At the most basic level meditation is a mental exercise in which the practitioner focuses all their awareness on one particular thought in an effort to induce a heightened state of consciousness.

While meditation can be done as part of religious worship, it is not exclusive to any one religion or religion in general. Many people who meditate do so for spiritual reasons and/or for health, happiness and well-being – both mental and physical.

The word “meditation” is born from the Latin words meditari (to think, contemplate, or exercise the mind) and mederi (to heal). So putting those together meditation means to think and heal. This is a very apt description as with focused awareness (thinking) studies have shown that the body heals wounds and broken wounds faster and, from a mental and emotional perspective, people develop a greater sense of calm and satisfaction in their lives.