Meditation Resources

Pre-recorded meditation sessions: http://ultimatemeditationkit.com
There's a range of guided meditations that you can download instantly. They include relaxation, creating abundance in your life, enhancing your creativity and connecting with your higher self. There's also a more comprehensive guide to meditation.

Breathing Meditation: http://www.SecretsOfMeditation.com Matt Clarkson's easy to use course covers breathing meditation, one of the easiest ways to learn meditation.

Centerpointe Holosync high tech meditation system: http://www.Centerpointe.com Another easy way to meditate. Put a CD into your player, put on your headphones and press "play". Let the Holosync system take care of taking you to a level of meditation rarely experienced unless you are a Zen monk.

New Age Meditation

Many people, myself included, find that the easiest way to meditate is to simply sit or lie back and listen to a pre-recorded meditation track. There are plenty to choose from and some of my favorites are listed at the end of this guide.

New Age meditation can also take the form of a background track, which is usually one of rainfall or some other natural sounds. Behind this track, the brain is played some other sounds. These can be "binaural beats" or some tones that are designed to induce a natural meditative state without any of the hard work of actually "meditating".

Some people consider this to be cheating but personally I find it the quickest and easiest way to meditate. All you need to do is sit or lie down, place your headphones on your ears and listen. The pre-recorded track does everything else for you.

My favorite of these is the Centerpointe Holosync system, which can be found at
http://www.Centerpointe.com. I personally use this almost every evening before I go to
sleep. It has a number of different levels, which take you gradually deeper and deeper
into your meditative state. I've been using it now for a number of years and have noticed
lots of positive changes in myself. I'm generally calmer and more relaxed and take things
in my stride much better.

---Go to part12

Japa Meditation

Japa meditation involves the repetition of a mantra during the course of your meditation.
The mantra us usually spoken quite softly, so that only the person actually chanting the
mantra can hear it. Sometimes it may simply be repeated in the meditator's mind, but this
is quite rare.

Japa meditation is often practiced whilst sitting in a yogic meditation position but it is
perfectly OK to sit or lie down comfortably and recite a mantra in the normal course of
your meditation.

Some popular Japa mantras are:
· Om
· Hare Krishna
· Ram Nam
· Gayatri
· Om namo Narayana
· Pancha Tattva mantra
· Om namah Shivaya
· Om mani padme hum

In Buddhist and Hindu traditions, your mantra will be given to you by your personal
guru. The goal of the mantra is varied but is often a simple personal communication with
God in a similar way to prayer.

---Go to part11

Christian Meditation

Quite simply, Christian meditation is a type of meditation that has been placed in a

Christian context.

Christian meditation goes right back to biblical times. At it's simplest, any act of worship or prayer can be likened to entering a meditative state. The Bible says that all true Christians must meditate on God's word. This means that you can use some or all of your meditation time to contemplate anything to do with your religious faith and still be in keeping with your beliefs.

Once you have cleared your mind, using any of the meditation techniques we have discussed so far, then you can focus the rest of your meditation session on worshiping God.

Most monks spend a lot of their time in meditation and have learned to speak with God during their prayer sessions. The clarity of mind that is experienced whilst meditating helps with this process.

Some forms of Christian meditation use a mantra. This is a word that is repeated during the course of the meditation. There are various mantras that can be used – you can research these on the internet to see which ones fit best with your own belief system. You should note that Christian meditation is not a replacement for being absolved from your sins. Instead, it is a tool that many Christians use to build a stronger relationship with God.

---Go to part10

Chakra Meditation

Chakra meditation is used to energize the seven different energy centers that are in your body.
These centers are:
· Crown chakra. This is based outside your body just above your head and is the master chakra that controls all the others. The crown chakra is normally colored violet.
· Ajna or third eye chakra. This is linked with the pineal gland, which is a small gland located in your brain. The color of this chakra is indigo.
· Throat chakra. This is linked with your thyroid gland and has the color blue.
· Heart chakra. Located at your heart, this chakra is linked with your immune system. Keeping your heart chakra in tune assists with your overall well being. The color for the heart chakra is green.
· Solar plexus chakra. This is said to correspond to your pancreas and adrenal glands and plays a valuable role in digestion. It has the color yellow.
· Sacral chakra. Located in your groin, the sacral chakra is related to your emotion, sexuality and creativity. If it is out of balance, you may suffer from mood swings. Color for this chakra is orange.
· Base or root chakra. This chakra is associated with instinct, survival and security and is located at the base of the spine. The base chakra has the color red.

A typical chakra meditation will start at the base chakra and gradually work it's way through each of the other chakras until it reaches the crown chakra.

As the meditation progresses, each chakra will be balanced. The meditation will work on each chakra in turn and will focus on getting the imbalances that occur over time back into their natural state of balance. The meditation will also move each of the different chakra centers until they are in balance with each other.

When starting out, it is probably easiest to use a pre-recorded meditation to guide you
through each of the chakras and to ensure that the balancing process is followed.

