| Despite all the positive results that are known to | | | | the worst. Breathing properly can produce |
| happen with meditation, many people still avoid | | | | excellent relaxation results, and is much too broad |
| taking advantage of the health benefits and sense | | | | a topic to be covered here. You might want to |
| of well-being that come with a regular meditation | | | | visit your library or do a google search on |
| practice.It's not that they don't believe the | | | | "breathing exercises" in order to find a website or |
| literature and claims. Well, in most cases it's not | | | | book which will provide instruction in this area.4. |
| that. It may seem a little far-fetched to the | | | | Yoga. This is actually a combination of meditation, |
| average person to believe that sitting still and | | | | exercise and breathing. If you think you can't |
| breathing quietly a couple of times a day can | | | | practice yoga because of your weight, age, or |
| lower blood pressure, calm nerves jangled by | | | | physical condition, think again! DO get a doctor's |
| modern society, aid in the solution of problems, | | | | clearance before beginning any exercise |
| increase creativity...the list goes on.Then they | | | | program.5. Go out in the woods. Stroll by yourself |
| realize that it's not JUST sitting still and breathing | | | | in the woods, or sit by a stream (if you can find |
| quietly. These meditating people must be DOING | | | | one), and just watch the water. A few minutes |
| something to get all those results...if they really do! | | | | of that can come pretty close to matching the |
| And if they're doing something, and getting such | | | | effects of a few minutes meditation.6. Read a |
| great results...well, then, they must be doing | | | | book. Something a lot of us don't do much any |
| something difficult! It's difficult to imagine just | | | | more. When you find a book you really like and |
| sitting still and being alone with yourself for | | | | get absorbed in it, you're pretty close to |
| several minutes in our modern society, much less | | | | meditation. In fact, did you ever have a time |
| doing it properly AND getting great benefits!Nope! | | | | when you had been reading for what you thought |
| It's too tough for me. I wish I could learn | | | | was a few minutes, and it turned out to be an |
| mediation techniques, but I don't think I could do it | | | | hour or more? Gotcha! You were meditating.7. Go |
| properly, or else I wouldn't like crawling around in | | | | out on the porch. Don't take anything with you. |
| my head. No telling what's up there!It's really the | | | | Just hunker down in a comfortable chair and let |
| fear of the unknown, the fear of having to learn | | | | your mind wander. You might be surprised what |
| some complicated technique, and the fear of | | | | pops up! Here's the secret....let it. You might start |
| failure that keeps many from trying the | | | | thinking about that time 40 some odd years ago |
| pleasureable experience of meditation.WELL, I'VE | | | | when you kissed your first girl..or guy. Geez! I |
| GOT SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YA, BUNKY!You | | | | haven't thought of that in years. There you |
| don't have to travel to India, study under | | | | go!Well, you get the idea.To get the maximum |
| masters, or even light a candle and sit in the | | | | effects of meditation, the bottom line is that you |
| corner by yourself to get many of the benefits | | | | have to ACTUALLY MEDITATE! sorry, didn't |
| of meditation.SOME NON-MEDITATION | | | | mean to shout. What a concept. Got some more |
| TECHNIQUES1. Prayer. I'm not much into prayer | | | | good news for you. It's not really that hard to do. |
| these days, but I remember another time in my | | | | Oh, you will have a little difficulty concentrating |
| life when I was. During the moments that I was | | | | (or, really, not concentrating) at first, but even |
| praying, I felt somewhat safe and separated | | | | the most effective meditators get distracted |
| from the rude world. Actually, prayer is a form of | | | | from time to time. If you give it a try, you will |
| meditation. Meditators achieve many of the | | | | find that with time and non-effort, you will be |
| beneficial results by, in a way, praying. They may | | | | meditating like a pro. It is so easy to learn, that I |
| not be praying to a god, but they are repeating | | | | learned how to do it at the age of 15 (1960, since |
| old familiar sounds, and are flowing with those | | | | you asked), after reading a book in my high |
| utterances. Say OM enough times, or say the "Hail | | | | school library. By the way, if you want to get a |
| Mary" enough times, and you can achieve a lot of | | | | non-meditating mind set, I really recommend |
| meditation. In fact, a study I read about many | | | | "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living", by Dale |
| years ago seemed to indicate that many Catholics | | | | Carnegie. That should kick start you if you've |
| could achieve a meditative state by saying the | | | | been procrastinating.What's that?No, I'm sorry, we |
| Rosary.2. Exercise. Now, I'm not talking about | | | | don't GIVE prizes to the best meditators, but |
| trying to lift a cow up over your head. Anyway, | | | | they do GET some awfully big prizes in the form |
| that's been done by Milo of Kroton, and see | | | | of the effects they experience. Those are the |
| where it got him. Devoured by wild animal, you | | | | sort of prizes that you carry around with you all |
| betcha! What I am talking about is a nice long | | | | day long every day. And you know what? |
| walk, bicycle ride, or swim...or something like that! | | | | Nobody ever sees that bowling trophy on the |
| Just an aside here, most people who start out | | | | mantle at home, but boy, will they notice the |
| walking, riding, swimming or whatever tend to | | | | positive changes in you. You'll be pleasantly |
| overdo it at first. If you haven't been walking | | | | surprised and so will they.Now get out there and |
| regularly, just walk to the mailbox an extra time | | | | meditate!The author is retired from the Army |
| or two at first. Then walk down to the corner for | | | | after 21 years of service, has worked as an |
| a few days. Then walk around the block...get the | | | | accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant |
| idea? Get to the point where you are taking a 15 | | | | manager, and instructor. He has been a member |
| or 20 minute walk, and, in addition to the execise | | | | of Mensa for several years, and has written and |
| benefits, you will experience many of the | | | | published poetry, essays, and articles on various |
| reactions experienced by someone meditating.3. | | | | subjects for the last 40 years. He has been an |
| Breathing. Did you know there are good ways to | | | | active internet marketer since 2000, and now |
| breathe and not so good. Not breathing at all is | | | | makes his living online. |