I discovered meditation when i was 10 years old. Someone came into our 5th grade class, played nice music, turned the lights down low, and told us to put our heads on our desks and listen to the music and relax. When I relaxed, I always had the same visual. Trudging through a harsh winter in a big city like New York. Then seeking refuge in a mystical land made up all on my own.

Ironically, many years later, I trudged through quite a few New York City winters. And I began to lead people in meditation to realms they conjured up all on their own. What a beautiful thing guided meditation is! Of course there are zillions of ways to meditate. Really! I've always had a good relationship with the guided kind though.

It is diffcult for a lot of people to find the time to actually do a whole meditation. Believe me, I know!  But just working in little tidbits of time to your busy lifestyle can create mountains of change.  

What I didn't realize about Meditation, until I got older,  is that it really has some amazing health benefits too. Thanks to health and yoga for helping me to consolidate the many benefits! This includes:

• Lowering oxygen consumption

• Decreasing respiratory rate

• Increasing blood flow and slowing the heart rate

• Increasing exercise tolerance in heart patients

• Maintaining a deep level of relaxation

• Good for people with high blood pressure as it brings the B.P. to normal

• Reduces anxiety attacks by lowering the levels of blood lactate

• Decreases muscle tension (any pain due to tension) and headaches

• Builds self-confidence

• Helps mood and behavior

• Assists chronic diseases

• Reduces PMS

• Helps in post-operative healing

• Enhances the immune system

If you are in the Rochester, NY area, please come to my monthly guided meditation class. If not, try and go to a local meditation group. Or get a meditation cd. It really is worth it. And it's OK if you are not a visual person. You'll find what works best for you.