The ‘experts’ claim that we need to get 30-minutes of vigorous exercise, 5 times a week or so to improve fitness. However, what if you could get a total body workout in about 7 minutes or less…and with your own body weight?

Well, you just can and believe me, when I’m in crunch time I do this routine and I feel so energized and ready for the day. Most of all, you may not need any special equipment and definitely not the need for expensive gym memberships.

Here’s the customized routine.

1. Execute Jumping Jacks for 1 minute. Try to perform one per second. Personally, I time and execute them going in pace with a metronome. When your hands meet over your head, that should be one count.

2. Now, perform this yoga-esque calisthenics exercise known as Hindu-Push ups. Here is the technique and like me, after reading this next paragraph, take a pause and try 2-3 out right quick.

-Get on all fours.

-The starting position is with legs spread wide and butt up in the air.

-From there, bend your elbows as in a regular pushup, bringing your back down in a circular arc

-Straighten your arms and end up with your chest up and your hips almost touching the ground.

When done properly and combined with deep breathing (breathing in on the way down and exhaling-looking up) Hindu pushups build amazing lung power as well as incredible upper body strength and endurance. They also improve flexibility in the shoulders and hips as well as the upper and lower back.

3. Execute another set of Jumping Jacks for I minute.

4. Now, another favorite, the ab-wheel. For this, Start with a hand on each grip and kneel down with both knees together on the floor. Lock your arms and hold the wheel at your knees on the floor.

Slowly roll the wheel out and away from your knees and continue going forward until your hands are beyond your head. Do not touch the floor, your body should be 3-6 inches above the floor. Return to the starting position by pulling in with your abdominal muscles and arching your back. Keep your arms straight and use your core muscles to return to the starting position again. Breathe in at the start and exhale on the way down. 7-10 repetitions equal one set AND one hell of a workout!

Most of all; dig this, if you go to a store like Sports Authority, Champs or even an Ancient Market, you can get it for only $9.95.

I don’t know about you, but if a device that inexpensive can get not only my abs, but perhaps my whole upper-body in great shape and tone, it sure has got my vote.

5. Finally, execute another set of Jumping Jacks for another minute and folks we’re home free.

You could always substitute the ab-wheel with sit-ups of leg-raises, where the latter involves you sitting in a chair and lifting your legs towards you.

Well, there it is a total body workout that could get you in good shape in no time and almost for free...the ab-wheel is only 10 bucks but still…

Imagine having your very own personal trainer right on your iPod or MP3 player. Hear the encouragement and motivation along with expert coaching and instruction coming out of your headphones, as you push yourself out of your comfort and into the training zone!

Welcome to amazing world of MP3 guided workouts. Although, still small in size relative to other facets of the fitness and exercise industry, MP3 workouts have proven amazingly effective for all kinds of exercisers whether they be beginners or seasoned pros. All you need to get started is an MP3 player and desire to get fit.

So what are the benefits of using these MP3 guided workouts you ask?

Saves You Money

Well, for starters, they offer you a huge savings when compared to typical training sessions with a personal fitness coach. Normally, working one-on-one with your own trainer can cost you anywhere from $75-$150/hr depending on the credentials and experience of the trainer. Conversely, using an MP3 fitness program that has been developed by a top trainer can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Take for instance Fitter U™, an incredible 3-month MP3 fitness system that helps users achieve their ideal body in just 90 days. This program (developed by Total Wellness Consulting) consists of over 35 hours of circuit training and interval training audio workouts as well as a workout tracker e-book and costs only $197. Following this exact program with the expert trainer who developed it would cost close to $4,500!

Provides Expert Coaching

Most MP3 guided workouts on the market have been developed by some of the top trainers in the fitness industry. Whether you’re looking for weight loss, muscle building, or cardio specific workouts, you are sure to find a workout that will suit your needs.

