Learning About Reiki

What is Reiki? Reiki is a Japanese type of spiritual practice also used for stress reduction and relaxation. It is a technique that also helps promote healing either for self or for other people. It is characterized as a practice of "laying of hands".

The healing powers of the technique are based on the idea that there is an unseen "life force energy" that flows through each person. This life force is said to be the reason why people are alive. When one's life force energy is low, then people are likely to get sick or feel weak. If the life force is high, people fell healthy and happy.

Reiki is also a form of meditation used as a type of therapy for treating physical, emotional, and mental diseases. The name Reiki is taken from two Japanese characters that describe energy itself. The word "rei", which means "unseen" or 'spiritual" and "ki" which means "energy" or "life force" is combined to become Reiki. In English, its meaning is usually given as "universal life energy".

It was Mikao Usui who was known to have developed Reiki in 20th century Japan.  Story has it that Usui received the ability of healing after going through three weeks of fasting and meditating on top of Mount Kurama. Practitioners of Reiki use a technique similar to that of the laying on of hands.

This action is said to promote the channeling of "healing energy" to another person. The energy flows through the palms and brings along with it healing powers that can be used for self-treatment as well as for treating others.

Reiki is a simple, natural as well as safe method of dispensing spiritual healing and self-improvement. It is said to be effective in providing alternative treatment for virtually every known illness and malady. Not only that, Reiki also helps create an added beneficial effect, that of spiritual healing. This method is also said to work well when combined with other medical or therapeutic techniques to help relieve side effects and promote recovery.

Reiki, although seen as a very powerful healing technique, is an amazingly simple to learn. Reiki and the ability to use it effectively cannot be taught in the usual sense. The skill is said to be 'transferred" to the student during a Reiki class.

This ability is not merely learned but is passed on by a Reiki master to the student during a gathering known as "attunement". After the skill has been passed on, it allows the student to tap into an unlimited supply of "life force energy" that can then be used to improve one's health and enhance the one's quality of life.

Although the practice of Reiki may be spiritual in nature, it is not considered as a religion. There are no set of beliefs that one should learn about before learning to practice the technique known as Reiki. The practice does not depend on any form of dogma.

It will work whether the student believes it or not. But it is said that the practice of Reiki helps people to keep in touch of their spiritual selves rather than the intellectual concept that it provides.

The practice of Reiki also aims to develop and promote living in harmony with others. Aside from practicing Reiki and its principles, the founder of the Reiki system, Mikao Usui also recommends the practice of simple ethical ideals that can lead to peace and harmony among people.

Getting to know what Reiki is may help people not only become a healing channel but also a tool to promote peace among other people.

Things You Should Know About Zen Meditation

We all have to deal with stress from either work or school. You can't close your eyes to make it go away but you can find peace so you can deal with it. One technique that can offer this is called Zen meditation.

Zen meditation is often referred to as the study of the self. It involves sitting in various postures so you are able to bring the mind and body to a peaceful and stable condition.  This happens as you focus on images and thoughts that just pop up as your heart rate slows down until you reach a reflective state of meditation.

One of the best seating positions to do this is called the Burmese position. There is also the full lotus, half lotus, kneeling or 'seiza" posture and sitting on a chair.

The key here is to keep your back straight so that your deep breathing will go naturally. This allows more oxygen to enter that will help cleanse and energize the body.

The buttocks must be thrust out and the chin tucked in. The hands should be placed close to the body with the left hand resting on top of the right with palms open and up. The joint of the middle fingers are resting on top of the other with the thumbs slightly touching.

Your eyes should be half closed and your head should be positioned to a 45 degree angle towards the body. Given that it is not easy to keep the eyes like this the whole time, you can try closing them first and then opening them later on. Should you get sleepy, just open them wide.

The challenging part is staying in a stationary position for 15 to 20 minutes. After you have developed a breathing pattern, you slowly relax the muscles from your face all the way down to your feet. As it slows down and oxygen enters, you should focus on positive thoughts and exhale those that are negative.

By concentrating, you are able to unite the body, mind and soul so that your mind is aware of only the present and no longer the past or the unforeseeable future.

Aside from the right posture, you should always wear loose clothing. It is not wise to practice this after a heavy meal because a full stomach usually creates discomfort which in itself is a distraction.

If you would like to learn Zen Meditation, you can read about it or better yet join a group. Once you get the hang of things, you can even buy a few accessories to make the experience a fruitful one like incense sticks, a bell or even a ringing bowl to mark the start and end of a session.

