How to Develop Or Improve Your Spiritual Practice

 

I have been involved with spiritual practice for over twenty years, and have never thought about what it might mean to other people. It is not an addition to my life, but has become my lifestyle. So what do I mean by 'spiritual practice'? To define spiritual practice I must first give meaning to the idea of spirituality.

Wikipedia defines it this way: Secular spirituality carries connotations of an individual having a spiritual outlook which is more personalized, less structured, more open to new ideas/influences, and more pluralistic than that of the doctrinal faiths of organized religions.

Spirituality usually encompasses a wide variety ideas and paths toward the ultimate understanding of a higher order of being. It is the idea that we are free to explore the concept that everything is 'God' or a Higher Power, and that we connect with this Power from within ourselves. Whereas most religions tend to teach that we must look outside of ourselves for 'salvation spiritual meditation app'.

Given the above meanings, it would seem that spiritual practice could encompass many activities. And so it does, depending what particular 'path' one has chosen for growing spiritually. But there are basic tenets of spiritual practice, and they are what I will discuss in this article.

Meditation is at the root of spiritual practice, and is experienced in some manner by all traditions. While there are perhaps hundreds of methods to meditate, sitting meditation seems to be the most used. Even with sitting meditation there are a wide variety of ways to perform the activity. The core objective is to clear the mind of thoughts and relax the body. An empty vessel is often a metaphor used when meditating so that your mind is open to receive. Taken beyond just relaxing, meditation allows the open, clear mind to gain answers or input that guide you on your path.

Contemplation is used in a similar way as meditation, but is more 'active'. In this practice you can sit, as in meditation, and contemplate some thought process, or use a journal and write. The procedure is to begin with an idea and let it flow through your mind or on paper, while it expands. Another way to contemplate is to start with an empty mind and let ideas, thoughts, or words come to you. One practice is to sit with pen in hand, or at the keyboard, and just write whatever comes to you without judging it, often called 'steam of consciousness'.

Clearing; for lack of better words to describe this practice. It is one of the ways I help people as a coach and in my Inner Peace classes. Here we explore aspects of our lives that don't work; ones we want to change. We then use techniques, and there are hundreds, to clear out of our psyche what is causing the unwanted aspects to occur. These practices take some exploration to do alone. It is helpful to have guidance.

Spiritual Principles learned and practiced in your daily life can work wonders in causing shifts to occur. Actually, this and 'clearing' are usually combined, but not always. A spiritual principle is The Law of Attraction, for example. If you learn how it works and what you can do to make it work better in your life, then your ability to use it improves over time.

Much of the above not only guides you into a more peaceful life, but helps build a practice of mindfulness. This idea might seem obscure to Western cultures, since it is a Buddhist practice, but it is important to our daily lives. Being mindful of your thoughts, words, and actions over time can help bring harmony into your life more easily. I have found that the most significant aspect of mindfulness for me is awareness of my body's interaction with things. Mindfulness is also another result of practicing Martial Arts or Yoga.

Yoga, and Martial Arts such as Tai Chi and Qigong, are two more practices used extensively throughout the world. However, each needs instruction so that the person doing the activity positions the body in the correct postures, and makes movements that allow the energy to flow easily through the body. If you feel drawn to these kinds of practices there is a bounty of books, DVDs, and studios to teach you.

Each of the above types of spiritual practice would take an article just to grasp the tip of the iceberg of how to use them. There are whole books written on each topic. The point of this article is to make you aware of some practices that might interest you. It is never too soon or too late to begin. I believe it is imperative in our world today to engage in some kind of spiritual practice, especially with increasing changes occurring as 12/21/2012 approaches.

Nothing will change in our lives until we take a first step to make that change. If you keep on doing what you have been doing, you will continue to get what you have now. What do you want? What is not working? What would you like to see work better? Maybe it is time to sit down and answer these questions and others like them to see where your life is going.

Getting Heart-Strong With Stats, Warning Signs, and Health Tips, Too

 

In case you missed it, red was the color of choice when choosing what to wear last Friday, as the first of February marked the tenth anniversary of the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day. Its purpose: to help raise awareness of heart disease in women, while at the same time, launching American Heart Month what is osho meditation.