---Go to part9

Guided Meditation

Guided meditations are a good place to start your meditation practice. Whilst it is possible to guide yourself during the meditation process, the easiest guided meditations to follow are pre-recorded and all you have to do is sit back and listen.

A guided meditation will usually begin by taking you to a calm, quiet place. Some typical
places to start are:
· A large, peaceful garden with birdsong and sometimes a stream running through it
· A clearing in a forest, often with a babbling brook nearby
· A beach, with the sound of the sea lapping

Once you are in the quiet place, you will be guided to notice the sounds, smells and sensations that can be experienced in the chosen location. For instance, if you are in a garden or forest, you will probably be guided to notice the feel of the grass on your feet, possibly some dew on the grass. On the beach, you'll be guided to feel the warm sand in between your toes.

Then the meditation will gradually explore the surroundings, bringing in the other sensations that you would expect to experience.

If the guided meditation is partially based on hypnosis, it is possible that a hypnotic deepening routine will be used to drop you further down into your meditative state. This is usually done by taking you down a series of steps and counting the steps as you go. This technique is powerful and the deepening sensation can be used to heighten any meditation process that you perform.

You can find a range of guided meditations at http://ultimatemeditationkit.com

---Go to part8

Zen Meditation

Zen meditation is normally practiced sitting on a cushion on the floor. There are two main items used for zen meditation, called zafu and zabuton. Between them, they can take the edge off sitting on a hard floor surface. The zabuton is a mat placed on the floor. The zafu is a cushion that is placed on top of the zabuton. They can help to take the pressure off your legs whilst you meditate.

The idea of using cushions is to help you focus your mind on the meditation itself, rather than any aches or pains that you could experience whilst sitting on a hard wooden floor.

The aim of zen meditation is to simply sit and open the "hand" of thought. Traditionally, it is practiced in a sitting position, with folded legs and hands. Your spine is kept upright during the meditation.

There are several different sitting positions that you can take whilst practicing zen meditation. Check the internet for some illustrations if you have difficulty working out the exact posture needed.

Once you have reached your desired sitting position, half lower your eyelids so that your eyes are neither fully open or fully closed. This will allow you to stay awake whilst not being distracted by outside objects.

When you start to practice zen meditation, you will begin by concentrating. This usually involves focusing on your breath, often whilst counting. Over time, you will find that you can concentrate your mind easier each time you start to meditate.

Zen meditation is probably best experienced by joining a local group so that you can get the most out of the various teachings associated with it, together with the support that a practice group offers.
----Go to part7

Associating Back Pain and Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease such as demyelinating and affects the motor and sensory neurons. The disease will cause cycles of remission, which causes the condition to worsen. When exacerbation starts etiology is reviewed, which includes the cause? The cause at this time is not clear, yet some experts believe that viral infections and autoimmune disease plays a part in Multiple Sclerosis cause.

The disease is complication, yet it cause back pain. According to Pathophysiology views, the scatters of demyelinization will start affecting the brain, as well as the spinal cord. Once it affects these areas degeneration starts targeting the myelin sheath (Nerves that insulates the layers of cells) and causes a string of patches of sclerotic tissues. The patches impair the conduction, which reaches the “motor nerve impulses.”

How do I know if I have Multiple Sclerosis?
You consider the symptoms. The symptoms include ataxia, blurred vision, weakness, heat intolerance, nystagmus, sensation impairment, speech scan, diplopic, optic neuritis, paresthesia, tremor intentions, euphoria sensations, paralysis, incontinence urine, and powerlessness to feel or measure the pose of the body.

What is ataxia?
Ataxia is the lack or inability to control the muscles coordination or movement.

What is nystagmus?
Nystagmus is involuntary movements of the eyes, which rhythmically move from side to side and is caused from the disease since the nerves and muscles behind the eyeball is affected.

What is diplopic?
Diplopic and/or diplopia are double vision. Double vision is caused from lack of coordination of the eye movement. The optic neuritis also affects the eyes.

If multiple sclerosis is present doctors use MRI tests, EMG, CSF, CT, Oligoclonal banding, and so on. Once the tests are completed and if increases of G (IgG), i.e. immunoglobulin are present and protein intake is increasing as well, thus WBC is present, he considers medical management.

Atrophy when spotted under MRI tests will start medical management as well. The medical management varies from patient to patient. Back pain is common.

According to statistics, the mass of people in the universe will suffer some degree of back pain. Some people go through the pain, yet have never sustained injuries. Other people may experience pain from injuries, and feel how horrible the pain can become.

When considering back pain one must ask what its cause is. How can one control the pain? What self-care prevention strategies can one use to ease back pain? What treatments are available to me?

