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If you are thinking of joining one of your local meditation classes, it may help you to ask yourself, "What am I looking for from these meditation classes?" By answering this question, you are more likely to choose the meditation class which best meets your needs.
There tend to be two sorts of meditation classes.
The first sort of meditation class involves some form of slow, physical movement exercises, like yoga or thai chi, followed by some form of meditation exercise. These classes are excellent for anyone looking for physical, mental and emotional health benefits.
For instance, most people who attend these meditation classes become physically stronger, more supple, have reduced blood pressure, increased immune function and many other physical benefits.They also become increasingly calm as the stillness they experience in their meditation classes, extends out into their daily life.
The second type of meditation class is the 'religious based' type of meditation class. These type of meditation classes are where people meditate together, then discuss various aspects of life in terms of their beliefs. Two examples of this are Buddhist Meditation Classes and Transcendental Meditation Classes.
These classes are ideal for people who want to meditate with other like-minded people, and yet are not too bothered about the truth, or proof, of the beliefs that are promoted. These classes usually attended by people who are searching for real answers to some of lifes deepest questions, yet somewhere along their journey, they decided to accept a story or a belief as their truth.
For example, you can go to a Buddhist Meditation Class. You will see people believing in reincarnation, in the total absense of any proof at all. You can ask them a few simple questions about the idea of reincarnation, and it will expose reincarnation for what it is. An idea, and not a very good one.
Another example of meditation classes is a Transcendental Meditation Class (TM). This meditation group teaches various types of meditation which have many positive physical, mental and emotional benefits. These too have beliefs attached to their meditation practices.
I live near the UK headquarters for this meditation group. The have their own community and and even their own school. This school performs outstandingly well compared to every other school in the county. If you ever need proof that meditation is great for kids, then this school is it.
The school is called the Maharishi School For The Age Of Enlightenment. Now, I am not interested in the late Maharishi, but I am interested in Enlightenment. So I rang the school up and asked to speak to someone who was Enlightened. They said that they could not help me, but they gave me the number for their community spokesperson.
I rang her and explained that' as it was 'The Age Of Enlightenment', that I would like to speak to someone who was Enlightened. I was told there was no one. There was nobody in the whole country who was Enlightened. Ok, so, what about abroad? No, no one there either.
So, when you are deciding which of the meditation classes to attend, it would help you to know what you are looking for. If you are looking for a meditative relaxation session, with a story or two thrown in afterwards for your entertainment, then either of the above may satisfy you.
However, if you are seeking meditation classes that offers you powerful meditation techniques, a real inner journey, a sense of doing something incredibly useful and profound, with no stories thrown in, then the Advanced Meditation Classes link at the top of this page, may be for you.
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