You don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to find easy meditation techniques. There are an abundance of resources out there,

all of them free. The meditation benefits that people are getting are making meditation more and more popular every day. Some

companies are even setting aside time for their employees to meditate, in order to be more relaxed and productive at work.

There are many easy meditation techniques that offer phenomenal benefits to those who use them. Some of these include:

• Less stress. For those people who have high stress levels, meditation is an excellent way to relax and let go of these

tensions.

• Improved health. There are many different mental illnesses that can be benefited by meditation; depression, anxiety, and even

certain levels of bipolar disorder can be alleviated by meditation, especially for people who are realizing that antidepressants

don't work.

• Stimulates healing. Meditation can and is being used as a natural alternative to healing the body of a number of other

diseases. By focusing these techniques on certain areas of the body, it allows the body's own healing power to kick in and work

effectively.

These are just a few of the many different meditation benefits.

When starting a meditation regimen, there are some basic things you need to know. First, you must allot the time to do so. This

can be any time of day, but it is most effective first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Just 5 minutes twice a day

will get you started and you will begin to realize the benefits very quickly. Eventually, you can work up to 15 minutes twice a

day. Try to find a place where there are no distractions. No loud noises. Turn off the phone. Settle the children and tell your

spouse you need some alone time. You also need the right setting; A quiet room, with the lights low, relaxing sounds or music

and a comfortable chair. When all this is in place you can apply easy meditation techniques with little effort.

The first step to applying easy meditation techniques is to learn deep breathing exercises. These exercises are essential in

order to get the full benefits of meditation. Among other things they:

• Help get more oxygen to the blood stream, allowing the heart to work less so it slows down.

• Allow you time to relax and get in the right state of mind for meditation.

• Allow meditation to work more efficiently for you.

Here is a simple deep breathing exercise: Sit quietly and close your eyes. Focus your energy and attention on your breath.

Take in a deep breath and hold it for 5 seconds, then release. Breath normally for a minute, then repeat.

Do this 3-5 times. You should feel more relaxed and focused.

Deep breathing is an important part of the meditation routine. Practice will help you even if you don't have time to meditate.

For example: When you are in a stressful situation, taking a minute to do these exercises can automatically put you in a

meditative state of mind, helping you alleviate the stress. You can use this effectively no matter where you are.

Easy meditation techniques are inexpensive and enjoyable stress-relievers. Information is readily available online, at book stores

and even your local library. The internet is a powerful resource for those seeking information on meditation, as

well as a number of other subjects on self help methods. Again, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars finding them, as many

websites offer free techniques that are easy to apply to every day life.

One important thing to realize about meditation, as well as other natural or holistic methods of relaxation or healing is that

these techniques take time to work. They aren't like drugs, which in most cases are just temporary quick fixes. They work on

the body as a whole, and the more stress you have, the longer it will take to be effective. However, just giving it a try will

help you feel more in charge of your health and happiness. Don't get discouraged. Keep at it and you will find the peace of mind

you are looking for.