Learning to meditate in today’s fast-paced world will provide you with a true sense of calm and inner peace. Meditation is a way to get in touch with your subconscious giving you a heightened awareness of individuality and your place in the universe.

If you are simply trying to get answers to the ancient question of “Who am I and why am I here” or instead, learn easy relaxation exercises, meditation is a great way to go.

Choosing from the numerous methods of meditating is solely up to the individual. Pick from among the different schools of thought to find the technique that best fits your needs and lifestyle. While there are many options available among the various disciplines they all have similar principles eclipsing cultural boundaries.

Eastern doctrine proposes meditation as a way of exploring the eternal. This involves opening up your mind to the point where you have found your place in the cosmos. The idea is that emotions such as love, grief, and extreme happiness can lessen over time but the universe is constant. Students who embrace this philosophy may, in the end, find themselves closely attuned with the very purpose of life.

On the other hand, if your reason for meditating is not spiritual you are likely seeking a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. This has become the Western tradition of meditation. People are seeking ways to reverse the effects of 21st-century living. You know what I mean. Illnesses such as high blood pressure and heart disease are diagnosed and are made worse by stress and anxiety. Western medicine has gradually accepted meditation as a calming influence that can address the basic sources of several stress-related conditions and clear the conscious mind.

There are no hard and fast rules for meditating. First, locate the best place for you to meditate. It doesn’t matter the spot as long as it’s a quiet place you feel comfortable in where you can lie down on a bed or the floor, sit or stand. The process is simple. Many online programs and tutorials walk beginners through the basics, help with correct posture and advise you on the best way to set up your meditation space to maximize your transformational experience. It’s time to get started today.

How hard can meditating be? Not hard at all. Simply shut your eyes and breath deeply. There you go, you’re meditating. Now you understand why meditation is so easy, convenient and practical.

The list of reported benefits from meditating include increased creativity, lower anxiety, fewer bouts of impatience and agitation, less depression, much better memory and an improved aptitude for learning. Those are just the more common effects. Meditating can slow the aging process giving the over 50 crowd heightened levels of stamina and a revitalized sense of well being. Studies have found people who meditate have lower levels of cortisol and lactose which helps to reduce stress levels. When you are in a restful state your heart and metabolic rates drop contributing to lower blood pressure and higher levels of oxygen in your blood.

Imagine a simple way to meditate that allows you to experience some of these results in just minutes. Find a comfortable place to sit, close your eyes and then make your entire body stiff as a board. Let out a deep sigh followed by a deep breath through your nose. As you breathe out your mouth feel the tension leave your muscles. Make sure you haven’t forgotten any areas of your body such as a tight fist.

After the first couple of times, you may still experience that stressful feeling in parts of your body. Tense yourself up again and concentrate on relaxing those tough spots. You could also silently repeat the word “relax” as your body releases the tension. The combination of mind and body will strengthen this process over time. As you become better at this exercise you’ll find it easier to relax by simply repeating “relax” a few times.

It’s important to learn to breathe through your nose. When you do so you draw more oxygen into your body because you are using more of your diaphragm. Try it out. Breathe in through your mouth. Your breathing is shallow. Now breathe through your nose and feel your abdomen extending as air gets further into the lungs.

The next part of this technique is to let yourself breathe comfortably in an even pattern. Focus on your breath passing in and out of your nose. Your mind may tend to drift and that’s OK. Just remember each time to bring your attention back to your breathing.

Sometimes your mind will be racing all over the place. Do not get frustrated. Instead, put a name to each interruption so they become something tangible that you can set aside. For example, you may be distracted by thoughts of a fight you had with a friend. Label the fight “anger” or another word you choose then go right back to your breathing. Find a way to deflect intrusions that works for you.

That’s all there is to it. Breathe and deflect for 5 to 10 minutes or around 100 breaths. When done, open your eyes and sit quietly for a few moments. Your mind will feel invigorated and your body will have found its relaxed state. Congratulations! You are now ready to handle whatever life sends your way.