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MEDITATION

 

Meditation is an approach to training the mind for the positive benefit to the individual. With all types of training regular practice improves ability and agility. Much in a similar way to physical fitness, beginning in small ways and building up to longer periods of the exercise. Many meditation techniques exist, and different meditation practices require different mental skills.

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It can be extremely difficult for a beginner to sit for hours and think of nothing or have an “empty mind.” In general, the easiest way to begin meditating is by focusing on the breath. This is merely an example of one of the most common approaches to meditation via concentration.

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Lots of people like to attend a Guided Meditation so that they can gain the benefit of meditation by simply relaxing and listening. Mystikal Scents does over group or solo sessions- more about this below.
 

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MINDFULNESS

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“Mindfulness” meditation also encourages the practitioner to only observe thoughts as the mind wanders. The intention is not to get involved with the thoughts or to linger on them, but simply to be aware of each mental note as it arises.

Humans do tend to weigh up thoughts and emotions as positive or negative in split seconds. You’ll possibly note how the thought precedes the feeling, and then learn how to let both go and relax. Through this exercise you can see how your thoughts and feelings tend to move in patterns. Over time an inner balance develops, and the process becomes easier to maintain.

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MEDITATION BENEFITS

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A researcher at Harvard University Medical School, Herbert Benson, MD coined the term “relaxation response" after conducting research on people who practiced meditation. The “relaxation response” he determined was, in “an opposite, involuntary response that causes a reduction in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system.”

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Other studies on the relaxation response have documented the following benefits to the nervous system:

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Lower blood pressure

Improved blood circulation

Lower heart rate

Less perspiration

Slower respiratory rate

Lower blood cortisol levels

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GUIDED MEDITATION

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Guided meditation is a process by which one or more participants meditate in response to the guidance provided by a trained practitioner or teacher, a session incorporates music and verbal instruction.  

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This is the most common and frequently used combination of therapeutic styles that promotes relaxation with guided imagery. Guided meditation is often the beginner’s choice for this type of therapy as the fleeting thoughts that often pop into mind at the beginning may be more difficult to ignore.

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If you can’t get to a location that provides such a service like Mystikal Scents, you can always opt for a Meditation CD. The only draw back with a CD is that there is no therapist there observing your small physical responses. A therapist often guides you with these observations in mind, ensuring an effective and pleasant session.

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You’re welcome to browse our  online store for items that assist in Meditation. 

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Contact Mystikal Scents to arrange your guided meditation  at the Tampa Store

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CONCENTRATION

 

 

Concentration meditation involves focusing on a single point. As mentioned, this could entail following the breath, repeating a mantra, staring at a candle flame, or it could be by listening to a gong or singing bowl. Since focusing the mind is challenging, a beginner might meditate for only a few minutes when attempting solitary sessions.

In this form of meditation, you simply keep refocusing your awareness on the chosen object of attention each time you notice your mind wandering. Rather than pursuing thoughts, you simply practice how to let them go. Through practice, the regular use of this process, your ability to concentrate improves.

  

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OTHER TECHNIQUES

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There are various other meditation techniques. For example, envisioning negative events and recasting them in a positive light by transforming them through compassion and understanding. There are also meditation techniques that involve movement, such as tai chi, walking meditation, and qigong.

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OTHER BENEFITS

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Regular meditation, as well as self-reflective journaling has been shown to be effective in lowering levels of stress.

 

In Buddhist philosophy, the ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from things it cannot control, such as external circumstances or strong internal emotions.

 

Yet It has also been noted to minimize the frequency, duration, and intensity of the following:

 

  • asthmatic episodes,[1]* 

  • control and manage pain,[2]* 

  • develop coping skills,[3] *

  • improve ability to carry out demanding tasks in exacting situations,[4]*

  • decrease the incidence of insomnia,[5] *

  • abate feelings of anger,[6] *

  • reduce occurrences of negative or irrational thinking,[7] *

  • assuage anxiety,[8]* 

  • raise levels of optimism,[9] *

  • enhance physical and mental aptitude,[10]* 

  • Increase general feeling of quality of life.[11][12]*

    *sources noted below

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Contact Mystikal Scents to arrange your guided meditation  at the Tampa Store

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Please note that we are still adding inventory to our online store. If you do not see what you are looking for, you are welcome to contact us and find out if we have your item in stock.

Sources:

  1.  Epstein G.N., Halper J.P., Barrett E.A., Birdsall, C., McGee, M., Baron K.P., Lowenstein S., A pilot study of mind-body changes in adults with asthma who practice mental imagery. AlternativeTherapies. Volume 10, July/August 2004, pp66-71.

  2. ^ Sources:

    • Menzies V., Taylor A.G., Bourguignon C., Effects of guided imagery on outcomes of pain, functional status, and self-efficacy in persons diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 1, 2006, pp23-30.

    • Kwekkeboom, K. L., Kneip, J., and Pearson, L., A pilot study to predict success with guided imagery for cancer pain. Pain Management Nursing, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2003, pp112-123.

