This world is made up of many different realities. All of these, diverse as they may seem, actually work and revolve around one thing – the meaning of life. The search for things like happiness, victory, and personal satisfaction is actually a quest for life's real essence. Where do you find all these things? You might be amazed, but everything is actually found within one's self. The answer to life's endless questions, the unlocking of the many mysteries of living, all these are hidden in the deepest recesses of man's soul.

Near as they are, getting in touch with all these realities, all the solutions needed to lift the world from its misery, is actually a great feat that requires will and determination. If you wish to unravel the many treasures within yourself, you will find a great help from meditation books.

Meditation is a practice, an activity that has its origin thousands of generations ago. Many philosophers and thinkers are known in the promotion of this activity and the benefits that it provides. In this modern era of fast living, meditation still finds a place in the lifestyle of many people. There are various forms of meditation being introduced and practiced, meditation programs being offered, and even meditation books which are all designed to lead people in the path and direction towards themselves and to the truths that many are looking for.

Meditations books offer insights about taking full advantage of meditation in man's everyday living. Whether you are a beginner, someone curious about meditation, or a person whose goal in life is to find the real essence of existence, there are actually various meditation books to help you get started.

Every meditation book is written for enlightenment, which is actually the goal of every meditation practice. Enlightenment lurks within the pure silence of the soul, and it is only when you are able to establish connection with your inner self will you be able to find the truths that you need in order to live a happier and a healthier life.

Meditation books do not stop on teaching you how to start a regular personal or structured meditation session. Each book is designed to help you go through the process, deal with the possible obstacles that you may encounter along the way, and to successfully apply meditation to everyday living.

Although the concrete activity when doing meditation is performed within a specific span of time and with certain guidelines that you must observe, real meditation is actually a lifestyle. Whatever you do, wherever you are, whatever the current experience you are in, you can turn that into a meditation. When done successfully, you will be able to find fulfillment in everything that you do and improve the total quality of your life.

Meditation books are treasure troves of knowledge. They bring abstract concepts into the setting of the real and the concrete world and help you find the best way by which you can get the best out of your life.

Audio Meditation Materials

Posted by Dicky Gunawan | 4:51 AM | 0 comments »

Today's technology has a great impact on the lives of all people. Many new things are introduced into the market in terms of products and services. Even meditation has a different face nowadays.

There are many types of meditation, and included in these types is audio meditation. Just as the word suggest, you can meditate through the use of an audio form. Many years ago, this wasn’t possible, but now, it seems that technology just keeps on surprising people with newer and better ways. And meditation is not exempted.

There are many audio materials available on the internet. If you think that audio meditation will do you good, then what are you waiting for? Do your homework and search the net for possible audio materials that can be used for meditation.

Here are some of the audio materials featured on the web:

- Sacred Sound; this is used to assist individuals who are trying to meditate. The sound is able to heal and balance the chakras. Other people who are into yoga find this material as an effective mediation tool. Instrumental pieces last for about twenty minutes with a short break in between. If you want to meditate, this is a very good mediation tool that you can use.

- Inner Sunrise; if you want to feel all wonderful from the inside, this CD is the best one for you. It features a yoga master that can help you in your journey inwards to achieve peaceful serenity from within.

- Moolamantra Vol.2; having an open heart has its advantages and if you're like that, don’t forget to check out this great CD. You will surely receive the unlocking key to desire, fulfillment and spiritual treasures. This CD features an ancient chant that is set on a subtle chorus of feminine voice and evocative orchestration.

- Chakra Dhyana; this is a 50 minutes album containing traditional mantras to activate your seven chakras or energy centers. It begins with your root chakra and ends with the coronary. This is a guided meditation that can help you and other listeners to experience deep relaxation and awaken Kundalini.

- Dhyana Mantra; this was recorded in India and is considered Moolamantra's transformative version. It is able to retain the raw and refreshing energy although it was an improvised recording of the South Americans and Indians. If you purchase this CD, you will feel mystical power and you will be transported to a different spiritual plane.

