You can achieve both a heightened sense of self awareness and an altered mental state through meditation. You might be surprised to find out how many forms of meditation there are. If you have ever had a daydream of lost track of your senses while driving a car, these are considered meditation. If you quietly pray, this is also a form of meditation. Continue reading and you will find that there are important health benefits if you learn how to meditate.

Yoga and Tai Chi are more physical types of meditation, but meditation is often combined with both physical and spiritual activities. Any Activity that results in a sense of calming to your spirit and a sense of mental focus to your brain can be considered meditation.

Meditation is not just to promote the mind, it can also heal the body. Studies have looked at its abilities to relieve stress in particular. Meditation has also been used for pain management. Your body goes through both mental and physical changes while you are meditating, all of which are beneficial to you. Not only can it help with your stress, but it can lower your blood pressure.

Meditation has positions that let you be in comfort for a long time. Start by either sitting on a chair, stool, or cushion on the floor. Keep your back straight, and lean your pelvic bone slightly forward. By doing this, it puts your chest and your face in the right positions.

You can use different hand and eye positions based on your own personal beliefs. It varies from eyes fully open, to partially open, to fully closed. It is perceived that different eye positions can bring on a different sense of consciousness. Hand positions also vary and the Buddhist hand positions have right hand on left with thumbs touching.

The legs are usually crossed. They can also be in a position of half or full lotus. Some people like to sit on their heels. Any of these positions is fine as long as you are comfortable.

Probably the most important part of meditating is the mantra. It comes in many forms and is not restricted to any form. All religions use it. You may say a rosary, pray, chant, or even just hum. It is to free the mind, and remove any influence of the world. The reason that it is used in meditation is because the tongue and palate stimulate the brain.

You can decide to perform meditation in many different ways, the most important thing is the benefit to your health. It does not have to be based on a culture or religion. The information above should provide you with enough to start a new journey in your life and learn how to meditate.