Be aware, too, that The Million Hearts™ national initiative sponsored by the American Heart Association and others is also making headlines right now. Introduced by the Department of Health and Human Services in September, 2011, its aim is to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the U.S. over a 5-year period. To that end, this month Walgreens has engaged "its 26,000 health care providers to offer free blood pressure testing in consultation with a Walgreens pharmacist."

Is the need great? You bet. Just take a look at these unsettling facts of life about cardiovascular disease, the umbrella term for all heart and blood vessel diseases, including heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, and aortic aneurism:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. every year-or one in four.

Every year, some 935,000 Americans have a heart attack; about 610,000 first-timers.

Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, killing more than 385,000 people every year and costing the U.S. $108.9 billion annually in services, medications, and lost productivity.

Meanwhile, recognizing the warning signs is key to survival; experience any of them and call 911 immediately:

Chest pain or discomfort

Upper body pain or discomfort in arms, back, neck, jaw, or upper stomach.

Shortness of breath.

Nausea, lightheadedness, or cold sweats.

Know, too, that while the most common sign is chest pain or discomfort, women are somewhat likelier to feel short of breath, nauseous, and/or experience jaw pain.

Meanwhile, be advised that lifestyle is a determining factor, so be forewarned if you don't exercise, enjoy a high fat, sodium, and/or sugary diet, smoke, are overweight/obese, and/or have diabetes. To be in the know, head to your primary care doctor for a physical and make it an annual event. These are the numbers you'll want to hear:

A blood pressure reading less than 120/80

A total cholesterol that's less than 200 mg/dl

An LDL ("bad" cholesterol) that's less than 100 mg/dl

An HDL ("good"cholesterol) that's more than 50 mg/dl for women and 40 mg/dl or higher for men

Triglycerides that are less than 150 mg/dl

Blood glucose levels that are less than 100 mg/dl

To get you there, take time to de-stress every day, allowing yourself some "chill" time to meditate, garden, walk, and so on. You get the idea. And then:

If you smoke, promise to stop. There's lots of quitting help out there, everything from gums and lozenges to patches and hypnosis. Online assistance is right at your fingertips, too. Need motivation? Quitting before 40 reduces the risk of death by about 90% finds an American Cancer Society study. Plus, smokers die, on average, about 10 years earlier than non-smokers.

Get moving, aiming for at least 30 minutes a day of low to moderate intensity activity. The upside: lower blood pressure and triglyceride numbers, as well as higher HDL levels. Do it all in one outing or break it up into 10- or 15-minute workouts that can include walking, jogging, dancing, gardening, even playing outside with the kids. Then add just two weight training sessions a week-about 20 minutes or so each-and you're on your way.

Start every day with a heart-healthy breakfast, as in oatmeal, a smoothie made, for example, with frozen berries, a banana, yogurt, and skim milk, a veggie-filled egg-white omelet, or even peanut butter on whole wheat toast sprinkled with ground flaxseed. Tempted to skip it and go right for the coffee? Keep in mind that eating breakfast cancels out the need for a mid-morning pick-me-up or heavy lunch, thus helping prevent weight gain.

Eat a heart-healthy lunch and dinner, too, ones that are rich in fruits, veggies, fiber, whole grains, low-fat, calcium-rich dairy, and lean protein. Aim for two servings of fish each week, too. Not sure how much produce you should be consuming every day? The CDC has the answer for you.

Take an inventory of what's on your pantry shelves when it comes to snacks, soups, salad dressings, etc. and consider tossing a few of them. As you read the nutrition labels, keep in mind that you want to limit your daily sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg and less than 150 mg of cholesterol. Then opt for better-for you alternatives like baked chips, nutrition-dense granola bars, heart-healthy soups and frozen dinners, and so on. While you're at it, put away the salt shaker and replace sugary drinks with plain water or sparkling water with a spritz or two of lemon juice.

