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Machismo: A Masculine Guide to Meditation

TQ - MachismoSince the ancient times, meditation has proven to be a great way for people to ponder deeply, focus intently, clear their minds, and induce relaxation. Oftentimes, meditation is practiced by an individual in an effort to expand spiritually, physically, consciously, and emotionally. It is impartial to gender and age, and may be one of the best ways to achieve a sense of community amongst individuals, when practiced altogether. Whether you’re a male or a female, utilizing the various practices of meditation can help you transcend the stresses of your daily lives, while cultivating mindfulness, and expanding your consciousness. This, in turn, enables you to morph otherwise negative feelings — such as anger, disappointment, depression, stress, or unknowingness — in to more enlightening and peaceful ones — such as joy, peace and happiness.

Unfortunately, for one reason or another, men in particular tend to feel as if meditation is solely reserved for women, rather than for themselves. Which is understandable — although highly incorrect — seeing as to most commercial meditation circles appear to be targeted directly toward women. It is only when you begin to explore the many different aspects of meditation, and the history of it, that it becomes quite apparent that it is not reserved for women, and that, in fact, it can be a highly valuable tool for men alike when practiced in conjunction with other daily workout routines, such as a gym-style workout.

Enter Mindfulness Meditation — or, the practice of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environments. When combined with a gym-style workout, men can help improve their vitality, increase their physical strength, and also transcend the daily rigors of their hectic, work- and family-filled lives. It’s something that every man should experience at one time or another, and shouldn’t be something that scares them away. In fact, meditation is a very masculine exercise.

When you begin to explore the history of meditation, you’ll quickly notice that it has a long history of being a “manly” practice. The Stoics used meditation to further develop their self-control and fortitude, while tribes of warriors from all cultures used it to heighten the functions of their minds and induce fearlessness. People like Charles Darwin and Immanuel Kant practiced what is known as active meditation.

As you can see, meditation is hardly a historically “womanly” activity. When practiced correctly, it can be a great way to obtain the ultimate mind, body and spirit. While the word alone should be embraced by all genders, religions, and walks of life, it’s the practice itself that can help establish community, obtain peace-of-mind, and ignite individual happiness. Actually, without even knowing it, you may have even already utilized meditational practices as ways to cope with stress and heighten your senses. The only difference is, you’re not using it in a way that you should be. When you do, you will surely experience ultimate bliss and enjoy your life for what it was meant to be.

Note: Specifically, with regards to medical issues, always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Web site.

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