Chapter 3 – Let’s Begin Meditating!
In this chapter we will be covering how to become more relaxed, stress free person with meditation As we know, meditation has been practiced around the world for hundreds if not thousands of years. It’s a technique used to quiet the mind, body and it has the added benefit of relieving stress.
It can also bring focus and clarity. Many say that after meditating the problems they’ve been struggling with miraculously fade away. It has also been known to inspire people to be more creative as their subconscious thoughts come to light.
The most known form of meditation requires you to sit in a quiet room, on a pillow, cross-legged on the floor or in a comfortable chair. No matter which position you choose it’s important to always make sure your spine is straight. It’s a good idea to use the same place every day, at least in the beginning. The more personalized your spot is the better. You can decorate it with candles, flowers, and pictures of the people you love.
As we have discussed before, the idea is to sit quietly, with your eyes closed, and focus on a point inside of your forehead. Try not to think of anything in particular, allowing your mind to become calm, and peaceful. If you find that your mind is 'chattering', don't try to control it, just let it finish what it is that it is working on, it will eventually quiet down.
If you’re a beginner, you should begin with short ten to twenty minute sessions, each day. After a while, you will start to feel deep relaxation and joy during these sessions and you will be able to meditate longer.
Another technique is almost like a form of self-hypnosis. Begin by sitting in a quiet, comfortable spot, making sure you are facing a wall about eight feet away from you. Pick a spot or object on that wall, and make it your focal point. Looking at your focal point, begin counting backwards from 100, one number for each breath you exhale. As you do this, imagine yourself floating, and feeling very relaxed. You will begin to feel your eyelids getting heavy, and may begin to blink.
Let your eyes slowly close, and as you continue to count backwards, imagine yourself as limp as a ragdoll, totally relaxed, and floating in a safe and comfortable place. Stop counting, and just float in your space. If any disturbing thoughts should come while in your space, just let them flow out again, and allow yourself to continue to feel safe and relaxed. This technique can help you to cope with stress, and discharge the tension that accumulates during stressful situations.
When you are ready to come out of this state of self-hypnosis, you can simply let yourself drift off to sleep, or you can count from one to three and exit. First, count one, and get yourself ready to exit. At two, take a deep breath, and hold for a few seconds. At three, exhale and open your eyes slowly. As you open your eyes, continue to hold on to that relaxed and comfortable feeling.
As you gain experience, you may want to increase the length of your sessions to thirty minutes or more as your schedule allows. In the fast-paced lifestyles of today, it is so important that we take care of ourselves mentally and physically. Including time for meditation is a great way to do that.