
Meditation is widely seen as an effective way to reduce stress, focus your mind and manage symptoms of some health conditions, among other things.
All you have to do is sit quietly, close your eyes and be suffused with inner calm, right?

Meditation is widely seen as an effective way to reduce stress, focus your mind and manage symptoms of some health conditions, among other things.
All you have to do is sit quietly, close your eyes and be suffused with inner calm, right?
Well, not quite. Two experts explain how to get off to a good start, though, and why almost everyone can benefit from meditation and its cousin, mindfulness.
Meditation is an ancient practice of focusing one’s attention on the present moment to achieve a state of mental clarity, emotional calmness and physical relaxation. It has its roots in the religious and secular traditions of various cultures and has been practised for thousands of years.
While the theory of meditation is complex, basically anyone can learn how to practise it. All you need is “curiosity and interest in getting involved with it”, says Steffen Brandt, a psychotherapist and yoga and meditation instructor. Having a spiritual bent is not necessary.
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