"A useful guidebook filled with clear instructions and helpful hints."_Deepak Chopra"An easy-to-follow yet comprehensive introduction to the practice of meditation."_John Gray, author, Men Are From Mars, Women are From VenusMeditation Pluses: it can improve your focus and concentration; reduce tension, anxiety and stress; promote creativity and enhanced performance in work and play; lower blood pressure; and improve immune response. Also, it requires no special clothing or equipment, it can be done anywhere, and you can learn the basics in just minutes. Meditation Minuses: it will never be an Olympic event and it won't make it easier for you to get a date...on the other hand, the improved health, vigor and self-awareness that comes with the practice of meditation can do wonders for your love life. Interested?Packed with state-of-the-art information and savvy advice, this friendly guide demystifies meditati on traditions and practices and shows you step-by-step how to relax, take a deep breath, and open yourself to inner peace and understanding. You'll discover how to:Understand meditation traditionsDevelop a meditation practice that works for youOvercome roadblocks to happiness and successCultivate your spiritual sideExtend meditation into your daily lifeMeditate to heal or to achieve peak performanceExpert Stephen Bodian distills the best of the various meditation traditions and gently leads you step-by-step to discover a form and style of meditation that works best for you. Instruction manual, survey course, and a guide to deeper exploration, Meditation For Dummies covers all the bases. You'll discover:Where meditation comes from and various traditions around the worldHow to prepare for meditation and how to sit, dress and other practical aspectsHow meditation can help you open your heart to love, compassion, and forgivenessHow to troubleshoot emotional, behavioral, professional and physical problems using meditationHow to use meditation for healing and performance enhancementPeople throughout history have used some form of meditation for self-improvement and spiritual enlightenment. Now let Meditation For Dummies introduce you to the amazing benefits of sitting still and focusing.

Stephan Bodian conducts workshops and classes in meditation and is a practicing psychotherapist at the San Francisco Center for Meditation and Psychotherapy.