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Vegetarian restaurant Vegan restaurant Reviewer's choice

658 Cookman Ave.,Asbury Park, NJ 07712

(732) 776-7767

Pizzeria. Crust & Crumble is an authentic pizzeria at the Jersey shore. Their separate vegan menu features subs, pastas, and pizzas with both vegan cheese and vegan mockmeats. Try vegan sandwiches like the Cali 'Chicken,' Sausage & Pepper, or 'Meatball' Hero. Portions are quite generous so come hungry! Crust & Crumble is located inside the Shoppes at the Arcade.

Open Wednesday through Monday for lunch and dinner. Closed Tuesday Full service vegan options take-out, delivery, catering VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$$

609 Cookman Ave.,Asbury Park, NJ 07712

(732) 775-2633

Coffeehouse/caf. If you're near the New Jersey shore, then you must pay a visit to the Twisted Tree Caf! Menu items include the Tofu Meatball Wrap, Soy Chicken Salad Sandwich, and Focaccia Melt. They have homemade baked goods such as vegan cookies, brownies, and muffins; enjoy your dessert with a cup of coffee that includes your choice of soy, rice, almond, oat, hazelnut, or hemp milk. The Twisted Tree Caf strongly supports the arts in their community. They feature the works of local photographers and artists on their walls and local musicians play live music on weekends.

Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. Open Friday and Saturday for lunch and dinner through late night. Closed Monday and Tuesday Limited service vegan options take-out, smoothies, soymilk, espresso VISA/MC, $-$$

locations

2801 Arctic Ave.,Atlantic City, NJ 08401

(609) 347-9119

Vietnamese. Little Saigon is a bright spot in Atlantic City and an oasis for vegetarians and vegans. Their menu has a section of 'Vegetarian Specialties' which includes the highly-recommended Asian Eggplant with Tofu.

Open daily for lunch and dinner Full service vegan options take-out, fresh juices, special beverages VISA/MC/AMEX, $$-$$$

1000 Boardwalk & Virginia Avenue,Atlantic City, NJ 08401

(609) 449-9200

Indian. If youre in Atlantic City, be sure to stop by Royal Alberts Palace in the Trump Taj Mahal Casino, which is located next to Casbah Night Club. This restaurant with authentic Indian cuisine offers a beautiful dining atmosphere since it offers a stunning ocean view and has a unique interior design. If youre a spinach-lover, there are multiple options for you to try like Aloo Saag, potatoes cooked with spinach in Indian herbs, and Mushroom Saag, sliced mushroom cooked with spinach in Indian herbs. Be sure to order some extra Tandoori Roti to eat your vegetables with!

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service vegan options beer/wine/alcohol, take-out, catering VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$$

locations

410 Main St.,Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ 07717

(732) 774-7333

Vegan/organic/raw foods/juice bar. From Seed to Sprout offers organic, whole foods that are made from scratch, including their own coconut milk. They use spelt flour or sprouted grain bread to maintain a gluten-free environment. They strictly use agave nectar for any sweetening. The restaurant has raw options, and a raw food cleanse program. Favorite menu items include Raw Eggnog Cheesecake, Foccacia, Sesame Miso Marinated Tempeh, Ginger Gelato, and Kelp Noodles. They are known for their fantastic Sunday brunches, featuring Chick Pea Frittata, Cashew Battered French Toast, Blueberry Spelt Pancakes, and Tofu Rancheros. Reservations are required for Thursday's dinner. The restaurant is closed between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours.

Open Tuesday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for brunch. Closed Monday Full service take-out, catering, fresh juices, smoothies, espresso/cappuccino VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$

locations

68 Bridge Ave.,Bay Head, NJ 08742

Vegetarian. See description under Belmar, NJ entry.

locations

2613 Long Beach Blvd.,Beach Haven, NJ 08008

(609) 492-4066

Vegetarian/natural foods/juice bar. Living on the Veg offers sandwiches, wraps, salads, and more. They are open from March through November. Outdoor seating is available. Cash only.

