Meditation is a state of relaxation and introspection and an easy way to relax and rejuvenate your body. There are numerous physical benefits one can gain from meditation. It can lower your blood pressure, lower your heart rate, help you sleep, and can reduce stress and stress-related problems.

Meditation can also serve as a training tool to cleanse the mind. Buddhists use meditation to replace negative qualities in the mind with positive ones. Ideally, the mind is cleansed of impurities such as desire, jealousy, anger, and hatred, and they are replaced with love, compassion, happiness and kindness.

Differences Between Meditation and Self-Hypnosis
Physically, meditation is very similar to self-hypnosis, but in meditation the goal is to simply relax and become aware of yourself. Both methods begin with breathing techniques, quieting the mind, relaxing the body and becoming aware of the present. The largest difference between the two is that in meditation you concentrate only on the present, and you simply let things happen without attempting to alter them. Self-hypnosis is used more as a tool to change and reorganize your inner self.

Steps to Meditation
To quickly gain the benefits of meditation, follow these steps:

Find a quiet and peaceful location.
Prepare the area (meditation music, mats, candles, whatever helps you relax).
Sit in your chosen spot (floor, chair, wherever you are most comfortable), keeping your back straightened.
Close your eyes and begin breathing exercises. Take a deep breath, allowing the air to expand your stomach, and then slowly exhale. Concentrate on this rhythm.
Clear your mind of all thoughts, then slowly let them enter. Contemplate each thought one at a time.

Prayer
Prayer is similar to meditation, self-hypnosis and guided imagery. Prayer helps relax your body, create a positive environment, and relieve stress and tension. Faith in spiritual healing if you are ill can make a tremendous difference in your improvement.

People of different faiths from around the world find comfort and healing in prayer. Religion can help bridge the gap of the unknown by providing us with a tangible source of human life. Religion gives us someone to pray to for help and answers. Prayer brings us hope, comfort and inner peace.
The benefits of prayer: Prayer can actually improve your health. Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found evidence that prayer can positively influence a number of health problems. People suffering from cancer, heart disease and other ailments often improve the quality of their life with prayer.