The fact is back pain can occur from feet conditions, such as swelling, heel pain, burning soles, battered ligaments, and so on. Sport injuries, car accidents, inappropriate bending, and lifting are all related to back pain. In fact, various medical conditions cause back pain, including multiple sclerosis, edema, and so on. With the many variants related to back pain, one must educate you on how the spine is structured and what happens if that structure is interrupted. Let’s get started and learn what we can about back pain, and how we can eliminate such stress in our lives.

When multiple sclerosis is present, medical treatment often includes diet, controlled exercise, speech therapy, physical therapy; fluids increased, meds, and so on. Muscle relaxants, such as Baclofen or Lioresal are giving to the patient etc. The doctor will often recommend that the patient take Maalox. Maalox is laced with magnesium and aluminum hydroxide, which is in the muscles and apparently lacking its natural remedy, thus the Maalox acts as a substitute.

Alterna-GEL is also prescribed, which has the chemicals the muscles produce as well known as aluminum hydroxide gel. Once medical management is set up doctors will consider nurses intervention.

Acute Edema and Back Pain

Back pain is caused from a variety of problems including “Acute Pulmonary Edema.” Edema builds up abnormal and excessive fluids that cause serious actions to the tissue cells. What happens is similar to over watering plants. The plant will swell and gradually wither away.

Edema in acute stages is defined as heart failure to one side, yet the problem extends to cause pain in the back. What occurs is when the heart is interrupted; it channels the fluids to tubes, vessels, ducts, and passageways that extend to the lungs.

Causes of edema:
Edema may arise from inhaling smoke, MI, CHF, Myocarditis, excessive I.V. intakes of fluid, Valvular disease, overdose of drugs, such as morphine, barbiturates, and heroin. Acute edema arises from ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome) and Atherosclerosis.

The lack of heart pumping can cause stress to the chest, which when the chest is scarred it affects the spines structure and mobility. Overarching the back is where back pain starts, since the chest is restricted from scarring and/or edema.

Experts will often use X-rays, ABG tests, ECG, and monitor Homodynamic to discover edema. Of course, edema can lead to major problems, such as Hypernatremia, Digoxin Toxicity, Hypokalemia, Excessive Fluid, and Pulmonary Blockage of the arteries, (Embolism), which starts blood clotting and affects blood circulation. Hypokalemia will decrease potassium intake that is required by blood. What happens is the decrease of potassium to the blood causes excessive excretion of fluids that lead to the muscles, which cause weakness. The back pain is not necessary the issue at this stage, since the heart is the starting point, which could lead to cardiac arrest.

When acute edema is present, experts will often restrict fluid intake, while administering I.V. fluids to substitute. Oxygen and meds are prescribed. Often the doctor will request that the patient remain consistent in a high position, such as “Fowler’s.”

Symptoms:
Edema may present fatigue, coughing, JVD, Hypophysis, murmurs, Orthopnea, one-side heart failure (Right often), low output of cardiac, exerted Dyspnea, and so on. The condition can cause various other symptoms to emerge as well.

Experts will request that the patient limit fluid intake, and join in oxygen therapy. Since edema causes excessive fluid buildup, isometric exercises, and bed, rest is required. Isometric workouts is the process of pushing muscles next to a sturdy surface, whereas the muscles are put under tension, yet restricted from contractions. The exercises are recommended in a variety of medical treatments when back pain is involved.

Edema also affects the joints, cartilages, muscles etc, which can cause tenderness, ulcers of the legs, changes of stasis, and so forth. Edema affects the veins found in the neck as well, which is one of the leading starts of back pain. To avoid traveling into the heart cavity and discussing heart conditions, I will sum up edema and the causes of back pain.

As I mentioned earlier, back pain starts with edema since when the heart is not pumping blood it affects the connective tissues, ligaments, tendons, muscles, cells, joints, etc. As you can see, when the skeleton elements are targeted pain will occur from swelling and inflammation. The cause of back pain then starts with excessive fluid buildup emerging from acute edema and/or peripheral edema conditions.

To learn more about edema and back pain consider tendons, ligaments, disks, joints, connective tissues, neurological disorders, and so on.

Back pain has affected millions of people, yet the leading causes emerge from nerve and musculoskeletal disorders. Still, many diseases and disorders can cause back pain, including edema. In fact, when doctors discover musculoskeletal and nerve disorders, they often link one of the potential causes to edema.

The Right and Effective Home Remedy for Acid Reflux

Are you fond of eating junk food, protein-rich food and processed foods? If you do, well, this is bad news for you. You are certainly a candidate for an acid reflux problem in your stomach and esophagus.

Acid reflux is a condition that is a prelude to ulcer. It is caused by a disturbance in the acid-alkaline condition in the stomach.

Eating specific acid foods that are hard to digest induces stomach spasms or twitching which causes the cardiac sphincter, opening between the esophagus and stomach to open for gases to form that should not.
This is an indigestion problem that has gotten out of hand and created acid wastes to flow up to your esophagus causing an irritation. This irritation, if not controlled can result to ulcers and other infections. The acid reflux diet that you have been eating should now be changed.