However, when selecting your MP3 workout of choice, be sure to investigate the trainer/program developer’s background and experience. Does the trainer have an educational background in exercise physiology, kinesiology, or strength & conditioning? Has the trainer been involved in the fitness industry for several years or simply getting started? Does the trainer have any other sport-related experience and/or certifications?

Be sure to listen to demos before purchasing. Having a good sense of what your trainer’s voice and demeanor are like is important since you’ll be hearing his/her voice throughout your workouts. Is he/she upbeat, motivating, energetic? Also, having a better sense of what the program entails is important so that you don’t jump into something that you’re not ready for.

Better and Faster Results

One of the benefits of having your own trainer is his/her ability to push you beyond your “perceived” limits. As a result, you attain your goals in a shorter time. Similarly, having an expert trainer on your headphones telling you how much time to work for, how much time you have to recover, and when to keep going makes a huge difference when compared to simply following a generic program from a fitness magazine.

Furthermore, the audio coaching instructions should be such as to ensure excellent form and technique as well as to provide some physiological explanation for the type of exercise at hand. This gives you greater confidence in your movement ability and exercise knowledge/body awareness, respectively. After all, better body awareness leads to better form which leads to greater and safer results!

Convenience and Portability

One of the big advantages of MP3 guided workouts is that you can take them with you anywhere you go. No need to schedule awkward workout times with a busy trainer or wait in line for various machines. Most “good” MP3 workouts should consider that you don’t want to be wasting your time queuing for machines or other equipment. However, keep in mind that some workouts may require more equipment than others. But generally, if you decide to purchase a workout that has minimal equipment requirements, you can take such a workout with you as you travel or even to the cottage for the weekend.

The convenience of having your very own personal trainer with you wherever and whenever you want is a nice feature especially if you’re a busy body! One such program combining convenience and portability is the Treadmill Trainer™, developed by Toronto’s leading fitness expert Yuri Elkaim. This is an MP3 running program that guarantees users to run faster, farther, and longer with only 2 workouts per week! So if you’re a runner (or want to start) you’ve got to check this phenomenal program out. And don’t be fooled by the name – you can follow this program on a treadmill or even outside as you run.

So if you’ve got an iPod (or other MP3 player) and are ready to get fit and don’t feel like spending thousands of dollars on a trainer, then you’ve got to check the new world of MP3 guided workouts. If you’re looking to lose weight and tone or looking to improve your aerobic and running capacity, then I recommend visiting www.totalwellnessconsulting.ca for expertly designed affordable workouts that have proven results time and time again.

Good sleep is required for a patient to recover from whatever condition he or she is currently and comes from being in a good hospital bed. The inability of the hospital bed to provide the much needed musculoskeletal support and comfort to the patient will hinder quality rest and, therefore, a fast recovery.

During the course of your confinement in a hospital, you need a hospital bed that is able to provide adequate support. A hospital bed with a mattress that is either too firm or too soft can cause you back pain, neck pain, and cramping, making your hospital experience miserable.

Electric hospital beds are advantageous in all cases as they offer the much needed comfort sought by patients. With electric hospital beds, the switching and adjusting of the head and leg positions are easy to make. The patient can therefore adjust the bed to his or her preferred position, allowing for the most comfort possible.

Types of Electric Hospital Beds

A semi-electric hospital bed contains electric control buttons to raise and lower the head and feet and a manually operated crank for raising and lowering the bed.

A full-electric hospital bed does every single task with just a click of a button. Thus, the patient is allowed a full control of the bed.

Both beds have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, a full-electric bed allows the patient to make himself as comfortable as possible by adjusting his bed with just the click of a button. However, during a power outage, a manually adjusted bed would be more desirable.

“Out of service” signs are bad for business. Ultimately, you are responsible for keeping your equipment in proper working order and providing a safe environment. Routine preventive maintenance minimizes down time, extends equipment life and reduces your possible liability. You save money on parts and repairs and keep your clients happy.