All of the above items are audio materials. You can also find audio/video materials that are best suited for people who want to use their sense of sight and hearing while meditating. All the audio materials are available online; you only have to find an online store that sells such CD. Don’t forget to check into the CDs shipping details, and perhaps you can still find great deals.

Don’t be left behind. Meditation's new face is already widely available. A lot people are ending up with various illnesses; and if you want to start practicing meditation, you can always start with audio meditation.

Art of Visualization and Meditation

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There are many types and forms of meditation and many people are now slowly realizing the importance of meditation in their everyday life. Even medical practitioners are now accepting meditation as a way to treat certain health conditions like depression.

Meditation is considered an art in itself. It takes a lot of practice to master it. If you're really into meditation, then you'd better start mastering visualization's art.

Visualization is used by almost every individual. But this is more evident among children; as people grow older, they use this technique much less. Children are full of wild imaginations. Although you're unaware of it, you're actually using visualization one way or another. What you must do is to know that you're doing it and be more conscious of yourself.

Mediation makes use of visualization very often. In fact, most of the meditation exercises that people are familiar about are all inclusive of visualization. So before concentrating on other complicated meditation exercises, you must first be able to master this specific art.

Some people may think that visualization is easily mastered, well, that might be true. On the other hand, there are also individuals who struggle with it. Visualization grows stronger only if you keep on practicing; and you must always be prepared and concentrated to let all your imaginations go.

If you want to master visualization, you can try this simple exercise. Pick a certain object in your home and clear your table and leave nothing but the object. Look at your chosen object and try to absorb all the specific details. You can try looking hard on the size, color, shape, and the light's shade on it. Then, memorize all details if possible.

The next step is to shut your eyes and try to picture your chosen object inside your mind. Ask yourself if you remembered all the details, or if you forgot some of them. While doing this, think about your feelings about the exercise. Again, ask yourself if you feel stressed about the exercise or if you're interested.

Now, clear the object inside your mind. Picture another object found inside your home. Observe and pay close attention to the details. After that, open up your eyes and search the house for that particular object. Was the object the same to that pictured inside your mind? Did you miss out certain details, if so, which one/s? You have to once again ask yourself what you're feeling while doing the exercise.

Now, you have to go back to the table and remember a certain object from your past. Pay close attention to all the details. After doing so, try to put the object in its proper surroundings.

As you go about the exercise, you might have noticed that there are certain gaps filled in by your imagination. So, can you now tell which of the object's part are real and which ones are not? Or which part came from just your memory?

You were also asked to think about your feelings. If you're a beginner, visualization is quite stressful but don’t worry because this is but normal. Soon enough, the stressful feelings will disappear and you can do visualization exercises with more ease than before. So don’t stop now just because you're having difficulties, just keep on practicing.

Relaxation and Meditation Exercises

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After a day's hectic schedule of meeting deadlines, attending meetings, preparing different documents, and so on, you will always be looking forward to going home and relaxing. There are many ways to relax, and one method that is quite effective is meditation.

How will you do it? Perhaps you've already heard other people talking about meditation. It's not as hard as you think. The idea revolves around focusing your thoughts to a certain relaxing thing over a sustained time. This way, your mind is able to rest, and your thoughts about stressful things are diverted elsewhere. Your body can recuperate and relax through meditation; toxin build ups are also cleared away.

You will notice that while you're meditating your breathing slows, your blood pressure is reduced, the muscles relax, anxiety and irritability are reduced, stressful thoughts and lactic acid are eliminated, clears your way of thinking, headaches and stress are also lessened, and you can now concentrate and focus fully.

Focusing on just a single thing is the true essence of such activity. This is an active process unlike that of hypnosis. All your mental faculties should be concentrated on the meditation's subject. Meditation is usually done for about 30 minutes, so be sure that you're in a comfortable position. You can lie on your bed, sit on your favorite couch, or choose any position that you're really comfortable with.