Short incense sticks burn for about 45 minutes while the longer ones are double the time. You can even use the kitchen timer since no one will be there to ring the bell to say time is up.

Zen meditation experts recommend that beginners should try for 10 minutes first until you get used to it before you decide to extend this for 20 or 30 minutes. Should your mind wander off, concentrate a little harder to focus once again on your breathing so your thoughts will settle down naturally.

Beginners Explore The World Of Yoga Meditation

Yoga refers to the unity of the body and mind and unity of the mind and soul. In Western cultures, people believed that gaps between the actual bodies and ideal bodies are increasing. This is because of two major reasons: lack of exercises and unhealthy diets leading to diabetes and obesity.

The practice of Asana through Pranayama can bring flexibility to the body, calmness to the mind, and balance. This can provide basic trainings with some simple asanas. There are five simple points need to be followed: Proper Breathing; Proper Exercise; Proper Diet; Positive Thinking and Mediation; and Proper Relaxation.

Yoga meditation can give people something which nothing else can. The individuals are introduced to the different levels of themselves. Yoga meditation can bring calmness, tranquility of the mind, better health, better life, better relationships, personal insights, spiritual insights, philosophical insights, and a true sense of wellness. 

Numerous studies have revealed that yoga meditation can significantly affect the musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, and circulatory systems. Using certain yoga postures can assure well being because it taps the body into the wisdom of self healing. Yoga can also build flexibility, balance, and strength without any injury risk common to fitness activities and high impact sports. Yoga meditation can reduce stress and boost immunity which is always associated with most chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Beginners can explore the world of yoga as long as they have the tools needed to stay in good condition. They can always enjoy the yoga benefits.

Hatha Yoga is one structure of meditation. Each posture, each breathing practice is considered as meditation forms. It calms the body, mind, and breath. Practicing this for about an hour can help people feel more relaxed for several hours because they have achieved serenity and peace. This could be a very great meditation practice.

The asanas compared to various forms of exercises are completely different. These are normally done with fast movement and within specific amounts of strain.  Exercises can accelerate breathing, waste energy, and draw circulation on the body's surface. In the end, it develops the muscular parts of the body. This means that the vitality goes with the muscles at the costs of the internal nerves and glands.

According to the Founder of the Yoga teaching, Sri Bhagavan Patanjali, asana in literal meaning is a posture which brings comfort and steadiness. So, asanas must be practiced with extreme comfort and ease.

The cleansing method of Yoga called NETI-nasal cleansing is an extreme powerful technique yet the most simplest. Neti can work wonders for allergies, several asthma cases, and chronic sinusitis. The effect is very remarkable for hay fevers, an infection on the upper respiratory tract.

In the United States, there are more than 40 million sufferers of sinusitis. Most of them failed to be cured by antibiotics. Jalaneti or neti is the best method of treating sinuses naturally.

Neti is also excellent for people who wanted to quit smoking. It is because the tendency for breathing through the mouth is reduced. The nose is re-sensitized by neti on the concrete pollution of smoke ingestion thus it de-programs the brain from psychological and physical addiction. Yoga meditation is really helpful for achieving a great and healthy body.

Getting In Touch With Oneself By Transcendental Meditation

Each human being is a masterpiece, a source of limitless energy and potential. Within each person, there is a vast well of power, knowledge, and life. Each is created with a mind and a soul that instinctively rises above to meet the infinite boundaries of being.

The quest for happiness, for success, and for a better quality of living is endless among most people. Many look forward to the promises of tomorrow for a more pleasant life. Some, on the other hand, cling to various things for joy and satisfaction. However, do you know that many of the things that most people dream today are actually hidden within them? These are only waiting to be discovered and unleashed.

Transcendental meditation revolves around this purpose – to help a person successfully bridge the gap that separates him from his inner self and to discover the treasures lurking within him in the process. Transcendental meditation can be traced back to the year 1957, originating from India's Vedic tradition. This specific type of meditation primarily works using a certain utterance called mantra. The idea behind this activity is to reiterate the given mantra following specific principles and procedures.

When successfully performed, the result is the attainment of a specific state of mind that is called transcendental consciousness. Once you attain this state, you will experience a sense of tranquility and alertness. These two senses of being may make you think that transcendental consciousness is ironic in nature. However, this can actually be achieved, and the benefits are overwhelming.