Once you have the symptoms of acid reflux, you need not resort to medications at once to cure the problem. You can start with home remedies that are surely less expensive.

You may start with changing your diet. You have to say goodbye to the following food and beverages: tea, coffee, radishes, garlic, onion, spices (pepper), oils, alcohol, sugar, soft drinks, diet soft drinks, asparagus (Brussels sprouts), high protein foods, pasta noodles, corn starch, eggs, plums, prunes, cranberries, and all processed foods including junk foods. Now, you may want to cry. All your comfort foods are gone.

If you think, you cannot abruptly eliminate them in your diet; start with taking just small amounts. Then start substituting them with the following: fruits, citric fruits in small amounts though due to their acidic content, all kinds of vegetables and almonds.
If you feel that you are not feeling the acid reflux symptoms anymore, you may go back to your previous diet in moderation though to prevent recurrence of the acid reflux.

Aside from proper diet, there are practical home remedies to avoid the acid reflux symptom. They are:
· Avoid smoking before or during meals.
· Eat in an upright sitting position.
· Do not lie on the bed immediately after eating.
· Take small walks after eating. It stimulates the digestive system.
· Avoid exercise after a large meal.
· Avoid wearing tight clothes.
· Do not drink alcohol while eating.
· Chew food slowly and thoroughly.

One of the home remedies for treating acid reflux is the ginger alternative. Ingesting ginger with a meal helps to reduce an upset stomach. The ginger is grounded and added to foods and taken in tea or capsule form. Most herbalists recommend consuming 500mg. of ginger with a full glass of water after meals.

We are often told by our physicians to drink more water, if possible at least 8 glasses each day. The water helps eliminate body toxins and allow the body to expel acid naturally.

Green tea has been used for centuries in Japan and other oriental countries as an after dinner drink. Green teas assist the body in the digestion process, and help soothe the stomach's sensitive tissue.

Herbal teas containing peppermint, chamomile, ginger, licorice root and catnip even in just small traces help the stomach lining repair itself. Often, one cup of tea following dinner is enough to reduce future acid reflux symptoms.

So, kiss acid reflux symptom goodbye!

Avoid Food/Beverages That Cause Acid Reflux, Change Your Lifestyle

Many people get hungry because they lack food. Children become malnourished if they are not given the right amount of food which contains the needed vitamins and minerals which in turn make the body strong and healthy.

The fact is, not all foods are healthy. The most popular unhealthy food is 'junk foods'. Just as the word suggests, junk, which means it is like garbage. But many people are still patronizing these kinds of food.

People diagnosed with certain diseases often are given a list of foods to avoid. And this is true with the case of a person having acid reflux. Acid reflux or the GERD is a condition wherein stomach acids go back to the esophagus because of the improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter. If this condition is not treated, it will only get worse which can cause serious complications.

You can effectively tell if you have acid reflux if you experience symptoms like sour taste, burning sensation in the chest or upper abdomen and your throat's back, excessive belching, breathing difficulties, tightness of throat, difficulty in swallowing food, and bad breath.

If you frequently experience these symptoms, then you probably have acid reflux. Visit your doctor to get an accurate diagnosis, so that you will know the severity of your condition.

There are certain beverages and foods which cause acid reflux, and this includes the following:

- chocolate
- coffee
- spearmint and peppermint
- alcoholic drinks
- fruit juices
- fatty foods and fried foods
- onions
- citrus fruits
- spicy foods
- products which are tomato-based
- caffeinated drinks

A change in your diet is the most effective way to deal with acid reflux. Although at first you may feel deprived of these foods, think of what will happen if you continue to eat or drink these beverages and foods.

Start your change in diet by keeping a record of your food intake. In this manner, you can tell which of the foods or beverages causes your acid reflux. So every time you experience that burning sensation, take note of what you've actually eaten. Once you have the list accomplished, put it somewhere where you can easily see it, like the refrigerator.

A lifestyle change may seem rather difficult. Your doctor can greatly help you in your transition. The very first thing that you should do is to set a goal, like for instance eating small meals, while avoiding those above-mentioned foods. Slowly quit smoking and drinking. Of course, you can't expect an abrupt change.

Every time you feel any of the symptoms, you will be instantly reminded that you're on the wrong path. Self-discipline is very much important to attain a successful lifestyle change.

While many people are taking antacids, others are finding it better to stick with the natural way. On the long run, antacids are not that good for your body, even to your stomach. It would be better to start changing your lifestyle, the sooner the better.

Besides, a healthy lifestyle doesn't only prevent acid reflux but other diseases as well. You will gain more benefit in changing your life entirely, especially regarding food eating habits. Eat the right kinds of food at the right amount, and you'll stay healthy.

Magnifying Acid Reflux

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the medical term for “Acid Reflux” is specified as the product of abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus thus, making a mucosal impairment, as well known as the chronic symptom.