“Cleanliness and lubrication are perhaps the two most important factors in equipment maintenance and longevity,” reports Brad Schupp, SPORTSMITH president. “Whether you have a few pieces of equipment or a hundred, following manufacturer guidelines for service, cleaning and lubrication optimizes equipment performance and significantly extend its useful life.” Perspiration is a major corrosive force, so constant attention is required to minimize damage. Your equipment should be cleaned after each use with an anti-bacterial cleanser, especially those parts in contact with exercisers (grips, seats, pads and consoles). If you make the cleanser and towels available many exercisers will clean as courtesy to the next user. Be sure to read cleanser labels thoroughly and consult equipment operations manuals to avoid any harmful materials.

“It is wise to establish a daily cleaning routine backed by a weekly and monthly maintenance schedule. Create an inspection checklist numbering each piece of equipment to keep an accurate log,” says Schupp. “Cardiovascular equipment requires more frequent maintenance, especially indoor group exercise cycles and treadmills. All your indoor cycles should be tuned on a weekly basis to assure optimum and uniform performance. Worn grips, seats and pedals should be replaced immediately.”

Regular inspections help prevent damage to equipment drive systems and electronics, which are the most costly items to repair. To reduce downtime it is wise to stock OEM-quality replacement parts for the most common repairs. Depending on your equipment, these include belts, chains, pedal straps, strength cables and pulleys, pads and grips. Although cardiovascular equipment requires the most attention, be sure to keep your strength equipment guide rises lubricated and replace pulleys and cables at the first signs of wear.

When it comes to fitness, where do you start?

My wife and I have a membership with a large chain of gyms. It's certainly a common way to keep fit and well exercised. We like best that we have access to excellent equipment, including treadmills, weights, nautilus maccines, racquetball courts, and more. The downside is that it takes a lot of time out of our day, and sometimes it is just hard to fit it in to our schedules on busier days. At times like that, our gym membership seems to get "more and more expensive" when we can't use it every day. Sometimes, it just isn't convenient.

So we have wondered, what if we could circumvent the gym? What would be the benefits or hindrances of getting our own gym equipment?

At the gym, the equipment we spend the most time on are the treadmills. It would be the best thing to start with for our home gym equipment. It's pretty simple to buy and simple to use. And for most people, walking and running is a preferred type of exercise. Running and walking burns fat, keeps the blood pumping, and improves cardiac-respiratory endurance. An indoor treadmill is also an excellent choice over running or walking outside because you can control the weather and climate indoors. That's the best part in my opinion, and the main reason we have had a gym membership. I hate exercising in hot, wet, cold, humid, or other "bad" weather. Sometimes I hate exercising in good weather! But having a treadmill available and convenient can overcome even my own laziness! Just put in a movie, and start walking!

So now that we have established that a treadmill just might be an excellent idea for our home, and maybe yours, here are some interesting points that I found in my research that are important to consider in the process of deciding to get a treadmill or not. The most common question we all seem to have is related to the cost: Is it better to pay for a gym membership? Or is better to in the long run to buy a treadmill for home?

CONSIDER THIS -- Cost

Treadmills range in price, and get can get amazingly expensive for high-end models. I remember seeing one on late night TV for $99.00 (or 3 easy payment of $34.99!). Because of the cost, it's 's obviously important that you take your budget into consideration before you make your final choice. But it's also important to buy the highest quality that you can afford. You most certainly want to get the most bang for you buck.

You can find a quality treadmill without seriously damaging your bank account. But expect to spend at least $1000. That may sound like a lot, but there are far more expensive pieces of equipment people buy for their homes. If you want more features on your equipment, expect to add another $300 to $500 to the sticker price. There are some good models that fall under that price range, but remember that cheap treadmills may end up costing you more in the end.

The four factors to consider are:

1. Your own budget
2. Extras you want (programming, heart rate monitor, resistance, etc.)
3. The type and quality of the motor.
4. Where you will put it in your house.

