Meditation is both an ancient spiritual practice and a contemporary mind-body technique for relaxing the body and calming the mind. It elicits a profound form of deep relaxation as a person attempts to focus on one thing at a time. This creates an internal state of relaxed awareness. Your body and mind begin to quiet down.

Principles

Meditation is not evasion. It is a serene encounter with reality. - Thich Nhat Hanh

The essence of the mind-body connection:

• Breath focus
• Mental focus
• Passive attitude toward distracting thoughts
• Muscular relaxation

Proposed Benefits

• Decreased arousal of the sympathic nervous system
• Decreased heart rate and blood pressure
• Decreased muscle tension
• Increased parasympathic response
• Increased cognitive function
• Increased immune function

Relaxation May Help in the Treatment of:

• Chronic pain
• Hypertension
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Hostility
• Headaches
• Respiratory problems
• Substance abuse