Some advocates of meditation suggest two 20-minute sessions each day. They recommend a sitting position. Crossing the legs as often pictured in yoga exercises is useful only if it is comfortable. To achieve a meditative state, some people suggest focusing on breathing in and out while saying one word on every inhaled breath and another on each exhaled breath. Meditation is a complementary way to manage stress or distress.
Meditation can help people relax which, in turn, can reduce stress and even relieve pain.
Meditation eliminates thoughts of both the past and future. It promotes a stronger sense of personal control of one's life and destiny. However, this has not yet been proven. It is widely believed that stress is harmful to the body. Successful meditation results in clearing the mind of all distractions, including those that create stress, discomfort, worry, pain, and fear.