PRACTICAL MEDITATION

Meditation is a practical skill which can be taught to everyone regardless of age, background or beliefs.

It is a simple technique which helps to focus and calm the mind, creating a restful state of physical well being resulting in inner peace and harmony.

Meditation is easy to learn but is more difficult to master. It consists of four simple stages:

- finding a position of physical comfort
- focusing the mind on the breath
- when the mind wonders, gently bringing it back to the breath
- letting go of everything else

Regular meditation can bring about deep states of relaxation that are of enormous benefit when dealing with the stresses of modern life. By quieting the mind we can relax the muscles of the body, deepen breathing , slow the heart and lower blood pressure.

However, meditation is more than a relaxation technique and it can strengthen concentration through focus, bringing about greater clarity of mind. The benefits of a regular practice ripple through everything we do – we have more energy, we are healthier, we think and work more efficiently and have an ability to enjoy life more.

Regular meditation can also create greater self awareness and can be used as a tool for personal transformation.

To become more self aware we must first develop mindfulness. To develop mindfulness we must learn to disengage from our thoughts. By detaching from our thoughts we are able to observe their nature and to identify those negative thought forms that bring us down. With practice we can learn to replace these negative thoughts with positive ones, thus bringing about a transformation in the way we view life.
As we become more self aware, we connect with deeper aspects of ourselves and with that part of us which is pure consciousness.

Expanding Minds provides easy to learn, basic meditation skills which will help to bring balance back into all aspects of your life.