This disease affects adult primarily, while infants and children can also be affected. Normally spurred by eating certain foods, if not pregnancy, or taking a sleep right after eating a heavy meal, a multitude of persons suffer from acid reflux at a time or another.

Heartburn (Pyrosis) or acid indigestion is another name that refers to acid reflux. Heartburn, the major symptom of Acid Reflux in the esophagus, is described to cause a burning edginess at the back of the sternum (breast bone).

The symptoms may come as coughing, voice transformation, huskiness, ceaseless ear ache, or sinusitis. The ramifications brought upon by acid reflux may lead to esophageal ulcers or worse this can lead to esophageal cancer.

Nevertheless, constant heartburn sensations do not necessarily mean that one has appropriated GERD already. The risk occurs when heartburn happened more than once a week, this occasion could possibly lead in acquiring GERD.

The common cause of GERD is the increase in acidity or gastric acid output in the body, obesity, pregnancy, or tight-fitting apparels, these all can add to the problem. The yeast infections are also believed to be among the causes of GERD-like symptoms.

An added ironical cause of the GERD is the insufficient production of stomach acid in the body. The explanation says that the valve, the hollow organ with a flap that insure the one-way course of fluid through the organ, once emptied activates acidity in the intestines. If the valve fails to open, the contents of the stomach will be fluxed into the esophagus, and so irritation occurs.

In the meantime, there are already several treatments for GERD today, one of which is the balance and healthy eating habits. Now if proper diet fails to work, one can shift to medication therapy or surgery as advised by the doctors. Below are the lists of several choices of Acid Reflux treatment:

• Suitable Diet: the natural way to cure Acid Reflux is through change in their eating habits. A good number of people affected by GERD found success in following this method. Avoid the food ingredients which can intensify heart burn such as caffeine, soft drinks, and smoking. Avoid eating two hours before sleeping; likewise, avoid lying down after taking meal. These are the regular suggested change in lifestyle.

• Another easy way to treat GERD is to elevate the head of the bed. The pharmacologic therapy, the combination of prevention of food two hours before sleeping and the rise of the head of the bed, there is a great chance for a patient to gain a 95 percent relief. The rise of the head of the bed is suggested to range for only 6 to 8 inches or 20 cm. Using this method the backflow of gastric fluids will be cramped.

• Drug Treatment: Drugs reduce the secretion of the gastric acid, for instance and famotidine and omeprazole lessen the secretion of gastric acid and the Antacids neutralize the acid.

• Surgical treatment: the Nissen fundoplication, the standard surgical treatment for Acid Reflux, the medication process will only cover a short period of time. The function of this is to support the sphincter, a spherical bond of muscles that opens and closes to let the food or waste to pass, as well as stop Acid Reflux, and of course restore the diaphragmatic hernia.

What is Depression: Some New Light on the Old Blues?

Right now, 20 million Americans are in the midst of an episode of depression.

Some have the crippling symptoms of what doctors call a major depression. These symptoms normally require professional care because they're very dangerous and profaning. Feeling hopeless and useless, an individual with major depression may sleep and eat on an irregular basis.

In the throes of terrible depression, it's hard to concentrate, make conclusions, or find the vigor to do much of anything. Thoughts of suicide are more common.

Depression principally relates to a frame of mind that's strictly disconfirming, with an tendency to inadequacy and a hopeless lack of interest to do things.

If somebody has a modest depression, nevertheless, the problem is a lot manageable. Experts say that people who have some minor depression will feel crappy about themselves and crappy about their lives, but they're managing to function at a high level.

As a matter of fact, a few of the new found ways of combating the blues are connected to what you do as well as what you feel. Here are some ways that you can develop your body to help prevent minor depression:

1. Place some bounce in your step.

Unconstipated exercise may be the most potent natural antidepressant available. It's advisable that you take a brisk walk. Exercise helps generate the freeing of brain chemicals called endorphins. When endorphin levels are low, depression takes place. Exercise also oxygenate the brain, keeping it healthy.

Regular exercise, Thirty minutes, five to six days a week, at moderate intensity, is a nice level to aim for to help prevent the brain instabilities that can make you vulnerable to depression.

2. Nourish your brain.

Lack of nutrients in the brain will result in afflicted mental function, including depression. To avoid such impaired mental status, health experts advocate that people should take high-potency multivitamins or mineral supplementation. This will help the brain to obtain enough nutrients in order to keep it properly functioning and, thus, avoid some psychological disorder such as depression.

3. Getting adequate sleep.

Less than eight hours of sleep, night after night, may lower levels of the brain chemical known as “serotonin,” which can make you more prostrate to depression. To get the right amount of sleep, health practitioners recommend going to bed and waking up at the same time day-after-day, including weekends.

Decompress yourself before going to bed, perhaps with a hot bath. To get soundest sleep, keep your bedroom quiet and dark.

4. Consider a few alternate explanations.

Your emotions, positive or negative, are created not by situations themselves, but by the way you interpret those situations. A very common situation can turn into a reason for hand wrenching unless you choose to take mental steps to prevent it.