Open Monday for lunch. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner Limited service vegan options take-out, catering, fresh juices, smoothies $

locations

803 Ocean Ave.,Belmar, NJ 07719

(732) 556-6951

Ice cream parlor. See description under Ocean Grove, NJ entry

1000 Main St.,Belmar, NJ 07719

(732) 280-1141

Vegan/natural foods. This mostly vegan restaurant features an international menu with choices like French onion soup, Oriental sesame salad, tacos, and falafel. If you're in the mood for some good ol' American food, try the vegetarian meatloaf with mashed potatoes and vegan gravy or seitan steak also served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. There are also blackboard specials every night that include vegan desserts. Kaya's is located at the corner of 10th & Main.

Open daily for lunch and dinner Full service vegan options take-out, catering, fresh juices, smoothies, special beverages, BYOB VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$-$$$

803 Ocean Ave.,Belmar, NJ 07719

(732) 556-6897

Vegetarian. Enjoy a wide variety of Acai bowls, fruit bowls, and smoothies. Leave out the honey and they can be made vegan.

Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Counter service vegan options take-out VISA/MC/DISC, $

locations

1035 Broad St.,Bloomfield, NJ 07003

(973) 320-4157

Mexican. Taqueria Autentica serves up plenty of interesting and authentic Mexican food. Many of the options are already vegetarian-friendly and can easily be made vegan. Try any of their delicious veggie tacos like the Street-style Zucchini or the Hongos (mushrooms with herbs and spices). The eatery is closed between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Cash only.

Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday Full service vegan options take-out, catering, BYOB $$

locations

2063 Rt. 88,Brick, NJ 08724

(732) 892-9595

Chinese/Malaysian. Sentosa Restaurant is a popular and very veg-friendly eatery. Among their numerous vegetarian and vegan selections are Malaysian entres served with brown rice and dishes made with soy protein mockmeats or tofu.

Open Monday for dinner. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner Full service vegan options take-out, delivery, catering VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$

locations

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Stone Harbor and Wildwood.)

19 Jackson St.,Cape May, NJ 08204

(609) 884-5970

Caf/bar/venue. This caf offers many vegan options including organic fruit and nut granola, vegan BLT breakfast sandwich, vegan black bean and tofu tostados, and vegan tofu scrambler for breakfast. For lunch enjoy the vegan black bean wrap along with several vegan side dishes including vegan corned "beef" hash. For dinner you can try vegan white bean ravioli, various pizzas with vegan cheese, vegan tostadas, etc. They have live music every night!

Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner Full service vegan options wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, catering VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$$

locations

2442 Route 38,Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

(856) 755-1116

Kosher dairy/Mediterranean/pizza. Esti's Besty's is a kosher eatery that serves many classic Mediterranean and pizzeria-style dishes. Choose from favorites such as Falafel, Baba Ghanouj, or a Calzone. Or try any of the great fusion options like the Zatar Pizza. Although mostly vegetarian, they do serve tuna. Reservations are accepted.

Open Sunday through Thursday for lunch and dinner. Open Friday for lunch. Closed Saturday Full service vegan options take-out, delivery, catering VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$

955 Route 70 East,Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

(856) 795-1373

Middle Eastern/Mediterranean. Normas Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine is a great option if you are looking for some delicious Mediterranean food! It is not purely a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, however their menus are clearly labeled so you know if a dish is vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free. They serve a variety of vegan dishes including hummus, Baba Ghanouj, lentil soup, and a falafel salad. They have a wide assortment of other soups, sandwiches, salads, and platters available to vegans and vegetarians alike.

Open daily for lunch and dinner Full service vegan options take-out, delivery VISA/MC/DISC, $-$$

2131 New Jersey 38,Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

(856) 910-1240

American/diner. Silver Diner serves American diner food but offers several vegetarian and vegan selections (both noted on the menu). Some of their vegan items include Pesto Veggie Pasta, Santa Fe Roasted Veggies, Black Bean Hummus, Mango Vegetarian Stir Fry, and SD Veggie Chili. They often use whole grain breads and offer gluten-free items as well as entres under 600 calories. This location of Silver Diner is across from the Cherry Hill Mall.