10 Ways to Create Your Own Meditation Space to Sit Relax Breathe

 

The clutter, piles of paperwork, bills, emails, text messages, social media posts, clothing, dishes, AHH! It's all overwhelming and you're on the verge of a panic attack if it all doesn't get organized! Whether it's at home or your office, things can just seem to pile up and feel like there is an uncontrollable chaos. We've all been there. We crave calmness and tranquility but there doesn't seem to be time to even create your own meditation space to Sit. Relax. Breathe. There are meditation classes, meditation CD's and even meditation books but sometimes all you need is a space of your own to meditate.

Although some people see meditation as weird it is simply because they don't understand that it is a practice that can recharge and heal your mind and your emotional well-being. While most of us are aware of the benefits of meditation we still don't practice it regularly if at all. We barely have time to fit in a workout let alone time to actually stop and breathe. One way to start is to create your own meditation space to Sit. Relax. Breathe.

Your meditation space can be as simple as transforming a small corner of your bedroom that is peaceful. Whether you have found meditation in your daily routine or not, creating a sacred space to de-stress and relax for some "me time" may start you on your practice to transform it into a more comfortable and tranquil experience.

There isn't a specific set of rules to creating a mediation space but there are some key points to consider. What's most important is that you find elements that you love to create a personal feeling of peace.

Create Your Own Meditation Space to Sit. Relax. Breathe meditation room essentials.

1. Quiet Space.

You'll want to find a room in the house that you can dedicate to your meditation practice or that has a space you can create your zen place, preferably a place where there is little traffic. A place where when you let out a fart or two, no one will be around to hear it.

2. Tushy Worthy Seating

Comfortable seating is an essential element of meditation. Depending on the space, a cushion, a comfy chair such as a rocking chair should suffice as long as it's something that you can plant your tush for a while.

3. Lights, Camera, Action

Natural light will enhance your mood. Find a room where you can meditate when the sun goes down or where the room faces the sun for the time of day you will meditate. If there isn't such a room, maybe a space on your patio or even your garden may work. As long as this place is one that allows for you to not be distracted.

4. A Touch of Nature

Having plants, flowers or a tree in or near your meditation space can be relaxing and healing. If you don't have or can't have plants near you having a window to overlook the outdoors provides a calming aesthetic to your mind.

5. Aromatherapy

Using essential oils such as, lavender and peppermint can be soothing and can increase alertness and focus. Before you start your meditation inhale an essential oil of your choice and use it regularly. You'll soon find that just getting a whiff will bring you to a state of calmness. You can also use incense and candles.

Meditation for Stress Relief

 

Meditation is a technique that has been used for thousands of years to bring a sense of calm and well-being to those who practice it. If practiced correctly, it can provide clarity of thought and inner harmony benefits of meditation.

Meditation for stress-relief and relaxation purposes is most effectively performed by sitting in a quiet, clean space. Quieting the mind, focusing on your breath and eliminating thoughts as they arise are common techniques.

Some people like to visualize on something while they focus; others seek to clear their mind completely.

Taking Some Quiet Time for Yourself

It can be hard to find a quiet corner to spend a few moments in during our day, but really this is vital to our overall health. This is where meditation can become a useful tool and your new best friend. It can be difficult to turn off all electronic gadgets, and "unplug" if you will, for a while, but it's important that you do.

Even well-meaning workmates and family members can overwhelm with constant chatter, leaving your own mind with no 'free' time. Not having to listen to the constant barrage of noise from voices, music, traffic, animals, etc. can be truly liberating. During meditation, stress hormones and cortisol levels decrease and a sense of calmness is induced.

We have become so addicted to our radios, televisions, tablets and smartphones, that for the majority of the day, our brains are anything but calm and quiet. It is no wonder so many people have become addicted to their medications and drugs of choice. Wouldn't it be a more productive, relaxed and interesting world if people were addicted to meditation instead?

Focusing Energy on a Single Point

Start by focusing on a single idea or word when practicing meditation for stress relief purposes. Some prefer to focus on a sound or visualize an image. It is important that where you decide to practice is tidy, clean and uncluttered for maximum benefits to be attained. Sitting with eyes closed, in the middle of a quiet and clean place, is best.

