Guided meditation is a type of stress management that focuses on relaxing the entire body, in part by finding a method to relax peacefully and calmly from the inside. Guided meditation may include the use of soothing photos or situations to help the mind relax and direct the body to a state of relaxation so that the person in meditation can experience true inner peace. Natural sounds or soothing music are frequently present during guided meditation.
Finding a place where the person meditating will be free of distractions is one of the keys to having a successful session of guided meditation. Any outside distraction will inhibit proper attention, rendering guided meditation fruitless and possibly even frustrating, exacerbating the condition that guided meditation is intended to alleviate.
Other considerations must be made after locating a good setting for guided meditation. Visual stimuli, according to some guided meditation practitioners, can be employed to generate a sensation of inner serenity and real relaxation. Others believe that any external visual simulation will impede the mind’s ability to properly focus on the body and that guided meditation’s outcomes will be hampered or even reversed.
The same can be stated for audio stimulation during guided meditation sessions. While some people believe that calming sound effects or even peaceful music are beneficial to guided meditation, others believe that it is merely a hindrance that will create a negative environment for those who practice guided meditation.
The main idea behind guided meditation is to unwind. This is accomplished by taking oneself on a self-guided tour of one’s own body. It is common to pick a focus point in the body and begin guided meditation there, somewhere that is simple to relax. The practitioner of guided meditation tries to relax the muscles of the body while remaining focused on the body and, in particular, the muscles. Allowing the body to relax totally allows the guided meditation practitioner to also completely relax the mind.
During guided meditation, once the mind and body are completely relaxed, the person can begin to concentrate on focusing his thoughts and ideas. When employing guided meditation, the practitioner’s thoughts are said to be transcended and more focused, allowing them to perform better in all areas of life. It is not merely a matter of spiritual views on whether or not guided meditation is appropriate for a person. Anyone considering the advantages of guided meditation should also be looking to develop themselves as a whole.