万花筒 2009-01-09 冥想的好处（在线收听）

Close your eyes and bring your attention inward.

This is Kevin Houston’s second lesson on how to meditate and already the 46-year-old says he's feeling less stressed and more focused.

Meditation helps you just, I think, that's, to have some clarity of mind, to have a little bit more,for me, a little bit more patience.

What Kevin and his classmates might not realize is that researchers have shown even simple meditation techniques can benefit the entire body.

Relaxing your body actually will turn down your heart rate. It turns down your blood pressure.

Psychiatrist Charles Raison says there are many different ways to practice meditation, but keeping your mind from wandering is one of the most difficult tricks.

The experience of meditating, at least through my experience, is extremely powerful and can often be kind of revelatory about your internal state.

For that reason, he recommends taking a class and practicing.

Over a period of time, you're able to focus and to look within for the peace and the quiet, no matter how stressful the moment is.

A lesson that goes beyond the class.

For Today's Health Minute, I am Judy Fortin.