You can focus on different things when you're meditating like breathing, an object, a sound, or even imagery. Whichever you choose, it is very important to remain focused. If you experience any distractions and external thoughts, strive hard to drift them out. This is natural when you're just a beginner; you will always find your thoughts wandering but as you continue practicing meditation, you will soon improve.

You can try these relaxation exercises and incorporate it in your meditation so that you can achieve total relaxation.

1. Tense Relax – start by clenching your fists, and then pull forearms firmly against the upper arms. Keep your muscles tensed, as well as that of your leg muscles. Now, your jaws must also be clenched and your eyes shut tightly. While holding those tense, breathe deeply and then hold for about 5 seconds. Then let go of everything at once. Feel the sensations while your tensions are being released.
2. Heaviness/ Warmth – this is done by feeling your legs and feet getting heavier and warmer by the second. Imagine that it's like wearing lead boots. After that, try to imagine that your central body portion is also getting warm… warmer and relaxed. Tell yourself that you're forehead is getting cooler and relaxed. Breath easy and regularly. Just feel all the heaviness and warmth spread over your entire body.
3. Ideal Relaxation - close your eyes and try to create an ideal relaxation spot inside your mind. Choose any place whether it's imagined or real and furnish the place according to your own preference and style. Wear comfortable clothes and imagine that you're going to that place. Feel mellow and at ease in your imagined and ideal relaxation place. Enjoy that special moment for about a minute.

These are just simple relaxation and meditation exercises that you can do. If you're feeling stressed and tensed, do these exercises.

In the hectic lifestyle people live in today, you have to consider that this kind of lifestyle is bad for your health. Recent studies have found that stress contributes to heart diseases and high blood pressure. You have to consider that because of the help of stressful lifestyle that people live in today, stroke and heart diseases have been considered as one of the deadliest diseases plaguing today's society.

This is why you should learn how to relax and take care of your body. You need to consider that your body needs rest from time to time. It cannot handle too much work for too long. If your body is yelling out that you have had enough work and is saying that it is tired, it probably is. With 5 minutes of relaxation, you can revitalize your body and get it ready for another batch of work.

Although exercising can also help in preventing heart diseases, you have to consider that it is just not enough. You also need rest and relaxation. Besides, if you are stressed out, you won't be able to work at your peak efficiency. Your brain function is also overwhelmed by stress and you will not be able to think clearly if you are overstressed. This is why you need to relax. Besides, what's the point of working if your brain and body don’t function well-enough?

Today, one of the most helpful ways to relax is through meditation. Although meditation have been practiced thousands of years ago, you have to consider that recent studies have found and has proof that meditation can indeed relieve stress and give you that extra boost of energy you need.

Meditations can completely relax your body and mind and it can also make your brain more alert and make your heart relax. Meditation can completely make you feel refreshed and get you ready for another batch of work. It can also help you block out any distractions that may come across your way.

First of all, there are different kinds of meditations available today. One of the most popular forms of meditation is the Buddhist meditation. You have to consider that Buddhist meditation offers great forms of relaxation. This particular meditation only requires you to go into a locked quiet room. Inside the room you will begin meditation by sitting down, closing your eyes and get rid of all the thoughts running inside your head. Do this for a few minutes and you will be able to get back up with your mind and body feeling refreshed.

Although the so-called "power naps" can also offer this kind of feeling, you have to consider that meditation is more effective than a five-minute nap.

Meditation was first taught as part of a religious practice in the Buddhist religion. However today, meditation is now accepted as part of the western culture and many people, particularly busy people, are now practicing meditation in order to get their mind and body to relax. If you want to learn how to meditate, there are schools available that teaches you how to meditate properly. You will also learn the different kinds of meditation.

On advanced levels, some schools can even teach you how to meditate while you are working.

Many people know that the Romans are great people who conquered most of the ancient world. They also introduced modern civilization and a lot of useful inventions that modern society is still using today. Of course, Hollywood movies have depicted the Romans as great warriors and they also depicted their emperors as great conquerors who are responsible for leading their great armies to victory against the barbarians.

