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When you think of meditation what first comes to mind? Do you picture a group of people, swathed in robes, meditating in a temple? Do you picture a yoga class breathing in and out while meditating? Do you picture sitting on the beach listening to a meditation tape? All of these are examples of guided meditation. Guided meditation comes in several forms from group settings to listen to or reading a guided meditation script.

Lets say that you are interested in learning more about meditation. During your first meditation sessions you will most likely need help. Therefore, you need to follow a guide or script to ensure that you fall into a deep meditative state. So which type of guided meditation should you engage in? the answer is that it depends on your preferences. Lets take a look at three different types of guided meditation including yoga, listening to a tape/CD, and reading a meditation script.

1.) Guided meditation at a yoga class: Yoga is an excellent way to introduce your mind and body to meditation. You will have a teacher whom will make sure that you have the proper posture and breathing technique during the meditation. This instant feedback is extremely valuable. They will guide you through the process of freeing your mind and filtering out distractions. They want you to succeed and will do everything they can to provide a ripe environment for successful meditation.

2.) Listening to a tape/CD: Perhaps you dont have the time or interest in yoga. Listening to a tape/CD is a great way to meditate. You can find a great deal of guided meditation audio recordings that will walk you through the meditation process. You just pop on your headphones and listen.

Another advantage of listening to a tape/CD is that you can choose your topic. For instance, you can listen to a deep breathing meditation, a meditation on losing weight, a meditation on improving your self confidence, and the list goes on and on. You can even find guided meditation tapes/CDs that you listen to while you are asleep. They send subliminal messages to your brain all night long. You wake up in the morning refreshed, energized, and ready to experience the new day.

3.) Reading a meditation script: If you are not an auditory person then you can read a guided meditative script. The script will outline how to prepare for your meditative session. It will guide you through the posture you need and the deep breathing sequence you should use. It will provide details about what to think about and visualize during your meditation session. The script will tell you how to finish off your session and what to do in the mean time before your next session.

Where can you find these guided meditation methods? You can find a Yoga studio in your local area by combing the telephone book and Internet. You can find plethora of tapes/CDs on the Internet and at your local book store. You can find meditation scripts online at a variety of meditation related websites. You can try all three methods to find the method that works best for you. Remember, your preference should be based on your feelings and desires, not on what your friend or family members think. Meditation is a personal experience.

Most meditators don't know how to extract the maximum benefit from the practice of meditation. If you would like to master healing meditation and also learn about meditation music, then please go to: http://www.onlinemeditationguru.com/

// posted by 58378 @ 1:52 PM 0 comments

The Dr. Kataria School of Laughter Yoga has received much exposure over the past few years because of the medicinal benefits of laughter. Laughing strengthens your immune system and reduces anxiety.

Dr. Madan Kataria is on to something, as laughter could be combined with Pranayama sessions for maximum benefits. In life, there is a shortage of laughing. Unfortunately, too many people take themselves too seriously.

If you feel foolish laughing for 20 minutes a day for good physical, emotional, and mental health, you may want to consider laughing alone, or joining a Laughter Yoga club. The benefits of laughing are too good to miss out on.

Yet, the average adult laughs less than 20 times per day. Children often laugh over 100 times in a day. No wonder so many adults and teens are so stressed out.

Laughter reduces stress, protects your heart, lowers blood pressure, and is a form of quick relaxation. You could watch comedies, or listen to comedy audio recordings on CD, while you are driving on your way to, or from, work.

If you want to avoid negative thoughts, you may want to reduce the time you spend watching the news or reading depressing stories in the newspapers. This does not mean you should avoid learning new things, but be selective about the type of information you read, watch, or listen to.

Good stories do appear on the news, but how many depressing stories will you have to mentally process before you find one. The old saying, Bad news sells, often applies. There are plenty of good magazines to read, radio stations to listen to, and television channels to watch, so be selective.

Copyright 2007 Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500, has written many books on the subject of Yoga. He is a co-owner and the Director of Yoga Teacher Training at: Aura Wellness Center, in Attleboro, MA. http://www.riyoga.com He has been a certified Master Yoga Teacher since 1995. To receive a Free Yoga e-Book: "Yoga in Practice," and a Free Yoga Newsletter, please visit: http://www.yoga-teacher-training.org/index.html

// posted by 58378 @ 5:16 AM 0 comments