When I was in India I met “yogis” or meditation masters who had remarkable powers of concentration.

Simply by focusing on their breath they could change their heart rate, raise their body temperature, and even walk on burning-hot coals.

In your daily life you probably don’t have the need or opportunity to walk on hot coals, but the power to quiet your mind gives you more control over your health than any pill or prescription.

Many of these yogis practice meditation. It’s easy enough to do on your own. There are even clinical studies that back it up.

Studies show meditation:

    * Lowers blood pressure

    * Improves sleep

    * Reduces stress and anxiety

    * Improves immunity

    * Helps with pain management

    * Increases productivity

    * Improves concentration

    * Heightens learning ability and creativity

A study published by the American Heart Association (AHA) found meditation to be as effective as medications for lowering blood pressure. The study involved 111 men and women between the ages of 55 and 85 with hypertension. About a third practiced meditation for 15 to 20 minutes twice daily. A second group practiced muscle relaxation. The third group cut back on salt and calories and practiced aerobic exercise [1].

The meditation group showed the greatest improvement. Their systolic pressure – the top number – dropped an average of 10 points. And their diastolic pressure – the bottom number – fell an average of 5.6 points [2]. The National Institute of Health (NIH) was so impressed with the results they granted $1.4 million for a follow-up study [3].

Meditation is safe and easy. The technique is exceedingly simple. The most natural object of meditation is your breath. For beginners, I recommend mastering your focus on your breath before you try any other object of meditation.

    * Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit.

    * Rest your hands in your lap and close your eyes.

    * For the first few minutes, focus on the natural rhythm of your breath.

    * At first, don’t try to change it. Just follow your breath.

    * The next step is to gently make your breath, quieter, slower, deeper and more regular.

    * If your attention drifts to other things redirect it to your breath.

Try to meditate at least 10 minutes once a day. Twice a day is better.

During my trip to India I had wonderful teachers, but when I got home I felt like I was on my own. After asking around, my friends at Learning Strategies offered me a couple of great programs that make meditation a snap.

Seeds of Enlightenment takes you step-by-step through 8 simple meditations. You don’t need any experience and all you have to do is listen and follow along. One of my favorite parts is the meditation on the Laws of Attraction. It sharpens your awareness and helps you get what you want out of life. The experience is self-empowering.

You can apply this to anything: breaking free from what they call the “money and emotions game,” enhancing your quality of life and your daily experiences, even for personal and business coaching options… the possibilities are limitless.

Learn more about what’s really possible when your mind is clear and focused. This is something you should explore.

References:

   1. Goad, M. “A powerful case for TM” Portland Press Herald: November 27, 1995.

   2. Khalsa, D. S. Brain Longevity, Warner Books, 1997: 309.

   3. “The Effects of the Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program on the aging process,” International Journal of Neuroscience 16 (1): 53¬58, 1982.