one in terms of quality in sound as well as playability of the tape. When you do choose one, try to get those that have meditation guides narrating the steps with a peaceful yet commanding voice. Choose a meditation tape with a voice that you will want to listen to and do what has been said. Choosing a tape with a wrong voice may hinder you from reaching your full potential in your meditation. It would usually depend on your own preference on which type of voice you would likely follow to lead you to the different meditation steps.

A good way of looking for good meditation tapes is through the Internet. You may be able to find them in various websites that deals with the subject of meditation. It can be as easy as using a search engine online to find those meditation tapes. What makes looking for meditation tapes online even more convenient is that most of them offer brief audio clips of what each tape contains that you can check out.

This will help you choose and determine which ones will suit your own meditation style. Try looking for those sites that do offer audio clips in order to help you get the most effective meditation tape guides that would satisfy you. Read More...

Why Relax?

Experts have determined that heart disease is connected to anger and. Too much stress can lead to or cause a heart attack. Relaxation takes on extra meaning in light of this matter. Managing your anger and attitude is important to heart health, and relaxation can help you manage stress. We will examine some ways that relaxation can be effectively achieved. Hopefully one will appeal to you.

One method of relaxation is transcendental meditation. Studies have shown that this method may lessen artery blockage, which is a major cause for heart attack and stroke. The researchers found that practitioners of transcendental meditation radically reduced the thickness of their arterial wall.

Another manner of relaxation, acupuncture, seems to reduce high blood pressure by triggering the brain to release chemical compounds known as endorphins, which help relax muscles, ease panic, decrease pain, and reduce anxiety.

Breathing is one of the easiest methods to relax. Breathing affects our mind, our moods and our body. Simply focus on your breathing, after some time you can feel its effects.

Another simple way to attain relaxation is exercise. If you feel irritated a simple half-hour of exercise will frequently settle your mind.

Hypnosis is one controversial relaxation technique. It is a good quality substitute for people who think that they have no idea what it feels like to be relaxed. It is also a good alternative for people with stress related health problems.

The above relaxation techniques are just a few of the ways you can accomplish relaxation. An additional inspiration for why we must relax, aside from lowering blood pressure in people and decreasing the chances of a stroke or a heart attack, is because stress produces hormones that hold back the immune system. Relaxation gives the immune system time to recuperate and in doing so function more competently. Read More...

The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation plays a large part in Eastern philosophies and religions. Later on, the West also got hold of it and has realized that it has a lot of health benefits.

The one thing students and those work deal with everyday is stress. Meditation for just 15 minutes or even longer allows you to relax and later enables you to make an effective decision. It also lowers the level of stress anxiety in your system thus decreasing the risks of heart disease significantly.

The practice of meditation also makes you self aware of what is happening around you. This enables you to focus on the present rather than events that happened in the past or the future. It teaches you to be in control of your mind and not make you do anything based on your emotions.

Believe it or not, meditation also develops insight into our subconscious. This is because our attitudes, behavior, feelings and perceptions are all connected and if you are able to harness it, you will be able to understand yourself better.

This allows you to have a positive outlook in life and even make changes in yourself. You become content or thankful with what you have instead of harboring feelings of anger, anxiety, greed, hatred and jealousy towards yourself and others.

You will also be able to see the big picture instead of the small one when given a task at work so even if there are a few setbacks a long the way, you are still able to keep your eye on the end game.

Medication can also make you feel younger. This is because in one study, people who have been practicing this for many years were physiologically 12 years younger than their chronological age. The results of the test were based on the test subject’s auditory discrimination, blood pressure and eye sight.

So now that you know the benefits of meditation and what it can possibly do, you are probably asking yourself right now how does it work? Well, let us first correct the common misconception about meditation.

A lot of people think that you have to sit in a pretzel position or go off to some far away place to make this work. The truth is that you just have to find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed, sit on the floor or on a chair in whatever position you like best and slowly clear your mind of all thoughts.

You should keep in mind that sitting in a comfortable position may sometimes make you doze off. So concentrate otherwise it defeats the purpose of this exercise.

Next, you should close your eyes, focus on your breathing and let the positive air go in and the negative thoughts go out. You might hear sounds nearby and since you can’t do anything about that, just acknowledge that it is there and just concentrate on this exercise.

This can be done at work or at home and how long it will be done depends on you. Some people may start out for 5 minutes and then extend the time in the future. The important thing is that you feel recharged and ready to taken on whatever challenge is out there when you are ready to open your eyes. Read More...

The Types of Spiritual Meditation

Spiritual meditation aims to help a person dig deep into the inner self in order to discover the wisdom and tranquility that lie within. It can be done by developing awareness, harmony and natural order into life through meditation. Different techniques can be employed in order to achieve this.