Consider all these (the 4th one often is often forgotten until you try to bring the treadmill into the house and try to fit in in the room you thought it should go) and you should have a good idea where to start your search for the right treadmill.

CONSIDER THIS – The Motor

The core of the treadmill is really the motor. Remember me mentioning that late night TV model? It was only $99.00 because it didn't have a motor at all! And they made that a core feature of that treadmill. Years later, I saw that same "As Seen On TV" Treadmill that had no motor, and I tried it out briefly. Wow! Talk about a battle! The "built in resistance" that they claimed would be there--well they weren't kidding! That was a tremendous chore just to get running on it. Imagine having to shove the sidewalk behind you everywhere you walked! Oh My! I am sure glad I didn't get THAT treadmill!

As an overview, a treadmill has seven key components. They are:

* The Frame holds the whole structure together from handlebars and Console to running deck and belt.
* The Deck is the horizontal part that you walk or run on.
* The Belt is the moving part of the running deck that loops around and provides you with a gripping surface to run on.
* The Motor makes the running belt move.
* The Throttle is the part that allows you to control the speed of the motor.
* The Incline Motor is the smaller motor that controls the incline of the running deck (if your treadmill has this feature).
* The Console and Computer are the parts of the treadmill that interfaces with the user of the machine, and may include other advanced features like heart rate monitor, etc.

While all of these components are important. I want to draw your attention most to the motor. Without it, your treadmill becomes a really huge doorstop.

As you noticed in that list, most treadmills of any quality will have two different motors. One to do most of the work of keeping you moving on it, and the other to raise or lower the inclination of the treadmill to create "gravity resistance" during your workout. As you shop around, you will want to get a belt motor with no less than 1.5 horsepower. This is the average for these motors, but remember that "more" doesn't always mean "better". This is especially true with a motor that is not a "continuous duty" motor. Sometimes salespeople will focus on the "maximum power" of the motor. Don't be fooled. A continuous duty motor is the betty buy.

To help you in your shopping efforts, and so that you will know your way around the store before the salespeople try to lead you by the nose to their highest commissioned equipment, here are some terms you probably ought to know:

Fixed Speed Alternating Current (AC) MotorsThese motors run at a constant speed and uses gears and a transmission to increase or decrease the speed of the belt.Direct Current (DC) MotorsSpeed with these motors is varied by voltage, not a transmission. The motor itself changes speed as you need it to. Variable Speed AC MotorsThe motor connects directly with the drive belt and regulates speed based on current.Peak HorsepowerThis is the maximum amount of HP a motor is capable of before stalling out.Continuous horsepowerThe actual amount of HP being used while the treadmill is in use.

CONSIDER THIS – Important Specs

While the motor is certainly a core component, and the most important part of your buying decision, there are many other specifications that should also be considered. These other specs and features are what will set treadmills apart and help you choose the one that's right for you. The motor is important for reliability and longevity. These other specs fill out the rest of the equipment into a machine you will want to use regularly, or will easily ignore and leave as a dust catcher in the basement.

Statistically, more people use treadmills for running as well as walking. Because of that I recommend getting a treadmill with a longer and wider deck. It should be at least 3 feet long and 16 inches wide. With a treadmill at least that long and wide, and you will be very happy with the results.

For runners, you will want a treadmill that accelerates to at least to 10 mph. For incline, you will appreciate the flexibility of up to 10% incline for making your workouts more challenging. Higher inclines, up to 20%, are often recommend, especially by eager salespeople, but really, that's overkill for your workout (running up steep inclines is not only more difficult and potentially dangerous, but it's something you would rarely do anyway. Besides, the price difference usually doesn't justify it.

Speaking of potential dangers, pay attention to the cushioning. A treadmill designed for running will be one that can absorb the shock of each stride without the danger of knee or ankle injury. It is also very important to make sure the treadmill remains sturdy during your fastest runs. Obviously one that might move around under your foot-pounding actions could result in a quick trip to the emergency room.