However, not many people know that Romans are also great philosophers and one of their emperors named Marcus Aurelius has been depicted as a great emperor who brought many victories to the Roman Empire as well as great philosophical writing. Not many people know that Marcus Aurelius was not only a great emperor who led the Great Roman Legions against barbaric Germanic tribes and Gaul tribes and won, he is also a devout stoic philosopher who wrote The Meditations.

This particular Philosophical Book has been recognized as one of the greatest works of art. It is still being revered as a literary monument on government service. This philosophical book has been praised as having exquisite accent and infinite tenderness.

The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius contains series of personal writings by the author. It mainly contains Marcus Aurelius' ideas on Stoic philosophy.

This particular book was written during his campaigns between the years 170 and 180 in Greece. He wrote this for his on personal improvement and served as guidance to his leadership. Up to this day, his memos survived and are still being revered to as an inspirational book that everyone should read.

Translated by George Long into English in 1862, this particular book has been reprinted many times and it is included in Harvard Classics.

Marcus Aurelius Stoic principle inside this book is said to contain denial of emotion. He stated that this is a skill where a man will remain free from the pleasures and pains of the material world. He also stated in this book that the only way a man can be harmed is to allow his reaction to overcome him.

You have to remember that the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius contains no religious faith. Instead it contains benevolent and logical force that explains that bad occurrences happen in the universe for the good of many.

The plainness of the book is overwhelming to most people who read and understood it. The writings of Marcus Aurelius are very different in style. It is said that the contents was not obscured by consciousness of the presence of listeners. Although people fail to understand the Stoic philosophy inside the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, people who do are moved and inspired.

You have to expect that this is an inspiring book and is considered to be one of the greatest works of philosophy. If you want to read this book, you are in luck. Up to this day, this book is still available for reading and for purchase. In fact, this book is so popular that there are many translated versions of it. You can also download the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in the internet for free.

The Essence of Breathing in Zen Meditation

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In layman's term, Zen meditation is letting go of pessimistic thoughts and simply relaxing. In Buddhism, it is a contemplative discipline performed to achieve calmness in the mind and body. Most importantly, it aims for a practitioner to understand the nature of life to obtain enlightenment.

To fully experience positive results of Zen meditation, there are three general methods to consider such as (1) Concentration; (2) Koan Introspection; and (3) Shikantaza.

Concentration is the main emphasis to start Zen meditation. You need to focus on your breathing which is commonly ministered by counting. Let breathing be your shield to any distraction. On the other hand, Koan Introspection focuses on "koan." Koan is an entity used for meditation. "Just sitting" or Shikantaza is meditation where an object has no place, instead mere concentration is needed.

Once you have chosen a specific method, then it is time for you to be aware of the common positions undertaken in Zen meditation.

Burmese Position

At first glance the said position looks like a simple cross-legged position. With the Burmese position, you need to situate your feet so it will be in front of one another and let both your feet relax on the floor. You need to ensure that your heels are pointed towards your pelvis. Also rested on the floor are your knees.

Seiza Position

Seiza is the Japanese term for correct sitting. It can be achieved by letting your lower leg kneel. Make sure that your feet are under your buttocks and that your toes are positioned in a backward manner.

Half-Lotus Position

Indian-style with one leg on the top of the other is the half-lotus position. To achieve such sitting position, you need to be seated on an Indian-style of sitting. After which, lift one leg without letting the legs be unfolded.

Full-Lotus Position

Make sure that you are seated Indian style. Then, pick one foot and take it to the crook of your knee. Let it rest, ensuring that the base of your knee is in an upward position. The final step you need to undertake is to bring the other foot to the other knee just like what you did on the first.

After you have chosen a comfortable Zen position for you, there are other important considerations you need to carry out:

? Keep your mouth close. Ensure that your tongue is calmly pushed beside the upper palate to prevent salivation and swallowing.
? Keep your eyes low. Fix your eyes on the ground.
? Keep your chin tucked-in.
? Keep your nose in line with your navel.
? Keep your torso not to lean forward or backward.
? Keep your hands enclosed in a "cosmic mudra." Your dominant hand should be in an upward palm position to hold the other hand.

