What is meditation?
Meditation is one of the many ways people can find inner peace. It is an exercise in which the person concentrates on breathing to regulate the mind and body. Meditation has many benefits that are not always obvious. It has been shown that regular meditation can help you sleep better, improve your immune system, lower your blood pressure and even help you live longer. Practicing meditation can help you live a more conscious life.
Meditation is an exercise that can help improve physical and mental health. This is because it encourages the brain and body to work together and focus on one task. Meditation is an exercise that can be helpful during pregnancy, also it can be an important tool to deal with depression and other mood disorders.
Meditation can be done sitting on a cushion, on the floor, in a chair, on the beach, on the train, on an airplane, on a mountain, during a road trip or anywhere else. There are many different types of meditation. One well-known form of meditation is called vipassana meditation. Vipassana meditation is very similar to mindfulness meditation which is done while focusing on breathing and body sensations. There are many different techniques for meditation and the benefits of meditation are endless.
Starting to Meditate
There are many ways to begin meditating, but it is important to make sure you are doing it the right way. If you are new to meditation, one of the best ways to start is by sitting in a lotus position (aka the tailor’s seat). If you are uncomfortable with that, you can start by sitting or kneeling in a crossed position. You can also start by sitting in a chair with your feet on the floor. It is important to find a position that you feel comfortable in. It is also important to keep your back straight. Your spine should be flat. If you really have trouble keeping your spine straight, place a small cushion on the floor under your knees.
Different forms of meditation
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There are many different forms of meditation, consciously choose which form to practice and which one suits you and the time of day. We talked about vipassana meditation earlier. Below we explain vipassana meditation and other forms of meditation in which you can completely relax.
Mindfulness meditation: this form of meditation is one of the most common exercises. It is all about trying to get into the here-and-now. This form can be very helpful if you are often negative or think negatively about life. Mindfulness meditation can be done with simple things. For example, listen to soothing music or start doing yoga. Do tasks that make you feel good and calm. Anything to get away from the negative thoughts for a while. - Breathing meditation: you can perform this meditation when your body experiences tension. You need to let go of everything at this moment and give yourself the rest you need. When you are consciously working on what you are actually doing, you will see that you are experiencing too much restlessness. When you engage in breathing meditation, focus on your breathing. Breathe in and out gently, and especially not too quickly. With each breath, your goal is to release a little stress.
- The visualization meditation: In this form of meditation you use imagination. The idea is that you bring a certain thought into your mind with a situation that you would like to see or be in. This gives you power because a visualization works almost the same for the brain as a real situation.
- Vipassana meditation: vipassana meditation comes from Buddhism and is somewhat similar to minfulness meditation. Vipassana meditation helps you see certain things clearly. Because of the busy society we live in, it is a big jumble in our heads and we sometimes have little idea what our thoughts really mean. During vipassana meditation you get the chance to determine for yourself what you want to do with which thoughts. You are much more conscious of making good choices.
At Bamboa Yoga we sell yoga and fitness products to support your meditation. We are consciously working on mindfulness, meditation and yoga and find it important that our fellow human beings feel good about themselves. Meditation can make a change in this. Use our yoga mats for a soft, thick surface with lots of grip. Or check out our other yoga products that make your yoga exercises easier and more comfortable.