Trying to clear your mind and release thoughts as soon as they enter, if they do not align with your focus, can be tricky at first. It is common for people to feel frustrated when they begin meditating as they think it will be easy to quiet their mind, only to find that numerous thoughts come flying in and around out of seemingly nowhere and completely unrelated. This is normal.

We spend the majority of our day on autopilot and processing so much information simultaneously; trying to focus on one, single thing for any length of time can seem hard.

Our poor minds, which are usually under constant bombardment, see this quiet time as an opportunity to think about the things you have not made time to think about earlier. With practice, your mind will trust that you will be giving it future "quiet time" and will allow you to quiet your thoughts.

Is the Best Solution For Depression Drugs Or Natural Remedies?

 

You might be thinking about whether medications are the best answer for misery. Particularly since the reactions are terrifying. In this article you'll study the upsides and downsides of medications versus characteristic arrangements, so you can pick the most ideal game-plan for yourself. Notwithstanding prescription, there are some other savvy steps that you can take. 

Before we get into the different answers for wretchedness, envision what it resembles to carry on with a day to day existence that is moderately liberated from tension and the blues. In spite of the fact that everybody feels miserable or on edge occasionally, this isn't their typical perspective. Envision what it resembles to get up toward the beginning of the day and jump up on the grounds that you are roused and anticipating your day. Wouldn't it be ideal to have the option to deal with unpleasant circumstances as they emerge, rather than having a nervousness assault? 

Prescription can help. When you are feeling more joyful and more loose, you will have the inspiration to make other solid way of life changes. To begin with, lets investigate treatment alternatives. 

Answers for Depression 

The primary treatment for despondency and the one that individuals consider most is physician recommended drugs. This is on the grounds that medications are intensely publicized in magazines and on TV. At the point when you watch these ads or read these promotions, focus on the fine print. The symptoms are genuine. When choosing if you truly need to take a medication, see its rundown of symptoms and inquire as to whether they merit the hazard. Clearly, you won't realize which medication is the best answer for gloom except if you attempt it first and check whether you can endure it and on the off chance that it limits your side effects. 

The most well known depressants are called SSRIs (specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors). These medications help to expand serotonin in your cerebrum and standardize your state of mind. While the rundown of reactions are distinctive for each medication, two normal symptoms are weight increase and wretchedness. Ironicly an energizer could exacerbate your indications. This is the reason numerous individuals utilize normal medications. 

Indeed in dynamic nations like Germany, cures are the main treatment. Cures work by giving the cerebrum the supplements it needs to manage temperaments and make a casual condition of mindfulness. Despite the fact that they can take half a month to develop in the framework, they have hardly any symptoms which makes them the best answer for wretchedness in general. Since all cures are not the equivalent, make a point to discover one that contains fixings like Passion Flower and St. John's Wort and has been clinically demonstrated to work best meditation for depression and anxiety. 

Clearly, characteristic medication is simply part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Consider adding exercises to your standard that will help train you to quiet and focus yourself, similar to yoga and contemplation. Moderate every day exercise can likewise help your state of mind. Going for an energetic stroll around the square can do ponders. 

Regardless of whether you feel that the best answer for sorrow is common medication or physician endorsed drugs, make a point to investigate your eating regimen. Eating well greens, new natural product, fit grass-took care of hamburger and wild got fish will give you the supplements you have to make your cerebrum and body solid and sound. 

In outline, you can treat the blues so that it no longer has authority over your life. The best answers for misery adopt an all encompassing strategy and incorporate medication (characteristic or solution), a solid eating regimen, customary exercise and some sort of unwinding preparing.

Top 10 Meditation Benefits: How Does Meditation Help The Human Body?

 

Reflection benefits are various, yet what are the ones that truly assist us with feeling extraordinary intellectually, sincerely and truly? These ten advantages of contemplation head the rundown for mental, enthusiastic and physical prosperity. 

