Compare and contrast the two major forms of meditation; explain the benefits of meditation; and discuss mild sensory deprivation and its therapeutic uses

What will be an ideal response?

Answer will include that meditation takes two major forms. In concentrative meditation, you attend to a single focal point, such as an object, a thought, or your own breathing. Often, a mantra, which is a smooth word like "om," is used as the focal point. A mantra could also be any pleasant word or a phrase from a familiar song, poem, or prayer. If other thoughts arise as you repeat a mantra, just return attention to it as often as necessary to maintain meditation. In contrast, mindfulness meditation is "open," or expansive. In this case, you widen your attention to embrace a total, non­ judgmental awareness of the world. An example is losing all self-consciousness while walking in the wilderness with a quiet and receptive mind. As a stress-control technique, meditation may be a good choice for people who find it difficult to "turn
off" upsetting thoughts when they need to relax. The physical benefits of meditation include lowered heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and other signs of stress as well as improved immune system activity. Meditation has benefits beyond relaxation. Practiced regularly, meditation may foster mental well-being and positive mental skills such as clarity, concentration, and calm. In this sense, meditation may share much in common with psychotherapy. Indeed, research has shown that mindfulness meditation relieves a variety of psychological disorders, from insomnia to excessive anxiety. It can also reduce aggression and the use of psychoactive drugs. Regular meditation may even help people develop better control over their attention, heightened self- awareness, and maturity. Mild sensory deprivation is often accomplished by floating in a tank of warm water in silent darkness for a couple of hours. Sensory deprivation involves a major reduction in the amount or variety of sensory stimulation with brief periods of sensory restriction producing a strong relaxation response. An hour or two spent in a flotation tank can cause a large drop in blood pressure, muscle tension, chronic pain, and other signs of stress. Like other forms of meditation, mild sensory deprivation may also help with more than relaxation. Deep relaxation makes people more open to suggestion, and sensory deprivation interrupts habitual behavior patterns. This can "loosen" belief systems, making it easier for people to quit smoking, lose weight, and reduce their use of alcohol and drugs. Mild sensory deprivation even shows promise as a way to stimulate creative thinking and enhance sports and music performance skills.