Different meditation techniques have been developed since ancient times in the effort to help people experience a higher state of consciousness. This usually makes use of the ability to clear the mind of distractions and focusing mainly on the self. Here are some of the techniques that most people use to get in touch with their spiritual consciousness through meditation.

One of the ancient techniques in meditation used is one that Buddhists practice. This technique is called mindfulness meditation and involves learning how to be aware about the things that one does and the things that is happening around at the very moment. This type of meditation technique can take time to master and involves four steps.

The first step is the abstinence from the five moral rules which is killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, and the use of toxic substances. The second step is the practice of Anapana Meditation for three and a half days where a person is taught how to meditate while focusing on one's breathing. The third step involves purifying the mind which involves self observation for six and half days. The fourth step involves speaking and living an extroverted life. This meditation technique closes with the practice of metta bhavana which involves sharing the purity developed with others.

Another type of meditation technique is Transcendental Meditation, the most debated and researched one among the many meditation types. This type of meditation aims to help one attain enlightenment if practiced on the long term. This meditation technique also can help increase intelligence and creativity. This technique does not require the mastery of difficult breathing techniques or the use of some special postures. A person needs only to learn how to concentrate by sitting in a relaxed and comfortable posture and position.

Another meditation technique is the vibrational meditation which involves the repetition of a mantra, a particular word or a sound that becomes the focal point of the meditation process. The vibrations that are produced by making the word or sound is experienced passing through the body. During meditation, the individual is to concentrate on nothing else but the sound as it is uttered again and again.

The Walking Meditation is one of the many other types of meditation techniques that may help one get in touch with one's inner self. It involves learning to focus the mind while walking. Although this meditation technique can be difficult to practice it can prove to be very beneficial. This type of meditation involves focusing on the feet while meditating and trying not to let the mind wander away from every step taken.

These different types of spiritual meditation techniques take time to master. It may be hard for some people to get used to focusing on one thing, due most of the time to the influence of the world in general and how it has clouded and cluttered the mind with thoughts of problems, worries and stress. But with regular practice and eventually making a certain type of meditation technique a regular habit, people may be able to look into their inner selves more effectively and then achieve a higher sense of consciousness that may help one attain inner peace. Read More...

What Is Transcendental Meditation

Meditation has been practiced for centuries. In the years that followed, various movements have evolved and one of them is called transcendental meditation.

Transcendental meditation was a movement founded in 1957 by a Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Today, it has over 6 million followers and some of them include Hollywood celebrities and singers.

The organization that practices Transcendental Meditation is better known as the Spiritual Regeneration Movement. What makes this form of meditation different from the others is the fact that you don’t just learn everything there is to know by reading a book but by learning from a transcendental meditation expert.

The ultimate goal of Transcendental Meditation is to make each member achieve pure consciousness. By doing so, the individual will be able to find peace with him or herself and also with the rest of the world.

The practice of transcendental meditation takes about 15 to 20 minutes each day. In order to be part of this organization, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created a seven step process which everyone must go through that also includes two lectures, a personal interview with a trained instructor and four days of practice. Apart from that, you are required to pay a signup fee that is almost $2,500.

More than 500 clinical studies have been done on Transcendental Meditation. One study shows that members who are in their 50’s feel much younger. Another study shows that it improves your academic achievement, creativity and intelligence.

Those who have been practicing it claim that it reduces problems such as anxiety, insomnia and stress. Even those who have had addictions with alcohol or drugs in the past say that this has helped them kick the habit.

In short, Transcendental Meditation is able to improve your physical health. Probably the biggest surprise is that one study showed that members of this movement have had fewer medical problems than those who are not.

Given the benefits it can do to those who practice it, this is probably the reason why some companies in the US offer this program to their employees. This is because management knows that stress costs them more than 200 billion dollars annually which means a decrease in the worker’s productivity.

One example of such a company that offers this to their employees is General Motors. This car company has been practicing Transcendental Meditation for several years and results from a study showed that this increased the productivity in the workplace, improved morale and had a good impact on the physical health of their workers.

There are even some who have mistaken Transcendental Meditation and the organization itself to be part of the religious cult. This is because another name by which it is known is the “Science of Creative Intelligence” which in fact is a degree that you can get after you graduate at the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa.

It should also be pointed out that Transcendental Meditation is scientific so you don’t have to abandon your current religion. In fact, it can be done with little effort so it is possible for you to achieve pure consciousness regardless of your age, gender, educational background, culture or religion.

Transcendental Meditation makes you look inward so you are able to turn those dormant potentials into realities. Of course, this can only happen over time and with practice so you will soon be able to experience an endless world of possibilities. Read More...

Understanding Transcendental Meditation

Transcendental Meditation is a meditation technique introduced in 1958 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It is a simple, natural, relatively effortless meditation technique where the mind can easily and naturally look into the source of thought and achieving the settled state of the mind which is known as the Transcendental Consciousness. It is said to be the pure consciousness which is the source of all creative processes in the human mind.

