If you have wanted to try meditation, but can’t get the hang of it or want to start with a guided meditation, Opening to Meditation: A Gentle Guided Approach by Diana Lang is a good resource. This is a book and CD set that provides guided meditations for beginners and experienced people.
Meditation has the power to change lives and offers many emotional, physical and spiritual benefits. Even modern medicine has begun to accept and even promote the benefits of this ancient practice. However, many people avoid starting or try and then stop because they aren’t sure how to get started. This book is perfect for that person, as well as people who have meditated for years.
The book is written in three sections. In the first section, The Art of Meditation, the author describes the history and benefit of meditation. The information is accessible to everyone and is written from a non denominational and open perspective, so the practices work with all spiritual or religious traditions.
The second section of the book is entitled How to Practice. In this section, the practice of meditation is described from a western perspective. The information in this book is accessible to everyone, even if you have never practiced meditation and have no idea how to begin. Some of the information in this section includes posture, breathing, creating a space for meditation and more.
The third section of the book is devoted to common questions beginners ask about the practice of meditation. All the basic questions people ask when starting a meditation practice are covered in this section.
The accompanying CD is designed to help beginners learn to meditate. There are two guided meditations on this CD, called Open and Deepen. The background of the CD features sounds from nature and relaxing music for a peaceful, soothing and relaxing experience.