"Many people practice meditation for a number of health - related purposes. A 2007 national government survey found that 9.4% of respondents had used meditation in the past 12 months. What is meditation? The term meditation refers to a group of techniques w hich may be practiced for many reasons, such as to increase calmness and physical relaxation, to improve psychological balance, to cope with illness, or to enhance overall wellness. Most types of meditation have four elements in common: • A quiet location. M editation is usually practiced in a quiet place with as few distractions as possible. This can be particularly helpful for beginners. • A specific, comfortable posture. Depending on the type being practiced, meditation can be done while sitting, lying down, standing, walking, or in other positions. • A focus of attention. Focusing one's attention is usually a part of meditation. For example, the meditator may focus on a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), an object, or the sensations of the breath ."