People are seeking stillness amid the bustle of Singapore.

To cope with the stress of living in a fast-paced world, more here are turning to the age-old practice of achieving inner peace - meditation.

Mr Piya Tan, a meditation therapist and counsellor at The Minding Centre, said that although the number of religious meditation centres has not risen significantly, 'commercial' centres have mushroomed over the last five years.

Many meditation centres are pillared by 'gurus' - religious teachers and leaders, some of whom have been trained by other gurus or have professional qualifications in fields such as psychology, stress management and hypnotherapy.

Courses offered impart a variety of mostly secular techniques, range from introductory to advanced levels, last from a few hours to weeks, cost from nothing to thousands, and cater to a range of needs from stress management to spiritual enrichment.

According to meditation centres and organisations that Mind Your Body contacted, inquiries and applicants have also increased in recent years.

Chief visionary of wellness centre SoulCentre Vikas Malkani said the courses offered by the centre have doubled in the past two years.

'There is increasing unhappiness and sadness; people are frustrated with life, so they need to find peace within themselves,' he explained.

For Mrs Nomita Dhar, meditation was a philosophical help during a time of questioning.

'I had achieved all these goals I had set for myself, but it was all meaningless', said the 40-year-old publisher and mother of two. 'I wasn't happy.'

But her life took a positive turn after she took a four-day Meditation Made Simple course with SoulCentre in September last year, which she signed up for after reading about the ancient art.

The course gave her perspective and she became more appreciative of little things, more grounded, and ultimately more energised.

'It brought out the happiness in me... Now people tell me I look more radiant.'

But meditation's draw is as medical as it is spiritual.

A variety of therapies that involve teaching self-awareness (including relaxation techniques such as meditation) have been found effective in reducing physical symptoms in medically ill patients, said Dr Ng Beng Yeong, head of the Psychiatry department at Singapore General Hospital.

Provided the trainer is properly skilled and the patient is receptive, DrNg said these therapies may help reduce symptoms by minimising 'aggravators' - stress and anxiety.

Stress can worsen many conditions such as hypertension, immune disorders, eczema and asthma, explained Dr Helen Chen, head psychiatrist at the Mental Wellness Service department of KK Women's & Children's Hospital.

By improving a person's mental well-being, meditation can not only help improve these conditions but other stress-related ailments including migraines and pain disorders too, said Dr Chen. There is also an increasing understanding that meditative techniques can help improve the recovery and health status of cancer patients, she said.

'What affects the mind will ultimately affect the body,' said DrNg, adding that more and more doctors are recognising this and recommending meditation to their patients.

Meditation for all?

Despite its universality, meditation is not something that everybody can easily take to.

The drop-out rate for meditation is very high, said Mr James Loh, who leads a Christian meditation group at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace. He estimates that for every workshop held, only 10 per cent will return.

'The practice is simple but not easy. Distractions and thoughts wondering all over will immediately set in when you begin to meditate,' said Mr Loh.

Mr Yang Tai Song, 32, a marketing associate who took up meditation classes that focus on breath watching three years ago, found the technique 'frustrating'.

'After a couple of minutes, I'd usually start to fidget as I find it very uncomfortable. I'd start thinking of the things I must do for the day, and I would get stressed again.'

Said certified meditation facilitator and counsellor Dhyan Tara: 'How can you expect a modern man, who faces stress from work, home and relationships, to sit still?'

'Unless these mental and physical tensions are released, meditation will never be deep and authentic,' said MsTara, who teaches active meditation, a method which helps the practitioner release tension in the body before attaining peace of mind.

But sometimes, finding stillness is not the problem.

For 38-year-old freelance writer Sharon Tan, the search for a suitable method of meditation took more than 10 years.

Of the previous methods she tried, Ms Tan said: 'None of them resonated in me... On a shallow level, they did help to calm me down. But true meditation is more than just being calm.'

Her search ended four years ago when she found active meditation. The technique, she said, helped her find a deeper sense of peace that extended to her daily life, taming her bad temper and building her self-confidence.

'Different methods work for different people at different times,' said meditation teacher Piya Tan, 'you won't know until you've tried the different methods.'

Said Ms Tan: 'If some dislike (meditation), it's most likely the method - for instance, they can't sit for long or are uncomfortable... If one gives up, then I would say he or she has not yet discovered what meditation really is.'