I want to start meditating. I believe it will help me in many different aspects. I want to empty my mind. I hope this will help me in so many different ways such as increasing my awareness, reflexes, pain tolerance, energy levels.....and happiness. In a nutshell, how do I meditate?
There's not a very good nutshell answer to this one. But I would recommend the book Thinking Body, Dancing Mind. It's got the best step-by-step guided exercises for meditation I've come across. Very easy to follow. And very light on the vague, esoteric verbiage.
Here's one way to start: http://www.yiquan.com/v3/en/file/yangsheng.htm Zhan Zhuang(standing like a post) is explained in greater detail in Lam Kam Chuen's book "The Way of Energy" :http://www.amazon.com/Way-Energy-Ga..._bbs_sr_1/102-2057090-6865757?ie=UTF8&s=books and "Chi Kung: Way of Power" which builds on "The Way of Energy" and delves deeper into the fighting aspects of Zhan Zhuang training.