Zen meditation concentrates on breathing. Breathe in Zen meditation is said to be the fundamental force in one's body. Together with mind, the two are considered the reality of life.

With the kind of life people are in right now, Zen meditation may be a helpful act to be relieved from stress and tension.

In Hebrew, Jewish Meditation is called hitbonenut or hisbonenus. Usually, these are most clearly explained in the Hasidic and Kabbalistic texts. Hebrew pertains to one of the many dialects under the languages of Canaanite. It flourished as the Israel's spoken language between tenth century BCE and third or fourth CE (the Byzantine Period) upon the extinction of several Canaanite dialects.

The term hisbonenus is derived from Binah, a Hebrew word which means understanding. This understanding is based from analytical study involving any topics. In general, hisbonenus is referred to as the Torah study under Kabbalah explanations for achieving a greater appreciation and understanding of God.

The primary Judaism document is the Torah. Traditional rabbinic writings provided several ideas about the revelation of the whole Torah. Many considered the event at Mount Sinai, when God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses as one of the most significant revelatory event. The orthodox rabbis dated the revelation as 1280 BCE. Sources given by some rabbis stated that the whole Torah was all given at once during the revelation. The maximalist believed that the dictations not only include quotes which are appearing in the texts, but also each word contained in the texts itself, even the phrases and the revelation of the death of Moses.

Kabbalah transliterated as Qabalah, Kabbala, Cabala, or other related permutations means receiving of a particular tradition. It interprets esoterically the Bible of the Hebrew (Tanakh), aggadah and halakha (classical texts of the Jews), and mitzvot (practices). Mystical doctrines are expressed in connection with simultaneous transcendence and immanence of God. This was the attempted declaration to the old paradox that explains the Ultimate Being, in which even the blind Isaac cannot conceive it in his thoughts, but he came to be experienced and known by the people that He created.

The Kabbalah declares that each intellectual process should be incorporated with three faculties. It includes Daas, Binah, and Chochma. Daas literally means knowledge. This pertains to the ability of the mind to hold and focus its concentration on the Binah and Chochma. Chochma literally means wisdom. This is the ability of the mind to create a new point of view in a concept which one didn't know before. Binah literally means understanding. This is the ability of the mind to obtain a new point of view from Chochma and evaluate all its propositions and simplify the concepts to be well understood.

It is a fact that hisbonenus referring to Binah defines Jewish meditation to distinguish it from other meditation forms. The philosophy of Hasidic and Kabbalah rejected the idea that any new point of view doesn't necessarily come from a mere concentration only. They also explained that although Daas is an important part of cognition, it's similar to an empty container without the study, learning, and analysis coming from the power of Binah. The Chassidic philosophy also stated that the new discovery or insight of a scientist (Chochma) is the end result of a deep analysis and study of his topics (Binah).

However, Chassidic masters revealed that deep concentration for a longer period of time sometimes devoid intellectual contents that can lead to hallucinations, insanity, and sensory deprivation instead of achieving spiritual enlightenment. The true enlightenment corresponds with Torah understandings specifically the Hasidic and Kabbalah philosophy explanations.

It is very hard to handle stressful situations. Every individual should learn how to become aware of it and accepting it. One form of meditation which is very effective in dealing with the problems and difficult situations of life is known as mindfulness mediation or insight meditation. This is often considered by many people as a miraculous technique.

It is a fact that frustrations, stress, disappointments, anger, and other related negative emotions affects the mind and body adversely. Such negative actions and emotions must be handled effectively. Likewise, set backs must be accepted truly without causing health problems. Insight meditation is like a medicine that helps people in dealing with negative situations and emotion in a manner that is most effective to them.

