We all know by now that meditation is oh! so excellent for MANY reasons including stress management, cardiac and immune maintenance, problem solving, and more. And it is a way to overcome insomnia (as well as increase dream recall and lucidity). I am a HUGE fan of meditation for every single one of these reasons. It is the best way I know to connect not only to our bodies, but our minds and the even higher aspects of ourselves. nnMy work and my website (3PoundUniverse.com) are all about navigating consciousness to rejuvenate each of these elements; specifically through meditation, sleep and dreams. Sleep and dreaming are indeed restorative. But by throwing meditation into the mix you can amplify it exponentially. nnDid you know that anxiety, depression and pain stick with you while you sleep? Yep - they can be visible in the patterns of brainwaves, eye movements and muscle tone recorded in laboratories and sleep clinics. They disrupt our sleep architecture, or the cycles and rhythms of sleep. Not surprisingly, when we carry extra stress, when we're down in the dumps, or when we have aches and pains and feel horrible we have trouble getting to sleep, waking up, or staying asleep. Our REM (dream) density and deep sleep is lessened when we are anxious, sad or sedentary. All of this means we end up feeling even more mentally and physically “off”. We feed a negative cycle. nnSo how do we break it? How do we turn it around and feel truly rejuvenated physically, mentally and spiritually? Well, of course, one great way is through meditation! During meditation you clear your mind. You get better and better and better at it the more you do it. Eventually it becomes second nature, and you get very good at recognizing when you need to take a minute to stop what you're doing (physically or with your thoughts) and clear your head again. With a clear mind you don't have a bunch of mental congestion. Your body can get through to you better. You recognize when you need to calm it and lower the ol’ blood pressure or stop the thoughts and worries and just let go. Meditation helps you stop the chatter of your mind so you can see the big picture, see a solution, or allow creative flow. By clearing your mind, you can tend your body better. You can open up to Joy and Wellbeing. nnGiven all this, the next stop is Rejuvenation Central! And our most potent, natural rejuvenator is sleep - without a doubt. Generally speaking, we restore ourselves physically during deep sleep and mentally during REM. A meditator with a peaceful body and mind can let go of the day at will and drift into blissful sleep at the drop of a hat. And a peaceful body and mind enter naturally into optimal sleep rhythms so your body can do its thing cellularly and hormonally resulting in a balanced and radiating You!nnPretty great, huh? Well best of all, we can take it to even higher levels. We know that meditation can clear the mind. Once your mind is cleared of chatter, worries and stressors, you then have an excellent opportunity to hold your focus on an intention, ideal, or something you DO want to fill your mind with (like new life patterns or behaviors). You are only limited by your imagination. When you wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to clearly intend a perfect day, a perfect presentation, or a heart full of lovingkindness. When going to sleep, take some time to hold the intention of blissful restoration and health, certain wonderful dreams, or even lucid dreams! It is simple, and very powerful.nnLucid dreams are dreams in which you are aware you are dreaming while you are dreaming. This is easily a whole separate topic (more info on lucid dreaming at
www.3PoundUniverse.com). But as it pertains to this one, fully lucid dreams can deliver absolute freedom, and a connection to something more. In lucid dreams, you can go anywhere with anyone anytime! Almost every single person who has tasted this un-boundried experience will tell you it was exhilarating. Many report it as deeply spiritual, feeling wholly connected to higher aspects of themselves and the universe. Upon waking they cherish the experience and feel – yes – rejuvenated in every way! nnI hope by reading this you get a sense of how powerful simple meditation can be. When applied to the realms of sleep and dreams, you obtain an amazing inner resource for rejuvenation. All you have to do is “tap in”! nnnnTo get started meditating, download the free eBook: A Meditation Primer at
www.3PoundUniverse.com. It’s a concise how-to manual for beginners! Additionally, I hope you enjoy the tons of free info on sleep, lucid dreaming, and related technology. Free forum too! nnYou may also browse a full line of excellent meditation, sleep and dream products at
www.3PoundUniverse.com, like unique CDs, light and sound mind machines, books and supplements for dream enhancement. nn