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image from www.thebudhahunter.com Meditation and the relaxation response can lower blood pressure, lower pulse rate, slow the body’s rhythms, and decrease cortisol levels in the blood. The result: increased immunity, increased sense of well-being, decreased anxiety, a clearer sense of oneself, and an increased potential for joy and energy. Guided visualization, relaxation, and meditation sessions can be done in an individual or group setting. Click for more information on ongoing sessions or to set up your own session.	“Before I was enlightened I chopped wood and carried water…after I was enlightened I chopped wood and carried water…” - Zen saying While we often consider activities such as watching TV or chatting on the phone as relaxing, they do not provide a full relaxation response of body and mind, thus nurturing the spirit. The mind is still active and engaged in these activities. Meditation and Relaxation have been scientifically proven to produce beneficial effects on the mind, body and spirit. The two are related in many ways. Meditation can lead one into a state of deep relaxation. Alternately, relaxation can take one into a deep state of meditation. The Relaxation Response can lower blood pressure, regulate breathing, slow the pulse, and decrease cortisol levels in the blood. The felt result for the individual is the direct opposite of the stress response: decreased anxiety and agitation, reduced perception of pain, and an increase sense of well-being, joy and energy. Relaxation is a conscious experience of relaxing the entire body in an intentional way. The relaxation response can be evoked by visualizing various sensations throughout the body, or it can be done through actual physical tense and release exercises. Relaxation can be used as a precursor to meditation, resulting in a stilling of the mind, resting of the body, and quieting of the spirit. In this space, one becomes aware of being independent from one’s thoughts, and can observe them from a place of nonattachment and peace. Meditation generally uses a principle of maintaining a single point of focus. This can be in the form of breath, an object, a mantra, or a guided visualization. Music is often used in conjunction with meditation, either to help block out the chatter of the external world, or as a focus for the meditation itself. Guided visualization can be used to take one into a state of meditation, or it can be used after a meditative state has been achieved. Meditation and Relaxation both allow one to achieve a greater sense of centredness and peace within oneself. While the outer environment may not change, the inner environment of the individual becomes calmer and stronger. This lessens one’s reaction to stressors, and allows one to observe and become aware (mindful) of one’s responses, and to retain a sense of calm.