Practicing transcendental meditation is a way to calm the body and the mind, to free it from the binds of the material world. You will not need to exert too much effort to achieve this. No concentration is even required. You do not have to do anything. With the mantra as your guide, you will be able to transcend worldly thoughts.

Once free from the bounds of material perceptions, only then will you be able to discover the pool of potentials that you have. Your intellect will reveal to you truths that have been hidden in the depths of your soul and riches that you may never even know exist in you. By looking inward, you keep in touch with yourself and bring to life all those dormant potentials that have been endowed to you since you were born.

The challenge to every person who practices transcendental meditation is to be able to bring his hidden potential out into his daily life. This activity only requires about twenty minutes of your time, performed two times a day, to be able to take effect in its best form. With practice, you can easily learn the technique and witness the changes that it will bring your life. It is geared towards the growth of the entire self. By drawing energy from within, you will be able to improve your outer self and your whole life. Once the gap has been bridged, you can expect to experience a new personality, a new lifestyle, and a much better outlook in life.

Ultrasonic Subliminals: Do They Really Work?

Ultrasonic subliminals are widely available on the market these days. But people are still wondering whether they work or not. To better understand how they effect change in a person's mind, take a look at how ultrasonic subliminals are made.

A Quick Inside Look

Ultrasonic subliminals are vocalizations or other sounds that have been made with such high pitch that they block off vibrations in the eardrum. Instead, they tend to shudder some portions of the inner ear. Because of this mechanism, the conscious audible range is incapable of detecting the sound. The subconscious, on the other hand, perceives the stimulus, deciphers it and then understands the message.

Unlike masked subliminals that are normally covered or masked with other sounds (i.e. sound of water), ultrasonic subliminals may be recorded without the masking sounds. As a result, the recording gives the impression of a blank CD. Then again, a visualizer will typically reveal the existence of the high-pitched sounds.

Without a doubt, ultrasonic subliminals have a number of advantages over the masked variety; and vice-versa. However, the majority of commercially sold subliminals are in the masked format as this layout is easier to make and has an extensive history of success – given that it is correctly made and utilized. The ultrasonic type is more difficult to create yet it is generally more effective for the reason that the subliminal message is considerably louder.

The Mechanism of Action

In essence, ultrasonic subliminals function the same way as hypnosis but with no alteration of the awareness. The recordings usually require repetitive usage over a number of days, weeks, or even months to achieve full effect. Sorry to say, but anyone who is marketing "instant results" with ultrasonic subliminals is selling falsehood.

Although they can generate positive outcome after one exposure, this likelihood is very rare and typically occurs when the goal is strongly desired within a short span of time.

More often than not, ultrasonic subliminals require three to four weeks of exposure before it begins to show results. You need to at least expose yourself to the recording for one hour each day. Then again, for better outcome, you can play it all night long. Some people who are willing to take the extra mile may even get the desired effect in less than one week or as quick as three whole nights of exposure.

The Subliminal Message

The subconscious aspect of the mind is extremely childlike. It soaks everything up literally. Therefore, the sentences used in subliminal messages need to be brief, simple and straightforward. They need to steer clear of negative statements since the words "not" and 'don't" are generally not recognized by the subconscious. For instance, the phrase "I am healthy because I don't smoke" may be perceived as "I am healthy because I smoke".

In addition to using positive statements, the subliminal messages also need to be in the present tense. The subconscious mind only recognizes the present. For this reason, the script – in order to be considered a good one – should avoid using future tense.

The focus of the messages in ultrasonic subliminals should be in the "here and now" and not in the "yet to come". For example, the phrase "I will be successful" is not an excellent affirmation because it actually gives the subconscious an idea that you are not doing well right now. It somehow suspends the belief into a future that never takes place.

What Is Transcendental Meditation

Meditation has been practiced for centuries. In the years that followed, various movements have evolved and one of them is called transcendental meditation.

Transcendental meditation was a movement founded in 1957 by a Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Today, it has over 6 million followers and some of them include Hollywood celebrities and singers.

The organization that practices Transcendental Meditation is better known as the Spiritual Regeneration Movement. What makes this form of meditation different from the others is the fact that you don't just learn everything there is to know by reading a book but by learning from a transcendental meditation expert.

The ultimate goal of Transcendental Meditation is to make each member achieve pure consciousness. By doing so, the individual will be able to find peace with him or herself and also with the rest of the world.

The practice of transcendental meditation takes about 15 to 20 minutes each day. In order to be part of this organization, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created a seven step process which everyone must go through that also includes two lectures, a personal interview with a trained instructor and four days of practice. Apart from that, you are required to pay a signup fee that is almost $2,500.

