For those of you just starting out with Guided Meditation, you might find that you have problems concentrating and settling the mind.  That's natural.  You may only be able to focus on your meditation for a few minutes to start.  As you meditate more and more you'll notice its easier to have longer more productive times meditating.

If you notice your mind slipping, or you start to think about something else, don't worry, its natural.  Just refocus your thoughts.

That's why I love guided meditation so much compared to something like self meditation.  You have an outside source guiding and focusing your thoughts.

There are tons of different categories to pick from.  They range from help to quit smoking to focusing your mind before you make love to a spouse.

If you haven't checked them out yet, go visit our friends at Meditainment.  They have over 45 different Guided Meditation mp3s to choose from.  I suggest trying out their free guided meditation video first.  Well worth your time.  And keep at it, you'll be able to focus your mind better with time and practice.

 
 

I'm proud to announce that we've added a free Guided Meditation video to the site.  Click the Free Meditation Video link to the left to check  it out.

Thanks to Meditainment for providing the video.  You can check out their website here.

Hope you enjoy the free guided meditation video

 
 

I personally don't use candles for Guided Meditation, but I keep hearing from people how adding that one more sensation helps you relax so much better.

Sandra over at craftgossip has this to say about it:
"Aromatherapy, combined with candles, meditation and positive affirmations are nice ways to start the morning or end the day."

I just may raid my wife's candle collection and try that out next time I sit down for some guided meditation.

 
 

Did you know that regular exercise, guided meditation, and  acupuncture all increase the levels of endorphins produced by the hypothalamus?

 
 

Found this nice bit on Guided Meditation over at about.com

Relaxation will reduce the blood level of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol, and promotes the secretion of endorphins and other opoid (opium like) neuropeptides in the brain cells of hypothalamus. Lower levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol can be beneficial to gastric ulcers (stress can aggravate gastric ulcers) and higher levels of opoid neuropeptides can modulate pain threshold, immune activity and on the bronchial smooth muscle tone.

For more befefits related to guided meditation check out the links to the left of the screen.

 
 

If you are trying out Guided Meditation for the first time, the best advice I can give is to be comfortable.

Download your meditation track to your iPod, burn it to disk, or just watch it on your computer.  All you need to do is grab a set of earphones, find a confortable place to site or lay, make sure you won't get interupted and dim your lights.

Make sure to not make any judgements before you start.  Just relax.  If you think the whole time that it'll be boring, then you'll make it boring.

Then just sit back and listen to the words or sounds and get lost in your guided meditation.

 
 

The people over at 4Mind4Life have just published a study that shows that Guided Meditation can improve your ability to concentrate. 

The study was done to show how meditation can affect your ability to prioritize, stay focused and remain alert.

They concluded that just after weeks of guided meditation that dramatic positive change occured in the meditator's brain.

 
 

One of the first things you'll notice if you do any type of Guided Meditation is how much more relaxed you get.  Being relaxed helps both your mind and your body.  Your muscles loosen and your mind lets go of stress.
From thefreedictionary.com

Relaxation:
1. The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed.
2. Refreshment of body or mind; recreation: played golf for relaxation.
3. A loosening or slackening.
4. A reduction in strictness or severity.
5. Physiology The lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers.

Experts say that 30 minutes a day of some guided meditation can increase your overall level of relaxation!