Open Monday through Saturday for three meals through late night service. Open Sunday for three meals Full service vegan options take-out, beer/wine VISA/MC, $-$$

locations

577 Haddon Ave.,Collingswood, NJ 08108

(856) 869-7322

Vegan/bakery. Sweet Freedom Bakery is a completely vegan bakery that is also gluten-free. This allergy-friendly bakery wants everyone to enjoy their treats which is why they are also corn-free, wheat-free, peanut-free, soy-free, casein-free, and use no refined sugars. But the good news is that they are not free of taste! Enjoy cakes, cookies, loaves, muffins, brownies, blondies, & more!

Open Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday Counter service take-out, delivery VISA/MC/AMEX, $-$$

locations

60 Diamond Spring Rd.,Denville, NJ 07834

(973) 625-1055

Caf. Caf Metro offers a diverse menu with vegetarian and vegan options, including stir-fries, grilled and steamed vegetables, soups, and salads in a completely smoke-free environment. Reservations are recommended.

Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Open Saturday and Sunday for dinner only Full service vegan options catering, take-out, fresh juices, espresso/cappuccino, smoothies, BYOB, outdoor seating VISA/MC/AMEX/DC, $$

57 Bloomfield Ave.,Denville, NJ 07834

(973) 586-7800

Vegan/Asian. Veggie Heaven offers an extensive vegan menu including soups, noodle dishes, and mockmeats. Desserts include Vanilla Soy Cheesecake, Tofu Ice Cream (vanilla almond bark, wild berry, chocolate, or butter pecan), and the extremely popular Green Tea Cake.

Open daily for lunch and dinner Full service take-out, delivery, catering, fresh juices, smoothies, special beverages, BYOB VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$-$$$

locations

905 River Rd.,Edgewater, NJ 07020

(201) 941-4000

Natural foods store/deli. A wide variety of vegetarian and vegan foods are offered in the deli and on the salad bar.

Open daily Cafeteria vegan options take-out, fresh juices, VISA/MC, $-$$

locations

Oak Wood Plaza, 149 Wood Ave.,Edison, NJ 08820

(732) 767-0033

Vegetarian/Indian. Saravanaa Bhavan is part of the popular Chennai-based international franchise. Specializing in South Indian vegetarian cuisine, the restaurant offers traditional dishes including dosa, uthappam, curries, and locally-inspired dishes. Saravanaa Bhavan is closed between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours.

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service vegan options take-out VISA/MC/DISC, $$

locations

150 Elmora Ave.,Elizabeth, NJ 07202

(908) 289-0291

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New Jersey | Restaurant Guide | Vegetarian Resource Group

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Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Saturday Morning Practice

Starts: 9:00 am

Location: 515 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, USA

Sunday Night Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Center for Pranic Healing 619 N. Thornton Ave. Orlando, FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Saturday Morning Practice

Starts: 9:00 am

Location: 515 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, USA

Sunday Night Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Center for Pranic Healing 619 N. Thornton Ave. Orlando, FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Long Sit

Starts: 9:00 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Saturday Morning Practice

Starts: 9:00 am

Location: 515 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, USA

Sunday Night Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Center for Pranic Healing 619 N. Thornton Ave. Orlando, FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Evening Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 pm

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Morning Meditation Practice

Starts: 6:30 am

Location: Orlando Zen Center 515 S. Crystal Lake Dr. Orlando FL 32803

Saturday Morning Practice

Starts: 9:00 am

Location: 515 S Crystal Lake Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, USA

Sunday Night Practice

Starts: 7:00 pm

Location: Center for Pranic Healing 619 N. Thornton Ave. Orlando, FL 32803

Continue reading here:

Meditation - Orlando Zen

Westside Aerobics and Martial Arts is located between UCSC and the ocean on the westside of Santa Cruz, California and offers a unique combination of high-energy cardio kickboxing and martial arts classes.

Westsite Aerobics and Martial Arts (also known as WAMA) provides a friendly environment for improving your fitness and physical conditioning and/or fighting skills. In addition to cardio kickboxing and yoga classes we offer a variety of martial arts and self defense styles including Polynesian American, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Kung Fu. Our aim is to enable you to leverage and extend your capabilities and accelerate your progress in meeting your goals. Our core club team consists of principals, each with more than 15 years of experience in multiple aspects of martial arts, fitness training and cardio aerobic conditioning. All lessons are taught in our clean and modern studio featuring a 1400 square foot judo floor, 3 heavyweight hanging bags, and an extensive variety of training equipment.

