Meditation has greatly influenced the lives of many individuals who experience stress daily. It has helped improve their breathing, boosted their energy, improved their motivation and gain a clearer perspective on life. It is an ancient form of stress relief that has branched out into varying techniques over the years. There are many benefits and aspects of meditation that can serve as useful guidance to individuals who are just starting their spiritual journey. Taking on Guided Meditation Classes in Maine can provide significant habituation for a newcomer to truly open themselves up to the world of meditation.
To make the transition process a bit smoother, it would be beneficial to familiarize oneself with the aspects, types and benefits of meditation before commencing the session.
Aspects of Meditation
Meditation as a process involves certain aspect which is always fulfilled in one capacity or another. As there are varying types of meditation techniques, the inclusion of these aspects in the meditative process depends on both the type of meditation, as well as the approach and knowledge of the trainer. These aspects can be present in varying degrees and under any combination.
Here are some of the aspects of meditation:
Greater Focus of Attention
Attention can be considered one of the most essential and yet the scarcest resource for a human being. Being able to pay attention and retain knowledge is growing more difficult as more distractions get injected into our lives. Focus is what takes the mind's attention away from the negative chaotic thoughts that lead to stress and worry. Through meditation, a person can focus their attention on a still object in front of them, by an image, by breathing or even by chanting a mantra.
Calm and Relaxing Setting
Proper meditation for beginners requires practice, which can be difficult to execute especially with a lot of distractions in our surroundings. Hence, it is important to practice meditation in a quiet and relaxed environment where there aren't any distractions such as phones, televisions or other kinds of screens. As a beginner becomes more skilled in meditation, they will eventually find themselves more comfortable meditating in stressful situations like a traffic jam or a rough meeting.
Breathing and Relaxation
During meditation, the diaphragm muscles expand to facilitate breathing. This breathing needs to be deep and evenly-paced to regulate the flow of oxygen in the body. This exercise of breathing deeply but consistently also produces a relaxing effect which can be felt throughout the shoulders, neck and upper chest.
Accurate Postural Positioning
Meditation as an activity can be as easy as the posture one is comfortable in. No matter if it means sitting, lying down, or doing other types of relaxing activities, meditation should never feel too complicated for anyone to do.
Positive and Open Attitude
Negative thoughts are what prevents a person from indulging their happier selves in life. Since they are unhappy, they are no longer able to filter their thoughts or think openly about another person.
Types of Meditation
Meditation is a larger term encompassing several approaches to achieving a relaxed state of being. Every technique has its unique combination of goals for seeking inner peace. Most of these techniques are mentioned in the following;
[1] Yoga:- Implements balance and concentration through a series of flexible body exercises that calms the mind and encourages the ability to focus.
[2] Mantra Meditation:- Considered to be a more basic type of meditation where the person hums or repeats a mantra to focus the mind away from distracting thoughts and noises.
[3] Guided Meditation:- This type of meditation requires the involvement of a meditation coach who guides the visualization in newcomers, readjusting their senses into feeling relaxed and calm.
[4] Qi Gong:- Implements a combination of all meditative aspects such as breathing exercises, physical movement and relaxation to restore the balance between the mind and body. Originally a part of Chinese medicine.
[5] Mindful Meditation:- A type of meditation that leans more towards spiritual goals and mental well-being. It involves practicing being completely mindful and in the moment. It helps broaden the awareness in an individual to focus their attention on activities like the flow of breathing.
[6] Transcendental Meditation:- By practicing this form, the individual seeks to achieve a profound stage of natural relaxation, rest and inner peace. They are provided with a unique word, mantra, or phrasing which the practitioners silently repeat to themselves while meditating.
[7] Tai Chi:- Originally a form of Chinese Martial Arts where the individual gracefully performs a series of postures and movements which regulate breathing.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, meditation is a skill and like all other skills, it requires practice to master. Fortunately, Guided Meditation Classes in Maine are conducted to help guide those who are new to the art of meditation. It is a sure and effective way of training newcomers to harness control over their senses, making their journey to achieve inner peace a much shorter trip.