Do you know that meditation has a direct impact on your brain cells?
How so?
When you meditate, the frontal cortex of your brain gets activated. This will show up in a MRI scan of your brain - the whole area lights up like fireworks have been set off in that area!!
What does this mean to your brain? It means that the cells of your brain is being stimulated when you meditate. With this stimulation, the brain cells become "stronger" and will not decay and will degenerate at slower rate. This means that your brain cell lasts longer and more neuron pathways are generated.
Meditation is like a spa for your brain. It introduces more nutrients and oxygen into your brain, thereby, making the cells last longer.
If you have the correct equipment, you can also measure your brain-waves. You will find that your brain's alpha-waves will increase significantly.
To start meditating, relax your body completely. Send "loving-kindness" to each of your body parts, starting from your toes and working upwards towards your head. Keep sending "loving-kindness" to each body part until you feel a tingling sensation.
When you send "loving-kindness" to each of your body parts, you activate the natural healing process of your body. Numerous studies have shown that a lot of diseases have an emotional component that cause these diseases to manifest. The act of sending "loving-kindness" to each body parts will release the tension and stress in that part of the body that is blocked, allowing the Qi to flow naturally.
Relaxing your body this way would be helpful in calming your mind so that you can then focus on your breath. Just let your awareness be on your breath - feel your lungs expanding as you draw in a breath through your nostrils. Then feel the lungs collapse gently when you exhale.
Meditating this way, by just gently concentrating on your breath, makes it easy for you to slip into a calm and abiding state.
Meditate as long as you like. Do not force yourself to meditate for half an hour or 1 hour. This is not something to obsess over. When you feel that you have meditate enough, you will naturally stop and emerge from your abiding state.