Insight meditation allows or requires individuals to become aware of their environment. They are more likely sensitive in perceiving each moment. Thus, they prefer to accept situations that are stressful rather than avoiding it. If you become aware about the internal status of your mind upon insight meditation, then you can learn to accept difficult circumstances without too much resistance.

By practicing insight meditation, you can train your mind in achieving a tranquil state without being affected by external forces. The mind is aided in developing the needed strength to obtain such peacefulness.

Today, the world around you is so busy, no time for meditating. But remember that wherever you are, it is your choice to become still or not. Set specific time and space where you can do insight meditation where nobody can disturb you.

You can start practicing insight meditation. Sit in an upright position with the legs crossed. Focus on your breath or something else like physical and mental processes that are helping you to become aware of your present inner state and thought patterns.

Always watch out for your breath. It does not leave you provided that you are conscious. Imagine that you breathe in spirit. When you are breathing out, you express spirit. Concentrate on the air that passes down from your nostrils, to your air passages, and to your lungs, and vice versa when you breathe out. Focusing on your breath can accomplish two things. Your concentration is slowly shifted away from the problems in your mind as well as it brings your focus to God.

Your practice of insight meditation lets you concentrate on your actions, thoughts, and present situation non-judgmentally. Insight meditation doesn't encourage you to evaluate or think your past actions or take your thoughts on the uncertainty of the future. It trains and helps your mind not to be distracted by external disturbances, concentrate your thoughts, and relax your mind.

Insight meditation is conducted or practiced through formal and informal techniques. Formal insight meditation incorporates yoga. In this way, you can be aware and control your breathing patterns in connection with particular body movements. When you take every life's experience with pleasure and enjoyment, then you are using an informal insight meditation.

The strategy used in insight meditation is insight or introspection wherein you get clear pictures of your inner states and thoughts, achieve thought concentration, and train your mind in perceiving situations and things more effectively.

So, you can say goodbye to your problems and live a better and a healthy life.

Healing Meditation Using the Chakras System

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When the body, mind, and spirit are working harmoniously together, the results are awareness, well being, and a balanced thought. In fact, nothing can beat the feeling of being healed on all levels. This can be achieved through healing meditation.

Healing meditation is done to reprogram the negative thoughts that cause diseases or illnesses to become positive desires in achieving wholeness and health. Your perception of the image does not really matter at all. Most people are seeing themselves through the eyes of their minds. Some just imagine the ongoing process happens in all parts of their body. Others may simply accept the fact that whatever they imagine also happens to them in reality. Regardless of whichever category you belong, you participate actively in the process of healing. This is the most important thing you could do.

Among the easiest forms of healing meditation is the Chakra System. The effects are quite profound. During the healing process, the patient's chakras are the center of importance. Your body has 7 major chakras (Chakra System) and a lot of less-significant minor chakras. They are considered as energy centers, points wherein energy flows, and the body's energy junctions. These are the energetic connections to your spiritual essence and pure consciousness. The chakras energetic operations make every part of your body, emotions, mind, and spirit possible.

Every single chakra or basic energy center is a distinctive character corresponding to a unique part of your being. These are energy patterns shaped similar to whirlpools or funnels of energy wherein each vortex lie inside your body, along your spinal cord (center of energy channels) going up into your head. Follow these guidelines using the Chakra System.

1. Like other posture of meditation, Chakra recommends you to sit in a straight position. Lay your feet flat on the floor with uncrossed legs. Put your hands on your lap exposing your palms.

2. Let a sapphire blue or white light surrounds you. You can also ask the help of meditation guides or other meditation practitioners to assist you during the process.

3. The Chakra Center has cabinets containing the Chakra Plates. Every plate has a diameter of six inches similar to a dessert plate's size.

4. Starting with the Root Chakra's cabinet, remove the Chakra Plate. Check for any breakage, discoloration or chips. Since it’s the Root Chakra's cabinet, the plate must be a beautiful bright red corresponding with the color of the Chakra. If the plate has no damage, then make it shine better in a clockwise direction before returning it back in the cabinet.

