Getting Ready For Your First Guided Meditation

Your meditation time is a rare opportunity to connect within on a very deep level, let go of stress and accumulated tension, and find peace. If you're going to take the time to do a guided meditation, it pays to make the most of it by getting set up beforehand.

Here's a checklist of things to do to optimize your experience:
Eliminate distraction. Make sure you will not be disturbed by anyone knocking on your door, ringing your phone, jumping up on your lap (that means you, Kitty Cat), or playing the drums in the next room.
Get comfortable. Ideally, you'd want to have your feet flat on the floor, so you can have the experience of being "grounded" while you're connecting inside. But if it works better for you to have your feet up, then set it up that way, and give yourself whatever support helps you to forget about your body for a while. It's probably best not to be totally horizontal, though, because you're likely to end up asleep. (Unless of course that's your goal.)
Set the volume. Whether you're using headphones (recommended if you're comfortable with them), or speakers, set up the recording and give it a test before you get started. It should be loud enough to hear the words spoken, and not much louder.
Breathing. If your meditation calls for some deep breathing, great! If not do yourself a favor and do some deep, belly-centered breathing before you begin. Slow, deep abdominal breathing helps your body relax, gets the blood flowing to your brain and nervous system, and helps open up those creative centers so your imagination can take flight.
Be rested. It's hard to get a lot out of meditation when you're too tired to appreciate it, or when you just fall asleep instead of hearing the narration. Do your guided meditation when you have the energy to devote to it, rather than using it as a way to nod off -- unless that's your intention.
Don't be too hungry. Haven't eaten in a few hours? Maybe it'd be a good idea to have a little pre-meditation snack, so your stomach doesn't pull your attention away from your inner journey.

Ready? Not quite. Before you begin, be conscious of what your goal is for the meditation, and set your intention to achieve it. If you're simply looking for a relaxing inner vacation, let yourself know that ahead of time. If you're working with a program to connect with an inner guide or spiritual figure, take a moment to focus all of your attention on that goal before you start. By focusing on your goal before you begin, you'll put your whole system on notice that this is what you're after. That way your body, brain, imagination, and higher consciousness can all start working together for you.

To try out these tips, just visit The Healing Waterfall, listen to samples, and download a free guided meditation.

Original article

How Does Meditation Work?

When I am asked, How does meditation work? I often have to ask a few questions myself before I can give a satisfactory answer. For instance, does the person mean how does meditation work for stress relief? Or how does meditation work at reducing blood pressure?, Or how does meditation work for someone seeking to discover their deepest nature?

Depending on why you are asking the question, "How does meditation work?" then you will get a different answer. Plus, the truth is, even though I have been meditating for over 25 years, often for long periods of time, there are people much more qualified than me to answer questions about meditation and stress relief, or meditation and blood pressure.

However, I am very qualified to explain to you, or at least attempt to explain to you, how meditation works for someone seeking to discover their deepest nature. This deepest nature, which is often called enlightenment, is a very real state of permanent existence and it can be discovered and known by you.

Many years ago, I was very interested in what I had read about enlightenment and I wanted to discover it for myself. I explored many meditation groups and I was almost invariably invited to meditate in a certain way and believe in a set of beliefs that would 'one day' lead to my personal enlightenment.

As I had already had enough of blindly believing in stuff, I wanted to talk to an enlightened person myself. Not only that, I wanted to know how I personally could discover enlightenment for myself. It was at this point that I was told that it was not possible, or, I was told of a 'version' of enlightenment that even I could see had its limitations. So I decided not to settle for living in hope, and I kept looking.

Eventually I came across a meditation teacher who encouraged me to believe in nothing, rather I was encouraged to find out for myself. He introduced me to other enlightened teachers and I was actively urged to ask as many questions as I liked. I was told that by using certain meditation techniques, that I would eventually discover Enlightenment. Not in the 'next life', but in this lifetime. So, I began following their advice, and in a short period of time I began to discover more about myself than I had discovered in the whole of my previous lifetime.

