A Word on 'Guided Meditations'

Guided imagery is the use of relaxation and mental visualization to improve mood and/or physical well-being. Guided Meditation usually means meditating with an aide (usually that aide is an audio recording) that will help you to relax your body and yourself. This is a great way for beginners or unenthusiastic meditators to get into the act. It makes meditation a lot easier and much less boring.

The connection between the mind and physical health has been well documented and extensively studied. Positive mental imagery can promote relaxation and reduce stress, improve mood, control high blood pressure, alleviate pain, boost the immune system, and lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Through guided imagery techniques, patients can learn to control functions normally controlled by the autonomic nervous system, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and body temperature. One of the biggest benefits of using guided imagery as a therapeutic tool is its availability. Imagery can be used virtually anywhere, anytime.

The best way to go about guided meditation is to record your own tape or CD. It's relatively cheap and extremely personalized. You can target any goal you want by recording your own meditation audios, and truly personalize your experience. However, when you're first starting out, it's recommended that you start with a general and relaxing audio which has the sole purpose to clear your mind and fill you with positive energy. (Original Artwork: Matthew James "Approaching Binah")