Do you feel overwhelmed daily? Do you look around and notice all the people in your life who are stressed out and wish you had a solution or a game plan to prevent stress from affecting you in a similar fashion? Don’t wait until the stresses of life weigh you down before you attempt to combat them. Too much stress in one’s life can take its toll and can negatively affect how you respond to difficult or trying situations.
One sure method to de-stress your life is to meditate. You can begin as early as today. There are no special tools required, just yourself. You can meditate anywhere at any time. However, it would be better to find a quiet, distraction free space where you feel at ease. It is now time to go on the offensive and learn how to keep stress at bay, or at least how to minimize its effect on your mind and body.
You can begin by sitting in a comfortable, cross-legged position. You can sit on the floor, on a cushion or even a chair. Rest your hands on your knees. You can place your palms down if you feel you need grounding, or palms facing up for clarity and understanding. Close your eyes and let your mind and body relax. Keep your spine long (as if a string were pulling you up through the top of your head) and your shoulders and face soft. Turn up the corners of your mouth forming a slight smile.
Breathe in and out gently through your nose, letting the air brush over the back of your throat. You should hear a soft nasally sound like slight snoring. Fill your stomach and then your lungs with air. As you exhale, empty your lungs first and then your stomach. This may seem odd or even difficult at first but will get easier the more you practice. Your exhale should equal the length of your inhale. The focus of your meditation should be on each breath. However, if your mind should start to wander, as it will want to do, allow your thoughts to enter your mind and then let them go. Do not attempt to “not” think about your thoughts. Accept them and then release them. Just remember to bring your focus back to your breathing each time this occurs.
There is no designated time frame for you to sit in meditation. Even if you invest two minutes per day to your practice it will be beneficial. However, the more time you spend in meditation the greater an impact it will have. Meditation is for everyone and there are no specific age requirements to start. In fact, the earlier you begin meditation in your life, the better equipped you will be to face the challenges that may come your way. Meditation connects the mind, the body and the spirit and the benefits of a regular practice are cumulative.
Meditation is not difficult. You do, however, need to give yourself time to have a consistent, regular practice. Meditation can help you live and maintain a life where stress does not weigh you down. Follow the simple steps listed above and allow yourself to, “Ease into Meditation.”
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