Stephan Bodian 
Meditation For Dummies 

Take an inward journey for a happier, healthier life

Meditation has been used for centuries to reduce stress, increase energy, and enhance overall health and well-being–so it’s no wonder more and more people in today’s fast-paced and stress-centric world are adopting this age-old practice. If you want to achieve a greater state of calmness, physical relaxation, and psychological balance, Meditation For Dummies is your life raft. Covering the latest research on the health benefits of meditation, this new edition explains in plain English how you can put meditation into practice today and start reaping the benefits of living a more mindful life.

Whether you’re new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner coming back for a refresher course, this plain-English guide provides a wealth of tips and techniques for sitting (or lying) down with your mind to meditate successfully. From preparing your body for meditation to focusing your awareness and being open to the present moment, it covers everything you need to put distractions to rest and open yourself up to a meditation practice that works for you.

* Provides the latest research on the causes of happiness and how meditation can improve your mood

* Includes a new chapter on the growing trend of meditation in the workplace

* Explains how meditation and other mindfulness practices have made their way into hospitals, schools, prison, and military groups

* Illustrates the benefits of taking time to consciously cultivate mindfulness through meditation

If you’re ready to find some zen and benefit from all meditation has to offer, this friendly guide sets you up for success.

Table of Content

Foreword xvii

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting Started with Meditation 5

CHAPTER 1: Embarking on Your Meditation Journey 7

CHAPTER 2: Why Meditate? 23

CHAPTER 3: Zen and Now: Where Meditation Comes From 39

CHAPTER 4: Your Brain on Meditation and How It Impacts Your Life 57

Part 2: Beginning Your Meditation Practice 69

CHAPTER 5: Laying the Foundation: Motivation, Attitude, and Beginner’s Mind 71

CHAPTER 6: How Your Mind Stresses You Out and What You Can Do about It 83

CHAPTER 7: Mindfulness Meditation: Awareness of the Here and Now 105

CHAPTER 8: Preparing Your Body for Meditation 119

CHAPTER 9: Where to Sit, What to Wear, and Other Practical Stuff 137

CHAPTER 10: Just Doing It: Discipline, Effort, and Letting Go 149

CHAPTER 11: Opening Your Heart with Love and Compassion 161

Part 3: Troubleshooting and Fine-Tuning Your Practice 179

CHAPTER 12: Meditating with Challenging Emotions and Habitual Patterns 181

CHAPTER 13: Troubleshooting Common Roadblocks and Side Effects 203

CHAPTER 14: Developing a Practice That Works for You 221

Part 4: Meditation in Action 233

CHAPTER 15: Cultivating Spirituality 235

CHAPTER 16: Don’t Worry, Be Happy — with Meditation 263

CHAPTER 17: Meditating in Everyday Life 281

CHAPTER 18: Using Meditation for Healing and Performance Enhancement 297

Part 5: The Part of Tens 319

CHAPTER 19: Ten Commonly Asked Questions about Meditation 321

CHAPTER 20: Ten Favorite All-Purpose Meditations 329

Part 6: Appendixes 339

APPENDIX A: Meditation Resources 341

APPENDIX B: About the Audio Tracks 353

INDEX 355

About the author

Stephan Bodian is an internationally known author, psychotherapist, and teacher. He leads regular intensives and retreats and offers spiritual counseling and mentoring to people throughout the world. His bestselling app Mindfulness Meditation (with Mental Workout) has been praised in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.