Like yoga, meditation is a spiritual practice originating from ancient India. However, meditation in its modern sense refers to different techniques of relaxation to reduce the stress levels as well as to relieve stress-related health problems and their symptoms. There are several different forms of meditation which are very easy to learn and can be easily practiced on one own but you are recommended to join a mediation class to learn to perform the meditation techniques properly.
Recent researches have shown that about 20 minutes of meditation equals several hours of intensive sleep, helps in stress management, improves memory and relieves symptoms of a wide range diseases and disorders including non-stress related ones: high blood pressure, diabetes, migraines, headaches, asthma and many others which makes it very useful as a supplementary therapy in many health conditions.
Meditation is generally considered safe and clinical studies mostly confirm potential health benefits of meditation. However, according to some sources adverse effects are not impossible if meditation technique is improperly performed or if suffering from mental or emotional disorders. Most people report experiencing positive effects but meditation can also evoke negative feelings and memories on unpleasant and stressful events.
If you are visiting a psychotherapist you are highly recommended to consult with your therapist before starting with meditation. You should also consult with a psychotherapist or a meditation instructor if experiencing unpleasant or disturbing feelings after meditating.
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