5. Repair any cracks if possible but if not then dispose it. Replace it with a brand new Chakra's plate then make it shiny before placing it in the cabinet. Continue the procedure until all the Chakras are finished. This is also the point where you can thank all the people who have assisted you in the cleaning process. Never forget that thanking them is not only showing your good etiquette but also appreciate their goodness and patience with you during the healing meditation process.

Healing meditation can change your condition. But to obtain successful results, it needs regular practice. So, achieve the true healing using the Chakra System.

Adjustment is always needed since our environment constantly changes. Thus, it affects both the emotional and physical aspects of the person creating either negative or positive feelings. This can result to stress.

Stress is a part of everyday lives since time immemorial. But if an influence is positive, stress can motivate a person to an action resulting to a new consciousness and a stimulating new perspective. But if the influence is negative, stress can create a feeling of rejection, distrust, depression, and anger. In return, health problems can be developed such as an upset stomach, headaches, insomnia, rashes, heart disease, stroke, ulcers, and high blood pressure. People can experience stress during a job promotion, new relationship, child birth, or death of a person close to them.

Stress can hinder or help people depending on their reactions to the circumstances of life. It does not matter if all are positive stresses since it adds excitement and anticipation to life. But somehow competitions, deadlines, frustrations, sorrows, and confrontations also add enrichment and depth to life.

You don't need to get rid of stress. All you need to do is manage it in a way that it can give you benefits. Remember that insufficient stress can act as depressants letting you feel dejected or bored. While excessive stress lets you feel stocked.

To avoid stress build ups, you can try meditation. Besides it being cool to do, you can obtain an immediate calming effect regardless of your meditation posture. In this manner, you can reduce your stress.

1. Practicing your breathing is the first process you should learn. If you observe that stress is starting to disturb you, just do a couple of light breathing. Concentrate on your breathing quality. Make sure that it's light and still. Then slowly breathe deeper.

2. The next step is to balance your posture and make it even, head up and back straight. Most people who are stressed out often do a slouching posture while frowning.

3. Clear your thoughts. Start to imagine that you are swimming in relaxing waves. Feel the flowing waves in your consciousness that is taking away all you stress and anxiety. Make sure your body receives the constant flow of the waves.

4. Acknowledge your stress and review its root causes. This is a very important step. Denying stress in the meditation process is not good. Clearly speak to your mind that the stress is true but you have the capacity to handle it by thinking straight and finding ways to deal and cope up with it immediately.

5. Repeat this statement during your meditation process for at least ten minutes or more. Then take control of your stress totally. Think of the person who caused you such stress and made you out of control. Control your mind and remove the stress from it.

6. Finally, concentrate on a decision that you have the right to a peaceful and free mind and nobody can say or do anything against this right, as you end the meditation process. Every time you need meditation, just dictate this decision to your mind.

These steps can do something to change your outlook whenever stress disturbs you. Never be afraid to try, just believe on the benefits that it will give you in the end.


Meditation in its truest sense does not only help people in developing tranquility, calmness, and inner peace but also to grow as a true person. However, some people have misconceptions about meditation as being a hippy act or something associated with marijuana smoking. They did not realize that meditation is done so that the mind can think better to improve the condition of life.

Guided meditation is a form of meditation wherein someone guides you throughout the meditation process and helps you to obtain the result of some descriptions. Many people associate meditation with just sitting cross legged on the floor, eyes closed and repeatedly go humming. This is not the result that most people want because the essence is totally absent.

Compared to other things, meditation must be done with a purpose. Take for instance; you are applying for a job out of a purpose. Once hired, you will have a monthly salary that you can use for example; purchasing a car, house, food, or spend on vacations. Probably, you will not work if you don't have any purpose.

Meditation is precisely the same. A purpose is needed when meditating and it can vary in many ways. Meditation is done to achieve inner peace, bring about concentration, relax, change the state of the mind, improve learning and creativity, build self-esteem and confidence, focus on healing oneself, control external and internal pain, and overcome fears. The reasons for doing meditation are really unlimited.

