What is Meditation? (Hint: It’s Not a Religion)

Despite the abundance of medical professionals espousing meditation as an ideal antidote to all kinds of ailments, some people stay away because they’re worried it’s tied to one religion or another. Although different types of contemplation or meditation have been used in Eastern and Western religions, the practice itself need not have any spiritual component.

Meditation alone is not worship or prayer. It is simply a discipline where the mind is focused. Meditation is paying attention to one single thing, which results in thoughts passing easily through the mind. Some people call this awareness. You can pay attention to your breath, to the sounds of nature, to soothing music. You may meditate while running, knitting, cooking, or gardening. As long as you’re free from distraction, all these things can be meditative.

The goal of meditation is to slow or stop the thought process. This quieting of the mind allows the body to relax and regenerate. Not so scary, right?