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In today's world of infinite stress and worries, relaxation has somewhat become a thing of the past. Live fast and die young has become our mantra. But these are precisely the things which affect our efficiency and disturb our mental equilibrium significantly. Of course we can't escape such lifestyles but we certainly can make our lives much easier if we integrate things like meditation in our daily routine.

Meditation is a technique which has been tried and tested for centuries by monks and laymen alike and forms an integral part of almost every religion on the planet. However, there are no religious connotations to this practice itself so to speak. It is an art in the truest sense of meaning, flowering and blossoming with every stroke of the artist, dancing to the tunes of his imagination. In simple terms, meditation is a technique of becoming aware of oneself and freeing the mind from the vagaries of thoughts. If observed carefully, stress is nothing but a web of unresolved emotions and conflicting thoughts which cause an overload in our brain machinery leading to a breakdown. Meditation can be used to get over this problem.

Meditation is no rocket science. Done correctly and properly, meditation can prove to be the single best stress reliever. There are many different forms of meditation like Vipassana' (concentrating on a single thought object and observing mental activity), Qi Gong' (visualizing the flow of energy through different parts of our body) and Transcendental Meditation to name a few. One should choose the practice best suitable for them, considering the time and procedures involved. However, no matter what you call it, the underlying principle of each form of meditation is to attain a state of mental harmony.

A beginner can start by meditating for twenty minutes a day. This can even be during your five minutes break while working. It is best to sit in the same place everyday and at the same time. Cross-legged or lotus position is the best if possible, but sitting on knees or even on a chair is fine as long as it is comfortable. One must sit in an erect posture. Eyes should only be half shut, in a way that one could see slightly as this will prevent dozing off while meditating and also aids concentration. If sitting on floor in any of the above or other positions, palms should be placed on knees facing upwards or on top of each other, which creates an 'energy loop'. Regardless of the position used, relaxation is the key. Using incense sticks with

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