Meditation is considered to be one of the oldest yet most effective means of relaxing the mind, the emotions, and the soul. Because of its effectiveness in leading a person’s consciousness to a higher level, meditation is now being practiced by millions of people all over the world.

Although nobody can truly say what the exact history of meditation is, there are many speculations about this ancient practice.

Meditation is a very important component of most religions in the Eastern part of the world. Deriving its roots from the Latin word “meditatio,” which means “all types of mental or physical exercise,” the meaning of meditation has evolved throughout the years. Today, the practice is commonly known as “inward reflection” or “contemplation.”

Most scholars believe that the roots of meditation can be traced back some 5,000 years, when it was discovered that a state of relaxation could be achieved by staring into the flames of a flickering fire. As time went by, numerous meditation techniques were developed and began to spread across Asia, its continent of origin. These include a very wide range of psychophysical and spiritual aspects—or a combination of both—that can lead to the total enhancement of a person’s higher level of mental concentration as well as spirituality.

It was not until the 1960s and 70s that meditation became a hit in the United States. Since then, many variations have spread across the globe. Diverse forms of meditation today include “Bodhidharma,” “Hinduism,” “Bahá’í Faith,” “Buddhism,” “Christian meditation,” “Islam Meditation,” “Jainism,” “Judaism,” “Sikhism,” and “Taoism.”

Because they are derived from different cultures, individual forms have their own understanding of meditation and also have different sets of practices that come with it. These include physical requirements through different postures. The most popular postures include: sitting, supine, and standing. These postures will vary depending on the origin of meditation you wish to follow.

Throughout its history, there have been four basic elements that are almost universal in the practice of meditation. These four elements consist of a quiet place, a comfortable posture, a visible object on which to focus attention, and a passive attitude to make the practice truly effective.

Throughout history, meditation has inspired many people to increase their level of spirituality as well as enhance the power of their minds. People today, as well as future generations, will continue to practice it because of the benefits it brings.