There are a certian number of hand-wraps and gloves provided for each of the cardio kickboxing and martial arts classes. We encourage you to bring:

See the WAMA 'Schedule' page for the weekly schedule.

See the WAMA 'Classes' page for class descriptions.

See the article here:

Westside Aerobics and Martial Arts (WAMA) offers ...

Stressed out? Heres how just 20 minutes a day spent meditating can improve health.

Often thought of as a hippy-dippy practice aimed at transcendence, meditation is coming into its own as a stress-reduction technique for even the most type-A kind of people.

In 2005, for instance, severe chest pains sent Michael Mitchell to the emergency room in fear of a heart attack. It turned out to be gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Nevertheless, after checking his heart, the doctor admitted him and chastised him for not coming in sooner. That really shook me up. It was a wake-up call to have a look at my type A personality and workaholic lifestyle, says the 44-year-old Simi Valley, Calif., statistician for the Veterans Health Administration.

Go on a Meditation Retreat

By Jenn Sturiale Meditation is not a team sport. There are no teammates to help us sit on our cushions, and there are definitely no finish lines or cheering fans. Most often an intensely solitary pursuit, meditation takes us on a personal, inward journey. So then, what's the deal with meditation retreats? "In modern life, with all its disparity and emphasis on intellectual education, talking and materialism, it's rare to pause long enough to allow another focus to deepen and come into view,"...

Read the Go on a Meditation Retreat article > >

Mitchell had shrugged off his high blood pressure, but now he kicked off a personal makeover. He read books on happiness, started psychotherapy, and got more exercise. And, despite a skeptical frame of mind, Mitchell turned to meditation on the recommendation of a trusted co-worker. Within a month, he felt more relaxed -- and his blood pressure returned to normal.

Mitchells experience is borne out by studies showing that meditation not only lowers blood pressure but also can amp up your immune system -- although the mechanism isnt clear -- while improving your ability to concentrate.

Those who meditate can choose among a wide range of practices, both religious and secular. What they have in common are a narrowing of focus that shuts out the external world and usually a stilling of the body, says Charles L. Raison, MD, clinical director of the Mind-Body Program at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Raison participated in a study that indicated that meditation improved both physical and emotional responses to stress. In the study, people who meditated regularly for six weeks showed less activation of their immune systems and less emotional distress when they were put in a stressful situation.

Stress reduction could be the key to meditations beneficial effect on health. We know stress is a contributor to all the major modern killers, Raison points out. More studies have shown improvement for fibromyalgia and even psoriasis in patients who meditate. Its hard to think of an illness in which stress and mood dont figure, Raison says.

Science hasnt yet connected the dots between what happens in the meditating brain and the immune system. But a University of Wisconsin study saw increased electrical activity in regions of the left frontal lobe, an area that tends to be more active in optimistic people, after eight weeks of training in meditation.

Continue reading here:

Meditation Health Benefits and Stress Reduction - WebMD

Flashback to twenty years ago, and meditation was considered a practice with a penchant for robed monks, rhythmic chanting, and achieving a state of mind only a few could grasp. While this peaceful (and frankly, unachievable) stereotype of Zen meditation was amusing, it didnt convey the simplicity or availability of meditation for the masses. #meditationfail

What exactly is meditation? Were so glad you asked. Meditation is a way to separate our thoughts from the emotions associated with them. Through observation and awareness, we can begin to separate ourselves from our reactions to things. This separation keeps us in the present moment, allowing us to understand more about our thought patterns, and learn more about our emotions and ourselves. Oh, and fun fact: The original purpose of yoga was to prepare the body to sit for long periods of time in meditation. So these two practices go together like bread and butter.