Along these lines, examine the frames. Look for solid welding at the joints. For runners especially, be aware that your "pounds per square inch" is up to 5x higher while running. Be sure to test out the treadmill by running on it. It should not shake move move at all while you are pounding away on it. If it doesn't feel solid, move on to a different one. It's not worth the risk to have the treadmill bounce out from under you will you are working out.

Ah, and now the FUN part! The control panel and computer features! Do you want a treadmill that can run different terrains and programs? I like being able to vary my walks with hills and speed changes. My favorite treadmills at the gym have a heart rate monitor, and will automatically adjust the incline for the speed I have chosen to make sure I am at the best heart rate for the type of workout I have selected. It's like having a personal trainer stand by and watch you as you work out.

Make sure that the control panel is easy to reach and read from where you will be using the treadmill. It also needs to be simple to use. I like to see motivational numbers as well. Timers for how long you have worked out, how much time you have left in your workout, how many calories you have burned, the distance you have gone, etc., are all great to see while working out.

CONSIDER THIS – Making the Decision

There are so many treadmills out there, it's almost like there has been a treadmill made for everyone who ever wanted one. So before you buy, make sure you consider all these features and decide which ones are must-haves, and which ones are would-likes, and which ones are not necessary at all.

How varied would you like the programming? Would you like running programs as well as walking programs? Cardio and Fat Burn? Would you like to be able to program and save your own workout routines?

How important is a heart rate monitor? Are sensors in the handlebars sufficient, or do you need sensors that let you workout hands-free?

Would it be convenient to have a treadmills connect to a website to customize your workouts and track them online?

When considering the space you have at home, does the treadmill need to be able to fold up to conserve space? Or do you have enough room to leave it out full time?

Is the treadmill easy to maintain, or does it come with a good service warranty?

As soon as you feel you have those questions answered in your mind, you should be ready to take the next step.

CONSIDER THIS – The Test Drive

It's one thing to look over a spec sheet when buying a treadmill, comparing them side-by-side, examining reviews in consumer magazines, but as I have said before, you just can't know until you get on it and take 'er for a spin.

After comparing features, motors, options and so on, narrow down your list of different treadmill models, put on your socks and running shoes, and head out to meet with some vendors. Like a car, you will want to test-drive each of your favorite models, and take your time. You should be on each one for at least 10 minutes each, so you get a realistic feel for how the machine operates. Get familiar with them and learn about the rest of the amenities, like cup holders, book racks, and so on.

Have a tape measure with you to be sure it will fit with ample "maneuvering" room into the spot you have picked out for it at home. Make sure you have the room you need to safely board and exit the treadmill, and that you will be able to get it through doorways and around corners to its new home.

Elliptical trainers are a great way to exercise. They are basically a step machine with a set of handgrips that allow you to engage in a total body a workout at the same time. This makes them a very cost-effective solution to getting a workout without having to spend a lot of money on a lot of different machines. The way that the machines work is good for those that want to get a good low impact workout because the way that the stepping part of the machine works, means that there is very little impact on the knees and other joints. But the workout that you get is still very good and much better than you would get if you were just using a treadmill or a standard stair climber or stepper.

They can also have a lot of added features. One of the most popular is a heart rate monitor. This is a device that is usually attached to the chest, so that as you are working out it can monitor your heart rate. This is very useful to a lot of people because it allows them to control their workout and the amount of heart activity they incur due to their exercise routine. Elliptical trainers also give you a great workout for your arms and chest. This is because of the handgrips that are attached to the sticks that move in a similar way to the movement of a skier and naturally are great for this area of your body.

When you look for an elliptical trainer it is very important to make sure that you try the machine out so that you can see that it is comfortable for you and that the position is ok. Another thing that you should make sure of, is that the track is wide enough so that it is easy for you to keep your balance on the machine as you are using it. Most of the machines are of a good quality but it is good to read a few reviews before you buy one so that you know that you are getting a good machine that is a good value for your money.