For instance, a friend is going to pick you up so that both of you can go someplace and do something sport together. Now, suppose that time elapses, and your friend doesn't arrive to get you in time. Your feelings change, quite virtually, from moment to moment. Initially you think of your friend as being insensitive and irresponsible, you'll find yourself furious at him. If you think that maybe something bad has happened to him, you'll naturally become concerned. If you believe that this person doesn't care much about you and that's why he's late, you feel declined, solitary, even depressed.

Although the situation doesn't change, and that your friend is still delayed, you can have a whole range of feelings depending on how you interpret that event.

For such reason, experts argue that situations are normally ambiguous, open to any interpretation. Hence, your interpretation helps create your feelings about the situation. Positive interpretations lead to good feelings and enjoyment; negative interpretations lead to bad feelings and depression. To remain on the positive side, try to look for the positive interpretations.

Indeed, depressions can be very destructive if neglected. Hence, the best way to stop the development of depression is to always put a bright light on the blues and create a positive mindset in life.

Healing Meditation

You can use a healing meditation to focus on your own healing or to help with the healing of others. When you are just starting out, it is probably best to focus on your own healing, so that is what we will concentrate on here.

During a healing meditation, you can help your body to recover from an illness or disease. Start your meditation process as usual. Then, once you are happy that you are in a relaxed state, you can start your healing meditation. In your mind, fill the area that needs healing with a bright healing light. Once you get proficient at this technique, you can research the different colors that are said to help even more with the healing process.

But as a starter, use a bright white light for your healing process. Flood the area that needs healing with the bright white light. See everything brilliantly illuminated. Then visualize the affected area starting to heal and return to it's regular, 100% healthy state.

Some people find it helpful to visualize their white blood cells attacking the harmful elements in the affected area. Other people find that they can build their own construction team in their visualization. This team of miniature experts goes about the process of reconstructing the affected area and putting it back to normal.

The power of this visualization is fantastic. Let your mind run riot while you perform
your healing meditation. See the area that needs healing transform into a completely healed part of you. If you find it difficult to "see" the area, then just imagine what it would feel like if that part of your body was completely healed and working perfectly.

It doesn't matter if you don't get all the details completely right. Just get a sense of what will happen. Your mind is powerful enough to fill in the gaps – all you are doing is telling it the direction that you would like it to take.
-----continued in the next post

Walking Meditation

If you find it difficult to sit still and keep your eyes closed whilst meditating, then walking meditation could be good for you.

There are four components to a walking meditation:
· Becoming aware of your breathing
· Noticing your surroundings
· Being conscious and attentive to your body’s movement
· Taking some time to reflect on your meditation experience

Become aware of your breathing in much the same way as you would for the breathing
meditation process. Notice each breath as you breathe in and then breathe out again.
Become conscious of the air filling your lungs and use each exhalation to send out any
distracting thoughts – you'll find that after a little bit of practice, your extraneous thoughts will quite happily ride out of you on a cushion of air! When you start noticing your surroundings, you'll likely be amazed.

We take lots of things for granted in our everyday life and much of what is around us goes completely unnoticed. When you are walking around, notice the different colors that you see. Notice that even blades of grass, which initially appear just "green", are actually varied in color
and hue. You'll find that once you start this tuning in process, you'll notice more and
more things that have previously escaped your attention.

Don't just notice colors. Listen out for sounds. There may be bird song, road noise or the chatter of people or animals. Consciously tune in to these different sounds. Notice the different tunes sung by the birds. If you are in an urban area, pay attention to the different traffic noises. Each car's engine sounds slightly different. So does the sound of wheels on tarmac. You'll find yourself hearing things that have merely passed you by before.

There are also smells to fill your senses. Maybe the aroma of freshly mown grass or the sweet
smell that occurs just after a shower of rain. There are plenty of smells in the atmosphere and the chances are that most of these have slipped past your consciousness.

Tune into your body's movement. Start to notice the light pressure on the soles of your feet as you walk. Be aware of the air brushing onto your skin, whether it's a calm day or a windy one. Pay attention to your body's movement as you walk around. Feel how your arms swing as you walk along.

Notice how you hold your head – is it upright and attentive or a different position? Switch your attention to different body parts as you are walking and you'll be fascinated at what you find.
Once you've completed your walking meditation, take a small amount of time to come back to your normal world. During this period, mentally run through your thoughts and feelings that you experienced during your meditation time. Think what you can do to enhance your experience even further next time you choose to do a walking meditation. Gradually come back from your peaceful site to your regular world.

Go to part5

Different Types of Meditation

There are many different types of meditation. We'll cover some of the more common
types below but if none of these suit you, you'll find many more to explore on the
internet.

Some types of meditation involve just you or maybe you plus a small item to help you
focus, such as a candle. Other types of meditation work by you listening to a CD or MP3
file. Again, there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Feel free to experiment with some of the different types of meditation explored below until you find one that works well for you.

