Based in Jamestown, Pa., Hannah Rice Myers has more than 10 years of experience as a freelance writer, specializing in the health industry. Many of her articles have appeared in newspapers, as well as "Curing Epilepsy: Hope Through Research." Rice Myers received her master's degree in nursing from Upstate Medical University in 2001.
Meditation is used to obtain inner peace and clarity of mind. It is used by many who practice holistic medicine as a way of treating the whole person--body, mind and spirit. However, when you first begin meditating, it can be difficult to achieve actual results. To reach the inner most part of your mind is not easy when you are first learning how to meditate. It is something that requires practice and diligence. For beginners, there are techniques you can use to help you become more comfortable with the art of meditation.
Make Yourself Comfortable
The key to any meditation technique is to make sure that you are sitting in a comfortable position. Be sure you are always upright. A chair is OK as long as the back is straight. Keep your eyes closed yet relaxed. While those who have mastered meditation may have their legs folded with their arms resting on their knees, this is not necessary at first as long as you are relaxed and it is quiet.
Counting Your Breaths
This is perhaps one of the easiest techniques when you are first learning how to meditate. As you sit with your eyes closed, count your breaths as you breathe in and out. As you focus on these breaths you may find thoughts entering and leaving your mind. When this happens, force your mind to concentrate on the counting of the breaths. This will eventually lead to a clearing of the mind of these other thoughts, allowing you to be taken into a deeper state of mental relaxation.
Visualize a Tranquil Place
Visualizing a place that brings you tranquility will not only relax your mind and body, it will force your mind to focus on one thought, one object. This leaves no room for negativity or other thought processes and will take you deeper into your mind so that clarity can take place.
Guided Meditation
This is a wonderful technique for those who are having problems focusing on their own. You simply listen to a CD with sounds created in a specific way to relax your mind and take it into the alpha level--the level of deep relaxation that still allows complete consciousness. These CDs or downloads can also consist of someone's voice telling you what to do and how you should be feeling at that point in time. This is a powerful technique for those who are just learning how to meditate and takes the initial work out of meditation until they have mastered the art themselves.
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