By (what some may say was not) pure chance the friend living above where I worked invited me to watch some videos back in 1996 which basically were lectures on what is and isn't important in life. I was pretty impressed as I'd recently written a similar booklet on counselling and could see this guy really knew his stuff. He offered something at the end of a course of videos and as he seemed a cut above all the others signed up (it was all free) and joined, the ultimate purpose leading to a two day meditation course for those considered had learnt enough to do it.

As claimed in the preparation, it really can access states pretty unlikely to access naturally, and although I wasn't one of those blown away by it as many there were it proved to me it works and as such continue with it periodically as I'm certain nothing else I do can improve my wellbeing in the same way.

So who has a meditation story and did it work for you? It is the easiest and cheapest method I know to feel good and although I know many people do already it's there for probably the majority of people who don't. Of course there's no need to explain the methods as many like mine are only available through taking the courses, but fascinated to hear the experiences after 12 years of my own.

I am not sure if what I am describing is considered meditation per se but any time I am entering into a stressful situation, for instance a job interview, I find it helps a lot to take 5-10 minutes or so and close your eyes, take some long, slow, deep breaths and just center yourself.

OK, runon sentence x10 there - sorry.

Also, just the ability to completely zone out can be really helpful for your soul. It lowers your blood pressure and can act as an extremely calming influence. It also enhances your mental and physical flow, in addition to increasing your focus.

That's a good point, it looks to me like that probably points towards the actual origins of meditation, as it had to be worked out somehow. What you are doing is an automatic or natural version, which is probably how it began, and certainly close enough to qualify.

Basically the most important part is the repetition and sticking to a single method, whatever it is. The effects are meant to grow with use and retrain the brainwaves to something more peaceful.

I have meditated in yoga classes and found it very relaxing. When I can't fall asleep at night I find using what I had learned in yoga class helped me fall asleep. I think it quiets the soul and can't do any harm. I am all for meditation.

I too use meditation to relax to a point where I can sleep easily.
Has certainly improved my sleep pattern, which, after 10 years of working night duty, was chaotic to say the least.

There are definitely two aspects, one is to improve our mental state and the second is the aim of yoga, to transcend it possibly ending in enlightenment. But as long as there's an improvement people can use it for any end they like. And unlike any medical/unofficial preparations can't have any side effects and once you know how is free and can be used as much as you want.

It's also supposed to improve clairvoyance, many claim it has in my group as it quietens down the chatter and allows the intuition to come through more easily.