UAE- Align your life: Understanding Meditation

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) There are many misconceptions about meditation and the most common one is that only monks meditate regularly.

The word meditate stems from the Latin root meditatum (to ponder). Meditation is generally an inwardly oriented personal practice which individuals practice by themselves. Spiritual practices across the world recommend some form of meditation as a source of connection to one’s self and for stress reduction. There are many misconceptions about meditation and the most common one is that only monks meditate regularly.

Photo from Corbis

The practice of meditation has been found in cultures across the world for thousands of years. Dr. Herbert Benson founder of the Mind-Body Medical Institute which is affiliated with Harvard University and several Boston hospitals reports that meditation induces a host of biochemical and physical changes in the body collectively referred to as the ‘relaxation response.’ The relaxation response includes changes in metabolism heart rate respiration blood pressure and brain chemistry. In short meditation is like riding a bike; you get better when you practice regularly.

The short breathing meditation process below will help you to bring about instant calm and can be done at home or at work.

• Lie down or sit in a comfortable position.

• Breathe in at the count of 8 and breathe out at the count of 16 a few times till your body is completely relaxed.

• Now start breathing deeply at the count of 16 and exhale at the count of 32.

• As you inhale visualise white light entering your lungs and gently spreading in your body.

• As you exhale visualise all the stress and tension being thrown out from your body.

• Continue breathing in deeply and exhale all the tightness and tiredness.

Shivani Adalja is a Dubai-based wellbeing expert. She runs the Alignment Insitute which offers effective solutions that focus on stress management and overall wellbeing. Email