A. Breathing Meditation

In this meditation, you will be focusing on your breath. This is probably one of the easiest methods of meditation to begin with. Start by adopting a comfortable position. You could sit down in a chair or lie back on a bed. The important part is to be comfortable so that you're able to focus solely on your breathing.

Once you're comfortable, close your eyes. Start to notice your breathing. We breathe so often that we tend to take breathing for granted. So take the time to notice your breathing. Notice the air filling your lungs.

Then notice as you breathe out and the air leaves your lungs.
Repeat the process of noticing your breath. As you do this, you'll find thoughts coming up. They might be about family, friends, work or absolutely anything else. That doesn't matter – it's all part of the process and it is perfectly normal to continue to have thoughts whilst you are meditating.

But once these thoughts come up, let them drift out with your next breath. Each you’re your thoughts drift, bring your mind back to focusing on your breathing. One of the best programs I've found for breathing meditations can be found at:
http://www.SecretsOfMeditation.com
continue to part4

How Do I Start Meditating?

To start meditating, choose a time and a place where you won't be disturbed for the
duration of your meditation session.

When you are starting out, you may decide to set aside 10 or 15 minutes for your
meditation session. This is plenty of time when you are beginning to meditate and in our hectic daily lives it may well be that this is the maximum amount of time that you feel you can devote to meditating. That's fine. Whatever works for you is good – it's much better to spend a few minutes a day meditating than to put it off completely.

Over time, you may decide that you are getting sufficient benefits that you want to increase the amount of time you spend in a meditative state, but that's completely your choice. If you can spare the time, your aim should be to have two 20 minute meditation sessions each day.

Research has shown that spending this amount of time meditating leads to
better health and can help reduce the stresses and strains of daily life.
Your checklist for starting meditation:

· Choose a meditation method from the chapters that follow.
· Choose a time of day when you are unlikely to be disturbed.
· Choose a place where you feel comfortable and can relax.

That's all!

The time of day should be one where you can make it a habit to meditate at that time.
Some people find that meditating first thing in the morning is a good time for them.

Other people, myself included, meditate last thing at night before going to sleep. You may find that the best time for you is whilst the rest of the family is watching a program on television. There is no exact time that is best for everyone. Whatever works for you is good! Just make sure that you practice on a regular basis.
The actual place where you decide to meditate is again up to you.

A few people set aside a room in their house as their meditation room but if you're just starting out, that's probably a bit too extreme. Instead, you may decide to meditate in your bedroom, the lounge, the kitchen or even the garden. The exact place where you meditate doesn't matter too much – it’s much more important that you actually start practicing meditation.

If you find that the original place you chose isn't working for you, don't be afraid to change it. The same goes for the time and the method that you chose. The ultimate
benefit of meditation far exceeds the precise method of meditation that you use to reach the benefit.

One of the easiest ways to start meditating is to use a guided meditation. This is a CD or MP3 that contains all the instructions you need to achieve a state of meditation. All you need to do is to find somewhere that you won't be disturbed, sit or lie down and play the audio file. You can find a range of pre-recorded guided meditations available for instant download at http://ultimatemeditationkit.com

continue to part3

What is Meditation?

The dictionary defines meditation as "continued or extended thought; reflection;
contemplation."

So what does this mean in real life? Just what is this thing called meditation?
Often we get overwhelmed in the course of our daily life. This can lead to stress and
tensions that can ultimately affect our health. Using meditation on a regular basis gives our mind a chance to quiet itself and adjust to the stresses and strains that are part and parcel of our modern daily life.

Usually, people meditate in a quiet space, free from distraction. There are many different methods of meditating, which we will cover later, but they all lead to the same place.

Meditation itself is simply the process of quieting our mind. Gradually, your mind
becomes calmer. The "chatter" that's often there becomes less. And you start to move
mentally to a more tranquil place.

Sometimes meditation is described as reaching a higher state of consciousness. This can come about because our mind is less cluttered and therefore we start to notice things that would ordinarily pass us by. For instance, whilst meditating we may tune in more to the sounds around us, whether they are the urban sounds of traffic and people talking or more rural sounds such as bird song or the running water of a stream. Oftentimes by concentrating on these sounds we can go deeper into a meditative state.
continue to part2

Exercise is always a do-it-yourself venture. No other person and no machine can do it for you. Hence, it is important to have those motivating factors so that a person who is into exercise in order to lose weight will hang about.

This is what people who are overweight should learn to understand. However, even if it so easy to set for instructions and easy to follow, this is not the same case for almost 35% of Americans who are unable to prevent being overweight.

Of course, once we are overweight, we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons, some related to physical condition and fitness, while others would want to enhance their physique and appearance. And it is never too late to be fit.

In the past 50 to 75 years, physical activity has become the exception rather than the rule, both at home and on the job. People tend to drive where others once walked. People tend to flick a switch and machines do the hauling, lifting, pushing, and pulling for them.