Eventually, years later, I discovered the state of enlightenment. Going back to your original question, "How does meditation work?" I can tell you this. Meditation works by you simply being as still as you can be, being as present as you can be - and by LETTING GO.

Now, what do I mean by LETTING GO? After all, you can be trapped in a prison and let go all you want, you are still trapped in a prison. So, this is where the special meditation techniques that I was introduced to, came in. You see, it is possible, for the very space that you exist in, to be greatly expanded. This is done by opening your Third Eye chakra. You then have a space to let go into, a space that you currently do not have. As you progressively LET GO into this 'new space', and as you access realms of creation, and beyond creation, that you are currently not aware of, you eventually LET GO completely. It is at this point that you realise for yourself, within yourself, the state of BEING that is called ENLIGHTENMENT. So you can see, asking the simple question, How does meditation work? was not such a simple question after all!

Francis Taylor has been teaching meditation all over the world. He believes that it is possible to find the light in this lifetime rather than only when you pass on.

Finding the light will allow you to live a more joyful life. Through meditation and being initiated you will expand and grow to new heights that you never dreamed possible.

It all starts with letting go, being still and observing. You can experience Francis Taylor's enjoyable guided mediation absolutely free of charge. Go to http://www.meditationclassathome.com/ right now and receive your free meditation videos.

Original article

A Simple Meditation Practice

Meditation is a practice that is growing in popularity for people who seek a simple, non-intrusive method of releasing stress, and provide them with their desired sense of wellness. People who have undergone this mode of therapy have been shown to be happier, less stressed, deal better with pain and are generally more productive in their work - all leading to a better lifestyle.

The practice of meditation does not require any equipment, and can be as easily performed in a group class or at home alone. But a common question that troubles many who start out is 'whether they are doing it right? This article will outline a method of how to perform simple meditation, so beginners receive the maximum value from the process - as they are not questioning their technique.

When starting out in meditation, body posture is the first element to explore. The best posture is one that you can remain in comfortably for 10 minutes or more, enabling you to find the peace of mind that you desire. Although many people perform meditation in a seated position on the floor with their legs crossed over, it is not necessary. If possible, you should also ensure that your head and spine are aligned and lengthened. Lying flat, or sitting tall are the best methods to achieve this. Comfortable posture ensures that your mind stays focused on the meditating so that you can work at clearing your conscience. If you try meditating when you are slouched or uncomfortable, you will realize that your mind will drift away far more easily.

Your eyes are another element to work on. They can be slightly open, with a soft focus, open with a focus on a particular item (like a candle flame), or closed completely too all external stimulation. If you find your gaze being regularly distracted and you cannot free your mind of the thoughts that you have, either close your eyes or try the candle.

You then need to free your mind of all thoughts and simply let it be. This will enable you to experience the beauty of meditation stillness.
One focus technique of meditation is to use your rhythmical breath to ensure that your concentration does not wander. Observing the breath, or counting the breath is all that is required.

As you are meditating, it is recommended that you just let whatever thoughts that pass through your mind pass with ease. This helps you in relieving the stress that is normally caused by many of the thoughts that trouble us each day. If you have emotions that are troubling you when meditating, it is recommended that you embrace the emotion in your meditation, however strong they may be. This has been shown to help you deal better with the emotion as it can be released once it is recognized.

It is important that you make sure that the meditation procedure is carried out in an environment that is safe and free of distractions or noise. If you desire to carry out your meditation in a noisy place that hinders your meditation, then soothing music can be played for you to realize the desired concentration.

Following the above guidelines will assist your meditation practice, so that you can enjoy the many benefits that it provides.

Nigel Coates is moderator of the Explore Meditation blog, which offers free Meditation Downloads to assist you walk your spiritual path with confidence. The simple Chakra Meditation is a great place for beginners to start.

Original article