    • Antall G.F., Kresevic D. The use of guided imagery to manage pain in an elderly orthopaedic population. Orthopaedic Nursing, Vol. 23, No. 5, September/October 2004, pp335-340

  3. ^ Sources:

    • Manyande, A., Berg, S., Gettins, D., Stanford, S. C., Mazhero, S., Marks, D. F., and Salmon, P., Preoperative rehearsal of active coping imagery influences subjective and hormonal responses to abdominal surgery. Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol. 57, No. 2, 1995, pp177-182.

    • Hockenberry, M. H., Guided imagery as a coping measure for children with cancer. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 6, No. 2, 1989, pp29-29.

  4. ^ Sources:

    • Esplen, M. J. and Hodnett, E., A Pilot Study Investigating Student Musicians' Experiences of Guided Imagery as a Technique to Manage Performance Anxiety. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, Vol. 14, No. 3, 1999, pp127-132.

    • Feltz, D. L., and Riessinger, C. A., Effects of in vivo emotive imagery and performance feedback on self-efficacy and muscular endurance. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Vol. 12, No. 2, 1990, pp132-143.

    • Sanders, C. W., Sadoski, M., Bramson, R., Wiprud, R., and Van Walsum, K., Comparing the effects of physical practice and mental imagery rehearsal on learning basic surgical skills by medical students. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, Vol. 191, No. 5, 2004, pp1811-1814.

  5. ^ Sources:

    • Ong, J. C., Manber, R., Segal, Z., Xia, Y., Shapiro, S., and Wyatt, J. K., A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation for chronic insomnia. Sleep, Vol. 37, No. 9, 2014, p1553.

    • Singh, A., and Modi, R., Meditation and positive mental health. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2012, p273.

    • Molen, Y., Santos, G., Carvalho, L., Prado, L., and Prado, G., Pre-sleep worry decrease by adding reading and guided imagery to insomnia treatment. Sleep Medicine, Vol. 14, 2013, e210-e211.

  6. ^ Awalt, R. M., Reilly, P. M., and Shopshire, M. S., The angry patient: an intervention for managing anger in substance abuse treatment. Journal of psychoactive drugs, Vol. 29, No. 4, 1997, 353-358.

  7. ^ Sources:

    • Lang, T. J., Blackwell, S. E., Harmer, C., Davison, P., & Holmes, E. A., Cognitive bias modification using mental imagery for depression: Developing a novel computerised intervention to change negative thinking styles. European Journal of Personality, Vol. 26, 2012, pp145–157.

    • Teasdale, J. D., Emotion and two kinds of meaning: Cognitive therapy and applied cognitive science. Behaviour Research and Therapy, Vol. 31, No. 4, 1993, pp339-354.

    • Birnbaum, L., & Birnbaum, A., In search of inner wisdom: guided mindfulness meditation in the context of suicide. The Scientific World Journal, Vol. 4, 2004, pp216-227.

  8. ^ McCaffrey, R., and Taylor, N., Effective anxiety treatment prior to diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Holistic Nursing Practice, Vol. 19, No. 2, 2005, pp70-73.

  9. ^ Sources:

    • Birnbaum, L., & Birnbaum, A., In search of inner wisdom: guided mindfulness meditation in the context of suicide. The Scientific World Journal, Vol. 4, 2004, pp216-227.

    • Fredrickson, B. L., Cohn, M. A., Coffey, K. A., Pek, J., & Finkel, S. M., Open hearts build lives: positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 95, No. 5, 2008, p1045.

    • Kok, B. E., Coffey, K. A., Cohn, M. A., Catalino, L. I., Vacharkulksemsuk, T., Algoe, S. B., ... & Fredrickson, B. L. How positive emotions build physical health perceived positive social connections account for the upward spiral between positive emotions and vagal tone. Psychological science, Vol. 24, No. 7, 2013, 1123-1132.

  10. ^ Sources:

    • Bond, K., Karkhaneh, M., Tjosvold, L., Vandermeer, B., Liang, Y., Bialy, L., and Klassen, T. P., Meditation practices for health: state of the research. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2007.

    • Young, A. S., Chinman, M., Forquer, S. L., Knight, E. L., Vogel, H., Miller, A., and Mintz, J., Use of a consumer-led intervention to improve provider competencies. Psychiatric Services, Vol. 56, No. 8, August 2005, pp967-975.

  11. ^ Hanh, Thich Nhat. The blooming of a lotus: Guided meditation for achieving the miracle of mindfulness. Beacon Press, 2009.

  12. ^ LeónPizarro C., Gich I., Barthe E., Rovirosa A., Farrús B., Casas F., Verger E., Biete A., Craven Bartle J., Sierra J., Arcusa A., A randomized trial of the effect of training in relaxation and guided imagery techniques in improving psychological and quality-of-life indices for gynecologic and breast brachytherapy patients. Psycho-oncology, Vol. 16, No. 11, 2007, pp971-979.

 

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