Next question: Why meditate? Two words: stress management (among other things, but well focus on that one). Stress is a known trigger for a slew of awful health conditions, and current research shows that meditation can help lower stress. In addition, meditation has been linked with anxiety management, overcoming sleep disorders, and coping with chronic pain. Its also been shown to boost the brains capacity for attention span, focus, and creativity. Getting more interesting, isnt it?

If youre ready to try meditation, or if youre a seasoned practitioner looking for a new cushion or other accessory, weve got you covered. We offer a collection of meditation seating in a gorgeous array of jewel tones to make your mindful meditation more comfortable. Looking for some guidance? We carry several guided meditations on DVD to lead you into a state of calm. Practicing after a yoga session? Weve made a beautifully soft 100% cotton blanket to cut the chill during a yoga meditation session. And for those who love their tech, weve even got Musea headband to guide youand your mindinto peace and quiet.

More here:

Meditation - Guided, Zen, Mindful, Yoga - Gaiam

Elements of meditation

Different types of meditation may include different features to help you meditate. These may vary depending on whose guidance you follow or who's teaching a class. Some of the most common features in meditation include:

Focused attention. Focusing your attention is generally one of the most important elements of meditation.

Focusing your attention is what helps free your mind from the many distractions that cause stress and worry. You can focus your attention on such things as a specific object, an image, a mantra, or even your breathing.

A quiet setting. If you're a beginner, practicing meditation may be easier if you're in a quiet spot with few distractions, including no television, radios or cellphones.

As you get more skilled at meditation, you may be able to do it anywhere, especially in high-stress situations where you benefit the most from meditation, such as a traffic jam, a stressful work meeting or a long line at the grocery store.

Don't let the thought of meditating the "right" way add to your stress. If you choose to, you can attend special meditation centers or group classes led by trained instructors. But you can also practice meditation easily on your own.

And you can make meditation as formal or informal as you like, however it suits your lifestyle and situation. Some people build meditation into their daily routine. For example, they may start and end each day with an hour of meditation. But all you really need is a few minutes of quality time for meditation.

Here are some ways you can practice meditation on your own, whenever you choose:

Breathe deeply. This technique is good for beginners because breathing is a natural function.

Focus all attention on your breathing. Concentrate on feeling and listening as you inhale and exhale through your nostrils. Breathe deeply and slowly. When your attention wanders, gently return your focus to your breathing.

Scan your body. When using this technique, focus attention on different parts of your body. Become aware of your body's various sensations, whether that's pain, tension, warmth or relaxation.

Combine body scanning with breathing exercises and imagine breathing heat or relaxation into and out of different parts of your body.

Walk and meditate. Combining a walk with meditation is an efficient and healthy way to relax. You can use this technique anywhere you're walking, such as in a tranquil forest, on a city sidewalk or at the mall.

When you use this method, slow down the pace of walking so that you can focus on each movement of your legs or feet. Don't focus on a particular destination. Concentrate on your legs and feet, repeating action words in your mind such as lifting, moving and placing as you lift each foot; move your leg forward and place your foot on the ground.

Engage in prayer. Prayer is the best known and most widely practiced example of meditation. Spoken and written prayers are found in most faith traditions.

You can pray using your own words or read prayers written by others. Check the self-help section of your local bookstore for examples. Talk with your rabbi, priest, pastor or other spiritual leader about possible resources.

Read and reflect. Many people report that they benefit from reading poems or sacred texts, and taking a few moments to quietly reflect on their meaning.

You can also listen to sacred music, spoken words or any music you find relaxing or inspiring. You may want to write your reflections in a journal or discuss them with a friend or spiritual leader.

Don't judge your meditation skills, which may only increase your stress. Meditation takes practice.

Keep in mind, for instance, that it's common for your mind to wander during meditation, no matter how long you've been practicing meditation. If you're meditating to calm your mind and your attention wanders, slowly return to the object, sensation or movement you're focusing on.

Experiment, and you'll likely find out what types of meditation work best for you and what you enjoy doing. Adapt meditation to your needs at the moment. Remember, there's no right way or wrong way to meditate. What matters is that meditation helps you reduce your stress and feel better overall.

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Continue reading here:

Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are - Mayo Clinic

We are the creators of Open Source Meditation, a non-profit, open exploration of all meditation techniques, styles and traditions without any of the obligations or hidden agendas.