Elliptical trainers are a great way to get a good work out but before you buy one make sure that it has all of the features that you want and is not too expensive. Always make sure that you read some reviews first too make sure that it is the best exercise machine for your fitness needs, that way you should be able to find a machine that is right for you.

A vital part of any professional gym – and a growing resource for home gyms – are commercial fitness machines. Commercial fitness equipment is designed to provide a variety of programs to appeal to a broad range of users. These machines are fixtures in exercise facilities, and home gym owners are more frequently purchasing one or more of these professional exercise machines to expand their personal gym. Either new or used, commercial fitness equipment is costly, and you should consider your personal needs before making such a purchase.

On of the most common commercial fitness machines in residential gyms is the treadmill. Before purchasing your own, though, you should realize that the work done on a treadmill is less productive than actually running outdoors. The belt of the machine helps to pull your feet along and reduces the amount of energy you would typically expend.

Also, consider the hundreds of dollars you’ll spend on a single piece of commercial equipment, even if it’s used or refurbished. You could elect to run outside on sidewalks and roads for free. Some machines provide an exercise that you may not have readily available, such as the rowing machine. In such cases, the purchase may be a very smart decision, but before making such an important decision you should think about what machines you truly need. Can you get a comparable workout without the use of such an expensive, specialized piece of equipment?

Some people may find themselves with a real need for a piece of commercial fitness equipment. Maybe you have an injury and need the adjusted difficulty that a machine can provide. Maybe your city doesn’t provide much of a location for scenic runs. Either way, begin your search for personal equipment on the Internet. Research fitness equipment and determine which machine is most suited to your individual needs. An elliptical may be a better choice for someone with a history of knee injury. Or, maybe a home gym would be ideal since you are trying to build more muscle. No matter what your fitness goal, a perfect solution exists for your individual needs.

There are some people who are very conscious of their bodies and their appearances. They do everything to keep their bodies in tiptop shape. They diet, go through medical procedures, use slimming lotions, and take herbal medicines.

Exercising is a natural way of keeping your body in topnotch form. People who exercise are able to work out their muscles as well as shed off any excess or unwanted fat. There is also no need to spend money on medicines and procedures. The result is not just a slim and fit body, but a healthy one as well. Of course, diets and the world of medicine help out in achieving a fit body. However, it is still best to shed off the pounds the natural way.

To assist people in their bodybuilding goals, there is equipment made and crafted especially for this. Bodybuilding equipment helps target or zone in on one or two muscle groups by providing resistance. If you have been in a gym, you would notice that there is one machine for toning the abdominal muscles, another machine for working up your thighs, and a third machine for exercising the arm muscles. In fact, you could be using one machine for each muscle group.

Science and technology have certainly been of good use for people who are involved in bodybuilding. Innovations and advances in these fields have also brought people a new wave of bodybuilding equipment. This new equipment comes in small packages rather than the large and bulky machines. Now, there is bodybuilding equipment that can be used to hone different muscle groups in just one package.

If you plan on buying your own bodybuilding equipment, make sure that you check the reputation of the brand you are buying. Most bodybuilding equipment is expensive so you have to be sure that the machine you are considering is durable.

If you are short of money and still want to improve your home gym, then reconditioned exercise bikes are the perfect choice. An inexpensive way to achieve your fitness goal, a pre-owned exercise bike falls under the category of “reconditioned exercise bikes.”

Reconditioned exercise bikes are cheap and easily available, and although low in price, these bikes are very often in good condition. Reconditioned exercise bikes have virtually the same functions as those of a new model, and can be included among the most preferred piece of cardiovascular and aerobic exercise equipments available. They help to maintain a steady fat / muscle ratio by strengthening muscles and burning excess calories.

Before selling, a reconditioned exercise bike used be sandblasted and all parts should be checked to make sure it is in proper working condition. The bike should then be repainted to give it a facelift before it is put on display. Note that most reconditioned exercise bike is only given a limited warranty, and the life expectancy of the machine should be checked. However, they should last you just as long as as any other exercise bike, as long as you treat it well and check it often for loose parts or decreased performance.

