Meditation to Improve Concentration

Today, there are a lot of things that help in keeping us entertained. On the internet alone, there are a multitude of websites that do such that like video sharing sites, gaming sites, and other websites which cater to our interests. While there is nothing wrong with entertaining ourselves, a problem arises with our constant need for distractions. Because of that, it becomes difficult for us to focus on one thing.

We do not need to take extreme measures to help us focus. There are practices which can do the job for us. It includes the practice of meditation.

People take up meditation for different purposes and improving concentration is one of them. There are several methods by which meditation does its job.

One is through breathing exercises. Even an exercise that is as simple as being aware of the times we inhale and exhale can do wonders to our ability to concentrate. While it may sound easy, it can be quite difficult especially if one has to deal with distractions such as outside noise.

Another method is by reciting a mantra. A mantra is a phrase or a sound that is recited repeatedly. For Catholics, praying the rosary is a form of a mantra. The repetition becomes the center of the meditation to which the person’s attention becomes focused.

There are other more methods by which meditation can help improve concentration. However, the two mentioned above are the most basic and could help beginners start out with the practice.

The Importance of Breathing in Meditation

Meditation, the technique of focusing the mind while deepening the breath, is an essential Tantric practice. Successful meditation depends upon concentration and the elimination of external distractions. Deep breathing is an important part of meditation because without proper breathing you can not achieve a deep trance.

Proper breathing means inhaling through the nose, letting the diaphragm (not the chest) expand. Feel this air as it is pulled into your lungs, and feel your lungs expanding to their full capacity. Then exhale through the nose and pull the abdomen gently back into the body, compressing the lungs from the bottom. Breathing this way slows down the heart rate which leads to physical and mental relaxation.

Breathing also plays a significant role in developing your concentration. This is done by focusing the mind on the act of taking in air and feeling it pass through the nostrils until the air is finally exhaled through the mouth. While this may sound easy, it can be quite challenging when done for the first time.

A similar method is used for increasing your awareness. Just like the concentration technique mentioned above, it involves putting one’s attention on your breathing. However, instead of focusing on the act of inhaling and exhaling air, you train your thoughts on the sensation of breathing - the feeling of the air passing through the nose, filling the lungs, and expanding the diaphragm.

Learning to breathe properly during meditation is an essential step to attaining the benefits of meditation. It is no wonder, then, that the two are inseparable activities that a student of meditation must learn. If you do not master proper breathing, then there is no meditation method or program that can be successful.