Open Source Meditation is open, rational and logical. It says real meditation is not exclusive to one religion or one meditation technique or science or even one sport or one field of art or creative expression. Meditation is free and open to all just as open source software is free and open.

Meditation put simply, is the new common sense. It should not be encumbered by the fundamentalism of one group, religion or even science. Secularists and atheists can meditate just as effectively as meditators that are religious, whether that be Christian meditation, or Buddhist meditation, transcendental meditation, pyramid meditation, zen meditation, chakra meditation or Islamic styles of meditation.

Nearly all popular meditation groups are tied to a specific style or religion. Some, for example, advocate just one meditation technique, mantra meditation, and to be financially committed to their group.

Most religious meditation groups similarly focus on their religion and usually one meditation technique, for example, mindfulness meditation. Open Source Meditation is no different to Open Source software, multiple contributors develop and evolve the functionality for the benefit of all.

Read more here:

Open Source Meditation, free Meditation for Beginners, guided ...

User Reviewed

Two Parts:Preparing for MeditationMeditatingCommunity Q&A

The benefits of meditating are much touted by those already undertaking daily or regular meditation. People have different reasons for wanting to meditate: quelling the internal chatter, getting to know oneself better, finding calm and a sense of grounding, enforced restful contemplation, or tying it to one's faith. Whatever your reason for wanting to meditate, it can be daunting to know how to begin and how to stay motivated.

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Think about what you want to achieve with your meditation. People come to meditation for a wide range of reasons whether to improve their creativity, help visualize a goal, quiet their inner chatter, or make a spiritual connection. If your only goal is to spend a few minutes every day being present in your body without worrying about everything you have to do, thats reason enough to meditate. Try not to over-complicate your reasons for meditating. At its core, meditation is just about relaxing and refusing to be caught up in everyday anxieties.

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Wear comfortable clothes. You dont want anything to pull you out of your meditative thinking, so avoid restrictive clothing that might pull on you, like jeans or tight pants. Think about what you might wear to exercise or to sleep in those types of loose, breathable clothes are your best bet.

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Dont fret about what to do with your hands. In the media, we often see people holding their hands at their knees when meditating, but if thats uncomfortable for you, dont worry about it. You can fold them in your lap, let them hang at your sides whatever allows you to clear your mind and concentrate on your breathing.

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Tilt your chin as though youre looking downward. It doesnt matter if your eyes are opened or closed when you meditate, though many people find it easier to block out visual distractions with closed eyes. Either way, tilting your head as though youre looking down helps open up the chest and ease your breathing.

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Dont be too hard on yourself. Accept that focus will be hard for you when youre just starting out. Don't berate yourselfall beginners experience the inner chatter. In fact, some would say that this continual return to the present moment is the "practice" of meditation. Furthermore, dont expect your meditation practice to change your life overnight. Mindfulness takes time to exert its influence. Keep coming back to meditation every day for at least a few minutes, lengthening your sessions when possible.

Is it okay to meditate after eating?

wikiHow Contributor

Meditation is not an active activity, so it is okay to meditate after eating; you may want to also go to the bathroom beforehand if you're worried about interrupting yourself. Since the brain is actually more likely to wander if you're hungry, meditating after eating may be better than meditating beforehand.

Can meditation heal a broken heart?

wikiHow Contributor

It can help. If you meditate on overcoming your sadness, it can relieve the stress and anxiety of being heartbroken.

Can you listen to music while meditating?

wikiHow Contributor

It really depends on the person. For some people, listening to peaceful and spiritually inclined music calms their mind. For others, it tends to be a distraction. Try both ways, then do what feels most natural.

What is the difference between sleep and meditation?

wikiHow Contributor

Sleep is what you do at night. It's a biological condition of body in which the nervous system is inactive, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness is practically suspended, and includes dreaming, etc. Meditation, however, is done while you are when you are awake. There are many different ways to meditate. Meditation can sometimes lead to sleep, as for many people, when they are in a calm and relaxed state, their body will shut down into rest-mode. It's a focus and blankness of your mind for a period of time, for spiritual purposes or even as a method of relaxation (to purposefully lead to sleep).