More than 500 clinical studies have been done on Transcendental Meditation. One study shows that members who are in their 50's feel much younger. Another study shows that it improves your academic achievement, creativity and intelligence.

Those who have been practicing it claim that it reduces problems such as anxiety, insomnia and stress. Even those who have had addictions with alcohol or drugs in the past say that this has helped them kick the habit. 

In short, Transcendental Meditation is able to improve your physical health. Probably the biggest surprise is that one study showed that members of this movement have had fewer medical problems than those who are not.

Given the benefits it can do to those who practice it, this is probably the reason why some companies in the US offer this program to their employees. This is because management knows that stress costs them more than 200 billion dollars annually which means a decrease in the worker's productivity.

One example of such a company that offers this to their employees is General Motors. This car company has been practicing Transcendental Meditation for several years and results from a study showed that this increased the productivity in the workplace, improved morale and had a good impact on the physical health of their workers.

There are even some who have mistaken Transcendental Meditation and the organization itself to be part of the religious cult. This is because another name by which it is known is the "Science of Creative Intelligence" which in fact is a degree that you can get after you graduate at the Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield, Iowa.

It should also be pointed out that Transcendental Meditation is scientific so you don't have to abandon your current religion. In fact, it can be done with little effort so it is possible for you to achieve pure consciousness regardless of your age, gender, educational background, culture or religion. 

Transcendental Meditation makes you look inward so you are able to turn those dormant potentials into realities. Of course, this can only happen over time and with practice so you will soon be able to experience an endless world of possibilities.

The Basics Of Ultrasonic Subliminals

People all over the world are discovering the benefits of using ultrasonic subliminals to effect change in their lives. In fact, numerous audio products have been developed and sold on the market to be of assistance to folks who want to turn their life and careers around – obviously, for the better. 

However, a lot of individuals are still skeptical about the effectiveness of ultrasonic subliminals. To get a better understanding of what it is all about, you need to take the two concepts apart and be familiar with how they work. After that, you may determine for yourself whether it does work or not.

What is Ultrasonic?

Ultrasonic is actually the adjective of the term "ultrasound", which is sound with frequencies greater than the maximum threshold of human hearing. Technically, a person can hear sounds between the range of 20 Hz and 20,0000 Hz. This upper limit has a tendency to diminish with age. For that reason, most adults have become incapable of hearing sounds beyond 16 kHz (16,000 Hz).

The human ear itself doesn't really react to frequencies of less than 20 Hz. However, these can be felt through the sense of touch. Some recent studies had also revealed a "hypersonic effect" – a term that describes the phenomenon that demonstrates a quantifiable outcome on a person's psychological reaction with respect to the absence or the presence of frequencies beyond 20,000 Hz. You may not consciously perceive the sound but it can definitely have an effect on you.

What is Subliminal?

In Latin, the term 'subliminal" stands for "beneath the threshold". It represents information that is exceedingly faint for a person to perceive consciously. Nevertheless, it is recorded in the subconscious area of the mind. At times, the word subliminal can also stand for the pieces of information that the conscious mind has chosen to pay no attention to in favor of more interesting or more obvious details.

Subliminals are helpful in making modifications to the subconscious portion of a person's brain, which basically guides one's actions. Since this aspect of the mind is not equipped with the capacity for rational thinking, it will unerringly believe whatever it is told, for as long as it is done with enough repetitions or a sufficient amount of emotions.

You must wonder if it is possible for the two aspects of the mind – the conscious and the subconscious – to argue. The answer is a big "YES". Of course they disagree. And whenever this occurs, the subconscious mind would win the squabble all the time.

To get a better image of how the conscious and the subconscious aspects of the mind struggle against each other, try to picture this out: the conscious mind is usually left powerless when conflicting subconscious ideas – thoughts that could not be controlled by logical thinking – linger in a person's brain. In essence, the conscious mind is largely responsible for your "waking life", while the subconscious mind reigns in the "world of the dreaming".

How Does Ultrasonic Subliminals Work?

Ultrasonic subliminals make the most of the fact that the conscious side of your brain is intended to concentrate only on a few things, while the subconscious aspect makes a note of everything that is registered by any of your five senses.

By making use of subliminals to repetitively expose the subconscious mind to certain messages, you can make it believe and consequently accept those ideas as newfound programming. Once it has accomplished that, it starts manifesting the recently encoded ideas and the changes occur.