Regular practice of meditation has been shown to have a broad range of benefits: Less anxiety, lower blood pressure, stronger immune system, better ability to heal, improved quality of sleep, as well as many anti-aging benefits. Research has shown that meditation can lower levels of stress hormones such as epinephrine, reducing the amount of cholesterol in the blood.

Exactly what meditation is can be better understood by looking at the root origin of the word itself. The word meditate, stems from the Latin root meditatum, meaning to contemplate or ponder.

Although there are many beneficial and useful forms of meditation, the one we will refer to here is mantra-based meditation. In my personal experience, mantra-based meditation has had the greatest benefit. The word mantra has its roots in Sanskrit… man meaning mind and tra meaning instrument. Instrument of the mind.

To receive benefit from any life affirming practice, the more you engage in it on a regular basis, the more effective it will be. That having been said, I recall what my Transcendental Meditation (TM) instructor said to me ages ago… "Meditation should not be one more thing we use to beat ourselves up with." In other words, don't get caught up in thoughts of: I'm not doing it right…or, I don't meditate as often as I should.