Synopses & Reviews
“A useful guidebook filled with clear instructions and helpful hints.”
—Deepak Chopra
“An easy-to-follow yet comprehensive introduction to the practice of meditation.”
—John Gray, author, Men Are From Mars, Women are From Venus
Meditation Pluses: it can improve your focus and concentration; reduce tension, anxiety and stress; promote creativity and enhanced performance in work and play; lower blood pressure; and improve immune response. Also, it requires no special clothing or equipment, it can be done anywhere, and you can learn the basics in just minutes. Meditation Minuses: it will never be an Olympic event and it won’t make it easier for you to get a date...on the other hand, the improved health, vigor and self-awareness that comes with the practice of meditation can do wonders for your love life. Interested?
Packed with state-of-the-art information and savvy advice, this friendly guide demystifies meditati on traditions and practices and shows you step-by-step how to relax, take a deep breath, and open yourself to inner peace and understanding. You’ll discover how to:
- Understand meditation traditions
- Develop a meditation practice that works for you
- Overcome roadblocks to happiness and success
- Cultivate your spiritual side
- Extend meditation into your daily life
- Meditate to heal or to achieve peak performance
Expert Stephen Bodian distills the best of the various meditation traditions and gently leads you step-by-step to discover a form and style of meditation that works best for you. Instruction manual, survey course, and a guide to deeper exploration, Meditation For Dummies covers all the bases. You’ll discover:
- Where meditation comes from and various traditions around the world
- How to prepare for meditation and how to sit, dress and other practical aspects
- How meditation can help you open your heart to love, compassion, and forgiveness
- How to troubleshoot emotional, behavioral, professional and physical problems using meditation
- How to use meditation for healing and performance enhancement
People throughout history have used some form of meditation for self-improvement and spiritual enlightenment. Now let Meditation For Dummies introduce you to the amazing benefits of sitting still and focusing.
Review
“…For a no-nonsense introduction and how-to instructions, pick up a copy of Meditation For Dummies by Stephan Bodian…” (Red, 1st September 2005)
Synopsis
The popular guide-over 80,000 copies sold of the first edition-now revised and enhanced with an audio CD of guided meditationsAccording to Time magazine, over 15 million Americans now practice meditation regularly. It's a great way to reduce stress, increase energy, and enjoy better health. This fun and easy guide has long been a favorite with meditation newcomers. And now it's even better. For this new edition, author Stephan Bodian has added an audio CD with more than 70 minutes of guided meditations that are keyed to topics in the book, from tuning in to one's body, transforming suffering, and replacing negative patterns to grounding oneself, consulting the guru within, and finding a peaceful place. The book also discusses the latest research on the health benefits of meditation, along with new advice on how to get the most out of meditation in today's fast-paced world.
Stephan Bodian(Fairfax, CA and Sedona, AZ) is a licensed psychotherapist and the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal. He has written for Fitness, Alternative Medicine, Cooking Light, and Tricycle and is the coauthor of Buddhism For Dummies (0-7645-5359-3).
Synopsis
"An easy-to-follow yet comprehensive introduction to the practice of meditation."
John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
Research has proven that meditation relaxes the body, calms the mind, reduces stress, and enhances overall health and well-being. Whether you're new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner coming back for a refresher course, this comprehensive book-and-CD package provides a wealth of useful tips and techniques.
Discover how to
- Explore effective meditation techniques
- Develop your own meditation practice
- Meditate for stress reduction, spiritual growth, healing, or performance enhancement
- Understand the history of meditation and the latest research
Synopsis
"A useful guidebook filled with clear instructions and helpful hints." Deepak Chopra "An easy-to-follow yet comprehensive introduction to the practice of meditation." John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are From Venus Praise for Meditation For Dummies
® "A simple yet very rich compilation of the nitty-gritty information you need to begin or deepen a meditation practice that will work for you." Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Minding the Body, Mending the Mind "Do yourself a favor: Read this book!
The perfect antidote to the stress of everyday life." Frances Vaughn, Ph.D., author of Shadows of the Sacred "Stephan gives us all the basics clear and simple ways to relax the body, quiet the mind, and open the heart." Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart
The easy way to relieve stress and enrich your life
Packed with detailed directions to help get you started
Meditation can reduce your stress and blood pressure and add more joy and focus to your life. But how do you begin? Packed with state-of-the-art information and savvy advice, this friendly guide demystifies meditation traditions, explains meditation practices, and shows you step-by-step how to relax, take a deep breath, and open yourself to inner peace and understanding.
Discover how to: Understand meditation traditions Develop a meditation practice that works for you Overcome roadblocks Cultivate your spiritual side Extend meditation into your daily life Meditate to heal or to achieve peak performance
Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 325-328) and index.
About the Author
Stephan Bodian conducts workshops and classes in meditation and is a practicing psychotherapist at the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy.
Table of Contents
Introduction.
PART I: Getting Acquainted.
Chapter 1: What Meditation Is and Isn't.
Chapter 2: Why Meditate?
Chapter 3: Where Meditation Comes From.
Chapter 4: Laying the Foundation: Motivation, Attitude, and Beginner's Mind.
Chapter 5: How Your Mind Stresses You Out and What You Can Do about It.
PART II: Getting Started.
Chapter 6: Meditation 101: Relaxing Your Body and Calming Your Mind.
Chapter 7: Preparing for Meditation: Posture, Stretching, and Sitting Still.
Chapter 8: Where to Sit, What to Wear, and Other Practical Stuff.
Chapter 9: Effort, Discipline, and Letting Go.
Chapter 10: Opening Your Heart: Love, Compassion, and Forgiveness.
PART III: Troubleshooting and Fine-Tuning.
Chapter 11: Meditating with Challenging Emotions and Habitual Patterns.
Chapter 12: Troubleshooting the Roadblocks and Side Effects.
Chapter 13: Cultivating Spirituality.
Chapter 14: Developing a Practice That Works for You.
PART IV: Meditation in Action.
Chapter 15: How to Meditate in Everyday Life.
Chapter 16: Using Meditation for Healing and Performance Enhancement.
PART V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 17: Answers to Ten Commonly Asked Questions about Meditation.
Chapter 18: Ten Favorite All-Purpose Meditations (Plus Two).
PART VI: Appendix.
Appendix: Meditation Resources.
Index.
Book Registration Information.