Transcendental Meditation's origins can be traced back sometime in 1955 when the Indian ascetic Maharishi Mahesh Yogi started teaching a new meditation technique that he said was derived from the Vedas. Maharishi had previously studied with Swami Brahmananda Saraswati. Maharishi even served as his secretary from 1941 until Saraswati's death in 1953. It was sometime in 1957 that Maharishi began the Spiritual Regeneration Movement in Madras, India, at the conclusion of a festival that was held in remembrance of his deceased teacher. Maharishi then began going on a number of worldwide tours promoting and disseminating his technique sometime in 1958.

Maharishi started to plan on establishing one TM (Transcendental Meditation) teaching center for each million of the world's population in 1978. During that time, it would mean having to build about 3,600 TM centers throughout the world. Since then, Maharishi has continued the teaching of Transcendental Meditation from the Netherlands through an organization called the Global Country of World Peace. This organization has reported that over six million people all over the world have learned the Transcendental Meditation technique since it was introduced.

The Transcendental Meditation technique is taught in a standardized, seven-step process. The process is composed of two introductory lectures, a personal interview, and a two-hour meditation instruction session given on each for four consecutive days. The instruction starts with a short ceremony that is performed by the teacher. After that, the student is taught and starts practicing the technique. The following sessions are given in order to provide further enhance the correct practice of the meditation technique as well as to provide more information that the student might need to know about.

The goal practicing the Transcendental Meditation technique is, according to Maharishi, to achieve enlightenment. He states that enlightenment comprises of seven major states of consciousness. The first three are commonly known as waking, dreaming, and deep dreamless sleep. The fourth state, Transcendental Consciousness, is said to be achieved and experienced during the practice of the technique.

Maharishi says that a person who practices Transcendental Meditation will eventually learn how to maintain the experience of transcendental consciousness even while living everyday life. This is what he refers to as enlightenment and calls it as the Cosmic Consciousness, the fifth state of consciousness. The sixth and seventh states, the God Consciousness and Unity Consciousness, are further improvements of the Cosmic Consciousness.

Transcendental meditation can be practiced for as short as 15–20 minutes in the morning and evening. It is usually done while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. While undergoing Transcendental Meditation, a person's awareness starts to settle down and begins to experience a unique state of relaxing alertness. As the body further becomes deeply relaxed, the mind begins to transcend all mental activity in order to experience the simplest form of awareness, which is the Transcendental Consciousness. This is the state where the consciousness is open to itself. The meditation technique used is said to involve neither concentration nor contemplation. Read More...

Things You Should Know About Zen Meditation

We all have to deal with stress from either work or school. You can’t close your eyes to make it go away but you can find peace so you can deal with it. One technique that can offer this is called Zen meditation.

Zen meditation is often referred to as the study of the self. It involves sitting in various postures so you are able to bring the mind and body to a peaceful and stable condition. This happens as you focus on images and thoughts that just pop up as your heart rate slows down until you reach a reflective state of meditation.

One of the best seating positions to do this is called the Burmese position. There is also the full lotus, half lotus, kneeling or “seiza” posture and sitting on a chair.

The key here is to keep your back straight so that your deep breathing will go naturally. This allows more oxygen to enter that will help cleanse and energize the body.

The buttocks must be thrust out and the chin tucked in. The hands should be placed close to the body with the left hand resting on top of the right with palms open and up. The joint of the middle fingers are resting on top of the other with the thumbs slightly touching.

Your eyes should be half closed and your head should be positioned to a 45 degree angle towards the body. Given that it is not easy to keep the eyes like this the whole time, you can try closing them first and then opening them later on. Should you get sleepy, just open them wide.

The challenging part is staying in a stationary position for 15 to 20 minutes. After you have developed a breathing pattern, you slowly relax the muscles from your face all the way down to your feet. As it slows down and oxygen enters, you should focus on positive thoughts and exhale those that are negative.

By concentrating, you are able to unite the body, mind and soul so that your mind is aware of only the present and no longer the past or the unforeseeable future.

Aside from the right posture, you should always wear loose clothing. It is not wise to practice this after a heavy meal because a full stomach usually creates discomfort which in itself is a distraction.

If you would like to learn Zen Meditation, you can read about it or better yet join a group. Once you get the hang of things, you can even buy a few accessories to make the experience a fruitful one like incense sticks, a bell or even a ringing bowl to mark the start and end of a session.

Short incense sticks burn for about 45 minutes while the longer ones are double the time. You can even use the kitchen timer since no one will be there to ring the bell to say time is up.

Zen meditation experts recommend that beginners should try for 10 minutes first until you get used to it before you decide to extend this for 20 or 30 minutes. Should your mind wander off, concentrate a little harder to focus once again on your breathing so your thoughts will settle down naturally. Read More...