TOP BENEFIT #1: STRESS RELIEF BY LOWERING "STRESS" CHEMICAL 

Extraordinary compared to other reflection benefits is decreasing the notable pressure hormone Cortisol. Truth be told, Cortisol harms our bodies. With the present relentless society, it is normal for some individuals to have an excessive amount of cortisol flooding through their bodies. Significant levels of cortisol have been found to build coronary episodes, increment unfortunate cholesterol, lower bone thickness, increment circulatory strain, cause hyperglycemia, smother sound thyroid and lower insusceptibility all around. Normal contemplation fundamentally brings down cortisol levels and therefore diminishes the hazard for these infections. 

TOP BENEFIT #2: ELIMINATES ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION 

Standard reflection expands levels of the synapses SEROTONIN and GABA which are state of mind stabilizers. Brought down degrees of GABA have been related with expanded uneasiness, strain and a sleeping disorder. Brought down degrees of Serotonin are related with discouragement. Expanding serotonin levels is one of the most noteworthy reflection benefits as I would like to think since such huge numbers of individuals today utilize antidepressants to impact Serotonin levels. 

TOP BENEFIT #3: IMPROVED AND LASTING SENSE OF WELL-BEING 

One approach to get a "characteristic high" is to expand the endorphins in the body. Numerous individuals have encountered this "high" from work out. Reflection likewise expands endorphin levels in the body. 

TOP BENEFIT #4: QUIETS MIND CHATTER 

At the point when the cerebrum enters a thoughtful state, one of the advantages of contemplation is that the cerebrum has really "changed gears" from a "bustling brain of Beta recurrence" down to a casual, quiet province of Alpha, Theta or for profound reflection, Delta. Our bodies consequently react to every brainwave recurrence (of Beta, Alpha, Theta or Delta) and become apprehensive or restless (in Beta) or without a care in the world (in Alpha.) Easy reflection procedures, for example, brainwave contemplation naturally put the cerebrum into various states, in this manner guiding the body to react likewise and produce proper synthetic substances. 

TOP BENEFIT #5: INCREASED EMOTIONAL MATURITY 

Standard intervention calms the psyche and body, yet additionally offers ascend to expanded mindfulness. This offers numerous individuals the chance to see themselves all the more impartially and to viably make change. 

TOP BENEFIT #6: SPIRITUAL INSIGHT 

Another of the passionate reflection benefits is that ordinary contemplation places numerous individuals in contact with a "more powerful." This expands instinct, imagination, reason, and can change the viewpoint from survey something as an "issue" to rather seeing it as an open door for otherworldly and enthusiastic development. These higher enthusiastic states are a characteristic movement in light of the fact that the psyche and body are kept more adjusted through the other physical and mental reflection benefits talked about thus. 

TOP BENEFIT #7: FEEL MORE EMOTIONALLY CONNECTED TO SELF AND OTHERS 

Could reflection really improve connections? Truly, in light of the fact that when the brain and body's synthetic compounds are functioning admirably through normal reflection, numerous individuals discover the levelheadedness, persistence and inward harmony to deal with their connections and different features of their carries on with better. A superior association with self is set up and with this association, there is an open entryway for better enthusiastic associations with others. 

TOP BENEFIT #8: ANTI-AGING BY BOOSTING "Young" CHEMICALS 

Can one of the reflection benefits be that contemplation really keeps us youthful? Truly, on the grounds that contemplation has been found to improve synthetic concoctions, for example, DHEA, human development hormone and melatonin, all of which help our bodies battle maturing meditation benefits for brain. 

TOP BENEFIT #9: INCREASED IMMUNE SYSTEM FUNCTIONING 

While talking about contemplation benefits, it becomes obvious that reflection has critical effect on how well the invulnerable framework capacities as we have just observed by the lessening of cortisol and the expansion of "sound" synthetic concoctions, for example, DHEA, human development hormone and melatonin. Be that as it may, another way the resistant framework recovers itself is the point at which we rest and individuals who reflect rest better. More profound rest expands reestablishment, restoration and expanded invulnerable framework working. 

TOP BENEFIT #10: SLEEP REPLACEMENT 

One of the genuinely best contemplation benefits on the off chance that you utilize a properly built brainwave reflection mp3, is that your cerebrum can be placed into a mind recurrence that really replaces rest. For instance, 2-3 hours of rest can be supplanted when your mind is placed into a specific "reflection recurrence" for 30 minutes.