When most people think about meditation they think of someone sitting Indian style on the floor with their eyes closed, breathing in and out. Although this thinking is not entirely wrong it doesn’t explain what mediation is or how you benefit from it. The purpose of meditation is subjective to each participant, however the ultimate go is clarity, peace and enlightenment. Normally practiced independently, the objective of each individual experience is to calm a stressful, chaotic, and rampant mind. A peaceful mind can be more focused and able to experience true happiness.
Meditation dates back to the prehistoric eras and has been incorporated in religious and spiritual worship for thousands of years. Presently, meditation is most correlated with the Buddhist religion, however is also used in several other religions such as Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Taoist, and Jewish Kabbalah. In Buda, meditation is used for two reasons, to transform the mind and to explore the mind. The ultimate goal is to reach enlightenment, which for Buddhists means to free oneself from suffering.
The act of meditation is to go beyond regular everyday impulsive thinking. The idea is to get to a deeper state of being, relaxation or awareness. Benefits that mediation totes include achievement of a higher state of consciousness, compassion and loving kindness, greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, and simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind. Meditation allows the practitioner to free their mind of all the chaos in the world. It also allows the person to focus on singular goals making them more focused and determined once finished with the meditation.
Well, meditation is not as easy as it sounds. The 21st century lifestyle doesn’t allow for very much time to think, regardless of having enough time to meditate. Because of our lifestyles we are constantly on the go, doing things, so our minds are constantly racing. However, meditation can allow the mind to calm and be more focused to actually get things done.
When you meditate it needs to be quiet, you need to be able to clear your mind of everything that you have to do, that you need to do or that you want to do. The next step is to keep your posture and focus on your breathing. I don’t know if you have ever tried to sit up straight, with your eyes closed, and focus on your breathing even for just 10 minutes. It’s hard! But it’s not impossible. Start out with a small amount of time and build on it each time you meditate. Try to get into a routine. As you meditate daily, your body and mind will be come accustomed to a calming and peaceful nature. It is at this time that you will obtain true happiness.
As meditation becomes more and more popular as not only a religious or spiritual practice but as an alternative medicine, meditation instructors are becoming more available for people who want to start practicing. Meditation although mainly practiced in solitary can be learned and taught in-group settings. Once you begin to meditate and really become self-aware, you will want to meditate every day.

Author's Bio: 

Graduated with a BA in exercise science and have worked in the medical field since. My focus is alternative medicine however all aspects of health interest me. Check out my health website!
Everyday Health, Live your Life to the fullest!
http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Meditation.html