As the pace of life increases and we all lead busier and busier lives so there is a tendency to ignore our physical and mental health and today we are all suffering from varying degrees of stress. It is not surprising therefore that we find ourselves turning more and more to time honored practice of meditation.

As a consequence of its proven history of effectiveness, today meditation is being practiced not only to quieten the mind and lower levels of stress but also to treat a widening range of physical conditions.

Indeed there are many physical benefits to meditation which slows the heart rate and consequently the strain on the heart, lowers levels of the hormone cortisol and other body chemicals that are linked to stress and reduces free radicals in the body so further helping to reduce blood pressure. Meditation also increases the flow of oxygen through the lungs to assist breathing and can even increasing levels of DHEA to help slow down the aging process.

As far as its psychological benefits, meditation lowers anxiety and irritability and increases memory and thus the ability to learn. Accordingly, it also produces a positive outlook on life providing you with a feeling of rejuvenation and youthfulness.

Some of the other significant benefits of meditation exercises include:

* Producing a general relaxation of not just the body and mind but also of your soul.

* Helping with the treatment of a variety of illnesses for which there is a connection between the physical condition and the emotional state of the sufferer.

* Affecting an opening into the 'inner self' which released our innate creativity.

* Providing an enhancement to our natural self-confidence resulting in a more dominant and stronger will power.

* Generating an increase in levels of energy that make it easier to face the stresses and strains of life.

* Generating a greater ability to tackle a variety of vices and addictions ranging from alcohol and tobacco to tranquilizers and narcotics.

And so the list can go on and on.

Like everything else in life however meditation can be a powerful force for good if it is used in the right way but it is also problematic if it is not used correctly. The secret therefore is to understand just what guided meditation can and cannot do and to ensure that you learn the art of meditation before you add daily meditation into your usual routine.