Nowadays, many dealers specialize in the sale of reconditioned exercise bikes. Both home and commercial types are available and cost 50% less than any of the newer models. Keystone-Everything Sports Medical Inc. is a top-seller of reconditioned recumbent exercise bikes in North America. Also, Big Fitness and Fitness Equipment have online stores for both new and reconditioned exercise bikes.

Hospitals are places where any sort of illness can be cured and where patients are monitored as they recover. Comfort and convenience, aside from all-important sanitation, are factors that are especially important to the patient’s recovery. There are various hospital tools and equipment that aid the medical staff in providing wellness to their patients. One type of such equipment is the hospital bed.

Adjustable hospital beds can help make for a worthy, comfortable, and relaxing hospital experience. As compared to the olden days, hospitals these days employ adjustable hospital beds to cater to the needs and demands of the patients. The concept of adjustability, especially in hospital beds, is an essential factor as it permits an individual to have full control of his or her own comfort zones. Being able to adjust the hospital bed helps ease pain and discomfort experienced by suffering patients.

As indispensable as other hospital tools and equipment, the adjustable hospitable bed offers patients the comfort and relief they truly need. With the mere touch of a button, adjustable hospital beds take pressure away from the most sensitive parts of the human body, especially those that are pain. More than ever, the upper and lower parts of adjustable hospital beds can be raised so that pressure on the aching areas will be relieved.

Despite the composition of the adjustable hospital bed, what is most significant is the type of mattress it has. The chemical substances contained in the mattress must not compromise the security of the human immune system. At all times, mattresses made out of polyurethane and latex foams are recommended.

Whether the bed user desires to sit up, to raise or elevate his or her legs and head, or to simply lay down flat, adjustable hospital beds can take care of these needs. Adjustable hospitable beds go hand in hand with the most apt mattresses to make hospital confinement as pleasant as possible.

Meditation in essence is about helping you to develop inner peace, calmness and a sense of tranquillity but it is also about helping you to grow as a person. Too often people perceive meditation as a hippy thing, or something for those marijuana smoking duds to do but really what meditation is about is helping you with your mind and the way your mind influences your life.

Guided meditation really involves someone guiding you through the process of meditation and helping you to achieve an outcome of some description. Most people associate meditation with simply sitting on the floor with your eyes closed going Ummm. Ummm. Which I can certainly say is not the outcome we are looking for and would in essence be totally useless.

Meditation just like anything you do must have a purpose. For example, what is the purpose of getting a job? Well essentially the purpose of getting a job is to help you gain money so that you can buy a house or car, get food to eat or go on a holiday. If you did not have a purpose for a job, why would you work? You would not!

Meditation is exactly the same. You need to have a purpose when you meditate. The purpose for meditation can be varied for example you could meditate to –

#1. Find Inner Peace

#2. To Bring About Focus

#3. To Relax

#4. To Help You Change Your State of Mind

#5. Improve Creativity and Learning

#6. Help Build Your Confidence and Self-Esteem

#7. To Focus on Self-Healing

#8. To Help Control Internal and External Pain

#9. Meditate to Overcome Your Fears

There really are unlimited reasons for why you would want to meditate. The objective of guided meditation is to help you take the right meditation path to achieve those objectives.

Choosing a Meditation Guide is really an important step you need to make. For example different meditation experts and practitioners will have different techniques and will guide you through different paths depending on what you are trying to achieve.

The majority of meditation practitioners will teach you deep breathing meditations when you first start because if you do not know how to relax and maintain focus, then the other meditation paths will certainly not work. Remember one thing, every meditation guide will be different and I recommend that before paying a meditation guide to help you, try to see if they will give you a free lesson.

