Meditation is an ancient art form that has been used in the Eastern cultures for thousands of years. Eastern philosophy believes meditation is used to expand your consciousness until you are at one with the cosmos as a whole. Meditation is about transcending the physical body and letting your emotions fade away so you are at one with the universe.
The practice of meditation will bring you closer to attunement with the purpose of existence. Additionally meditation incorporates many relaxation techniques, which have a positive effect on stress and stress-induced illnesses. When you learn to meditate you will find inner peace , satisfaction, happiness , contentment, and refreshment. The mind will become lucid and more focused giving one a sense of calm. Meditation can transform the mind from negative to positive, from disturbed to peaceful and from unhappy to happy. Meditation has both metaphysical and positive health benefits.
Everyone has his or her own reasons to meditate. Whether it is to understand ones own mind, to answer the questions of ‘ who am I’ or ‘why I’m here’ or even to implement simple relaxation techniques. It is up to every individual person to decide on how they meditate. There are many different schools of thought to pick and choose from. You need to find the technique that best suits you.
There are general facets of meditation that transcends the bounds of all cultures. Meditation is not difficult. Create an ideal setting for your meditation session. You can meditate sitting, standing, lying down, in a chair or on the floor. Make sure to have appropriate posture, with your back straight but not tense. Sit cross-legged or in the most comfortable position possible. Partially close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe naturally through your nostrils. Clear your mind and focus on the sensation of breathing. Concentrate on the breathing and exclude all of your surroundings. This is the first step to learning how to meditate. Once you have mastered the art of breathing meditation you can move on to other steps or stages of meditation .
There are hundreds of meditation techniques each with its own purpose and objective. Choose the technique that best suits your needs. Different kinds of meditation include breathing meditation, analytical meditation, placement meditation, mindful meditation, spiritual meditation, focused meditation, mantra meditation and many, many more. Each has their own benefits both metaphysical and physical. Whatever you are trying to obtain will determine what type of meditation will be best for you.

Author's Bio: 

Sarah Labdar graduated with a BA in exercise science and has worked in the medical field since. Her focus is alternative medicine and how it interacts and works in conjunction with traditional medicine.
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http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Learn_to_Meditate.html