You don't have to be afraid during the guided meditation process since someone ensures that you are taking the right path for achieving your objectives. Thus, it is very important that you choose your meditation guide properly. Different practitioners and experts on guided meditation have different strategies. They facilitate people to experience the different meditation paths according to their objectives.

Most meditation experts are teaching deep breathing methods for beginners to orient them in practicing relaxation as well as in maintaining focus. Meditations paths will not certainly work if you failed in the first step. Keep in mind that meditation guides are unique from one another. So, ask the meditation guide for a free meditation lesson before paying for the services.

In a single meditation center, meditation practitioners dramatically differ in their guiding process. Make sure that you choose the one who works best for you. For example, you are challenge to find new thoughts and ideas about meditation. Then you are encouraged to purchase a guided meditation CD. You try to listen to it at home, but after a few minutes, you burst out in a loud laugh. The voice sounds totally unreal because it was altered digitally. This tool for guided meditation will not work for you since you are not serious about it. However, this meditation CD can work for other people.

So, choose from other guided meditation styles. You can get it from the internet or local bookstore. Guided meditation DVDs, CDs, and videos are very much widely available. Again, never rush in buying one for yourself or as a gift. Check out if free samples are available. Meditation programs with good quality are usually open for viewing and testing. This is the same if you wanted to go to meditation centers or health retreats. Finally, guided mediations will be successful if you are patient enough to do regular meditation practice.

One of the most common methods of turning yarn or thread into cloth is knitting. It is the same as crocheting wherein loops are interlacing each other. But the only difference is that in knitting, there are active multiple loops.

Knitting has two varieties. It includes warp knitting and weft knitting. Generally, warp knitting is done by a machine while weft knitting is done either by hands or a machine. Warp knitting is run resistant and common for lingerie fabrics including tricots. A single yarn is needed for each stitch within the row making the yarn appears in paralleled vertical wales. In weft knitting, one yarn is required in making paralleled horizontal courses.

Machines used in knitting use various mechanical system in producing results that are closely identical to hand knits. Fabrics knitted by hands usually starts by creating a base composed of several interlacing loops of thread on the knitting needle. Then new stitches are formed by the second knitting needle through the stitches in sequence so that new loops were pulled back on the yarn's working ball via the first loops.

In general, knitting is a very quiet act. Thus many people who are involved in this process are also quiet people including librarians, solitary maidens, stoic wives, and kindly grandmothers. The vocal, social knitting aspects were reborn during these days as the urban, hip stitch and bitch. Knitters talk everything about knitting.

A yarn harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee talks about knitting exceptionally well because she is a knitter herself. Thus, she writes everything that is associated with knitting. Her success on online musings regarding family and knitting increased her popularity. Thus her book entitled At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much was published by Storey Publishing.

The book was very astonishing but not mainly because of its subject matters. The author focused more on the crafts familiar topics such as impedimenta which include yarn, needles, and storage difficulty; process which include making mistakes as well as repairing mistakes; and keeping diplomatic relations to the people who do not knit which include spouses and children.

What makes the book different from other crafts and knitting writings is that the author clearly explains all the topics in just three hundred odd pages. This feat is not easy for her but she successfully managed it though. Crucial subjects including how a parent should pass her knitting knowledge to her child may require sticky reading, but the author stresses on self meditation to understand her objectives. She has a warm heart, is cool headed, and posses a wicked humorous sense which does not fall down to the cute or mawkish.

She created a book with great strength. It is also a balanced emotional literary writing with a surprising and genuine wit. You can never imagine that knitting has also its dark sides. For example, the author contemplates about committing adultery with a man owning a yarn store. You can probably identify and laugh. She possesses the characteristics which is not present in most female writers, an obvious, happy, and self-depreciating humor.

She does not emphasize that knitting is for women only but also encourages the male gender to knit. That is why this book never fails to amuse people who do not knit regardless of sex. This book is truly a wonder.