What I have found in the past is that every meditation practitioner is different and I have even found the meditation practitioners from the one meditation centre can vary dramatically in the guiding process, so you need to find the guide who best works for you. Let me give an example of what I mean. I am always on the lookout for new ideas and thoughts when it comes to meditation and I recently purchased a Chakra meditation cd which included a guided meditation program. I put the cdrom into my computer and within the first five minutes of listening to it, I burst out laughing simply because the voice was digitally altered and was totally unreal. For me this guided meditation tool was never going to work as I could not take it seriously. Now for some people this particular meditation cd may have worked and they may think totally differently about the meditation cd. For me it did not work.

There are many different styles of guided meditation. If you goto your local bookstore or check out the internet you will find an abundance of guided meditation cd’s, dvd’s and videos. Before you rush out and buy them, I strongly encourage you to see if there is sample of what they offer just to see if their guided meditation is what you are after. Any good quality meditation programs, will offer you some sort of limited look at their products so that you can see if they will work for you. If you are going to a health retreat or meditation centre for a guided meditation experience, find out if they offer a Free Introductory CDROM of their program. Always try these out first because there is nothing worse to go to a meditation retreat only to find out it does not suit you.

One thing I recommend to everyone is to try out meditation before you go to any of these retreats even if you just try out the Deep Breathing Meditation exercises. Meditation does take practice and the more practice you do the better you will get at it. Some people when they first go to guided meditation programs do not get the outcomes they expect, not because the programs do not work, but simply because they do not realise it does take practice to master meditation.

The challenge new meditators have when learning meditation is whether to use guided mediation or to use unguided meditation. Our objective in this article is to look at both meditation types so that you can choose which meditation style will suit your requirements.

Guided Meditation involves somebody guiding you through the meditation process. That is they literally talk you through the whole meditation process. There are some advantages and disadvantages to this technique. One of the reasons you may consider guided meditation is to help expand your understanding of the various meditation techniques.

The Guided Meditation technique can be presented in a number of ways. You may do a guided meditation session in a small group with a meditation practitioner or you might do a guided meditation session using a meditation cd or meditation dvd.

If you are first starting out, the Guided Meditation sessions is a good way to learn meditation as the meditation practitioner will talk you through the experience and to help you identify what you should be feeling and how to effectively move you into the state that your meditation technique is trying to get you in.

For example if your guided meditation session is teaching you how to master the deep-breath meditation technique then the practitioner will talk you through how to relax and release the tension within your body. They will also be able to tell you what you should be thinking and feeling. A good practitioner will also give you some exercises during the session to try at home that will help your experiment with the meditation technique.

The obvious downside to guided meditation is that someone is actually talking to you during the meditation session. Sometimes what people will find is that it is difficult to get to that state they are trying to achieve when someone is talking during the session. Often what you will have to do is to follow a guided meditation session for a number of times till you can learn and remember the meditation process and then try it for yourself in an unguided meditation session on your own.

Some meditation centres also offer unguided meditation sessions in a group. What this means is that the whole group meditates together but the session is done in silence with no-one speaking. Many group meditation sessions though will still use meditation music as the basis of the session.

Some meditation classes in remote locations will undertake unguided sessions out in the natural surrounding and will use the sounds of nature as the tool to help bring the group to a point of relaxation. Once again though one of the key elements of these unguided sessions is that no-one is allowed to speak during the meditation period. The group leader will generally use a special sound to bring the group meditation session to an end.

Most professional meditation practitioners will recommend that a person who is new to meditation take a guided meditation session so that they can learn how to achieve the state of mind the type of meditation they are trying to get to. Learning to meditate is one of the most important tools any human can master and can help improve your day-to-day life and help you cope with your surroundings.

Once you have undertaken a few guided meditation sessions you will certainly be able to pursue unguided meditation sessions on your own and the more practice the more effective your meditation will be. It is also worth considering purchasing a few different guided meditation cd’s so that if in the future you are unsure of what to do during the meditation session, you can refer to the meditation cd as a reference.