However, people who try to lose weight tend to believe that weight gain is likely to happen if they will not take forward-looking steps to stop it.

The point here is that health experts believe that people lose their way, especially when it comes to dieting. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to enjoy low-fat eating. They tend to return to sedentary ways even though they enjoy exercising.

But despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening, experts say. And there are plenty of good reasons to avoid excess pounds, reasons that go beyond vanity or social appearance. There are many reasons in order to keep you motivated to exercise and stay healthy for the rest of your life.

Ways to Lose Big

1. Have an explicit goal

A simple statement like, “I want to lose some weight,” is an ambiguous and an indefinite statement. It will not the least motivate you to start doing exercises right away.

What is important is to be precise on your goals. It would be better if you will set some detailed amount of pounds that you really want to lose. Envisage yourself what you will look like after reaching your desired weight. Doing this will inspire you to lose weight. In fact, maybe even more than what you have planned in mind. The idea is to use that figure to assist you to remain resilient and dedicated.

2. Develop a strategy

Strength of will does not work alone! To lose weight and stay with it, your strategy must comprise of both exercise and diet, and not either of the two.

Try to start motivating yourself by throwing away your clothes that have bigger sizes. This will put you in a situation where you only have your sexy clothes and that you have to make a choice by staying motivated to exercise or not wear any clothes at all. Which do you prefer?

3. Make out little, calculable measures

Put into practice actions that will suit your lifestyle. This means you have to implement moves that you and you alone will benefit from it and not somebody else.

The idea here is to opt for a more positive and attainable goal and not just to shun away from being plump and chubby.

4. Produce monitoring that has an important effect

It would be better to have somebody willing to take note of your progress or development. This will inspire you to keep on doing what you have started. Having somebody to listen to your achievements is definitely a better prize than just achieving your goal alone.

Besides, having an extra hand to support you and cheer for you when things start to fall short. It is that simple way of hearing somebody believing on what you do is one of the greatest motivations to keep you exercising for more.

5. Construct a vigorous, sensible time line

What do you plan to achieve in a year? Try to suit your objectives to your calendar, and do not look forward to see the results in just a snap.

The bottom line is that in order to stay motivated to exercise entails a lot of hard work, which is contrary to what most people tend to think. The main idea is to let people change their lifestyle because it is only through this way that they will absolutely change their weight…for the better.

Many women nowadays are into resistance training. Many get into resistance training programs engaging into sports. Resistance training is important for women. It allows you to be active and have a healthy body. You may also gain the needed strength and physically built muscles.

Before you start lifting weights, you should know the proper ways on how to execute the exercise. Many women seriously encounter injuries when they incorrectly lift weights. It is important that you get rid first of the excess weight that you have by walking or jogging. You may also purchase weight loss equipment such as treadmills, cross bar platinum, and nutrition boo guides for a better health.

Women usually do not have the natural muscle structure that most men have. They may not also have the same strength to carry heavy loads or the same resistance that men have. What more if you get older? Your body may no longer have the same strength when you were still young. This happens because of the lifestyle you have or just because of aging process. Your resistance may have just decreased and your body tends to weaken.

You can benefit many things when you get into resistance training. Even if you are not an athlete or a body-building enthusiasts, you can get into resistance training programs. Having an active body and well-toned muscles can provide you the more strength and good resistance. You can do some workout outdoors like walking or jogging to get a better blood circulation.

You may also do some stretching and warm up exercises to allow the blood nutrients go to the muscles and joints of your body. Muscle stretching also helps in lessening the risks of injuries and muscle pains after the work out. Muscles tend to sore and get strained if you are not well warmed-up and do the proper stretching techniques before the work out.

In addition, muscle stretching also gives you more flexibility. You will be able to execute exercises comfortably and effectively. It is advisable that you do repetitive stretching and warm ups. Repetition of exercises makes your muscles and joints more enhanced and more adapted to the motion you are executing.

When you are ready to lift weights, you should first work on your larger muscles then the smaller ones. You may then finally go to the muscles that are isolated. You may execute push-ups that can enhance the upper muscles of the body. Before doing triceps extension exercises, you should first focus on the larger muscle groups such as the muscle found in your butt. You may execute exercises like repetitive squatting, box step-ups, and lunges.

You may also work on your quads which is the muscle found on the front thigh. You may perform repetitive squatting and lunges as well. You may also use the leg extension machine and the leg press machine for a well-executed exercise.

You should always remember that you work on the opposite muscles. Muscles tend to get imbalanced especially if the amounts of exercises you do are not equally distributed. When performing triceps extension, it is advised that you also do bicep exercises. If you work out on the chest and the stomach area like crunches, it is important that you do back extension exercises to get a balanced upper muscle toning.

Always take a rest after your resistance training work out. Allow your muscles to cool gradually so that you will not feel any sore or strained muscles. After the resistance training, you will see that you are more ready and physically fit for many kinds of sports.