“Your goal is not to battle with the mind, but to witness the mind.” - Swami Muktananda

Meditation is the act of eliciting a physiological state where you are relaxed while at the same time alert and focused. Meditation methods are quite variable, but they all involve regulated breathing and control over thoughts and feelings that come to mind.

Key Features of Meditation

• A quiet location with as few distractions as possible

• A specific, comfortable posture

  • Sitting, lying down, walking, or in other positions

• A focus of attention

  • Specially chosen word or set of words, an object, or the sensations of the breath

• An open attitude

  • Letting distractions come and go naturally without judging them

Meditation and Cancer

Clinical practice guidelines and some research support meditation as supportive care to reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue in patients treated for certain cancers.