Can I do meditation in the night and in the afternoon?

wikiHow Contributor

You can meditate at any point in the day. There is no appointed time for meditation.

I have heard that I can lower my heart rate through meditation, is this true?

wikiHow Contributor

Your heart rate lowers when you relax and meditation is essentially focused relaxation. So yes you can lower your heart rate through meditation

What are some methods for helping my mind to stop racing with chatter?

wikiHow Contributor

Imagine yourself in in a white room, with no door or windows, "floating" as you will. Once you imagine yourself in this place, you should find soon that the chatter has gone.

Do I have to sit down to meditate, or can I lay down instead?

wikiHow Contributor

Most people find it more comfortable to sit with a straight back and neck while meditating. You should try both ways to find out what is more comfortable for you, and what helps you concentrate best.

What is the minimum amount of time I should set aside to meditate?

wikiHow Contributor

There is no prescribed minimum time in meditation. It's perfectly okay to start small and ease yourself in with 2-minute or 5-minute meditations as you get used to meditating. Go at your own pace and try not to force yourself to do more than you're comfortable with.

Is this a form of hypnosis? Or is there a similarity?

wikiHow Contributor

It's not a form of hypnosis. They are similar in that they are both very relaxed mental states. Hypnosis is focused more on the subconscious and trying to understand and reprogram deeply embedded, undesirable behaviors. Meditation is more about focusing on the present moment and cultivating a positive state of mind.

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How to Meditate for Beginners: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

http://tm.org "You know how your charger for your phone? [TM] is like if you had a charger for your whole body and mind."

For more information on the Transcendental Meditation technique, please visit: http://www.TM.org or call 1-888-532-7686 - 1-888-LEARN-TM

Jerry Seinfeld, who has been practicing the TM technique for 40 years, and Bob Roth, a certified TM teacher, discuss the value of the Transcendental Meditation technique for people like you and me, as well as veterans suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and underserved, inner-city students struggling with the stress of their school environments.

George Stephanopoulos: "Jerry Seinfeld also another special guest your Bob Roth Executive Director of the David Lynch Foundation we're all here because we all have something in common we all practiced Transcendental Meditation, which I didn't know about until I learned it from you and you taught me how to do it after Jerry introduced it and I think people don't really understand exactly what it is and what a difference it's made in people's lives. Now you've been doing it 40 years."

Jerry Seinfeld: "It's difficult to explain. You know how I was describing Transcendental Meditation to somebody. You know how your charger for your phone? It's like if you had a charger for your whole body and mind"

Bob Roth: "Well the whole idea is that we have very active noisy levels of the mind that we sort of gotta go here gotta do this gotta do that. But every human being has deep within a settled calm silent level of their mind. And this Transcendental Meditation is just and effortless way to have the active excited mind settle down. Experience that inner calm and at the same time the body gains a very deep state of rest. That rest eliminates stress, you have more energy, wakes up the brain, and you guys can do your jobs."

George Stephanopoulos: The American Heart Association actually says it works."

Bob Roth: "No the American Heart Association just came out with a study a month ago that showed Transcendental Meditation is highly effective for reducing high blood pressure, reducing risk of stroke and actually mortality rate by almost 50 percent from people who have been meditating for 5 years."

George Stephanopoulos: It's very exciting work you guys are doing cuz it can help anybody but you guys are going into schools right now helping at risk kids, helping soldiers coming back from Iraq, Afghanistan who are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also women who have been victims of violence.

Bob Roth: "For example the Department of Defense just provided a 2 million dollar grant to study the effects of Transcendental Meditation on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The fact is, as Forbes Magazine said, Stress is the black plague of the 21st century. It's an ugly thing. It cant be prevented, it can't be cured by conventional means, and now this particular meditation technique has been showing to be highly effective in eliminating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and so its being used in schools where kids have the same symptoms of PTSD as soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It's interesting that something so ancient and traditional and not a religion and not a philosophy and not a change in lifestyle, anybody can do it. Something that simple can have such a profound impact on very modern ailments."

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