Meditation for the Mind, Body, & Soul
People have been practicing meditation for thousands of years. It was originally meant to help deepen and understand the sacred and mystical wisdom of life. Today, meditation is used for relaxation and stress reduction.
What is Meditation?
Meditation is a state of perception in which the consciousness is awake, active, and observing. It is considered a type of mind-body connection and can produce a deep state of relaxation and tranquility. During meditation, a person focuses their attention and tries to eliminate thoughts that may be flooding the mind and causing stress. Meditation can enhance physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Benefits of Meditation
Research has shown that meditation can provide a variety of benefits when done correctly. It can give a person a sense of calm, peace, harmony, and balance which can improve a person’s overall health and well-being. It also can help with relaxation and coping techniques that are associated with stress by refocusing one’s attention towards something more calming. Other benefits include learning how to stay centered and keeping an inner peace and coherency within the body.
The good news is these benefits do not end when meditation ends. They continue to work throughout the day creating a more calming and peaceful inner and outer environment. Meditation can help manage symptoms that are related to certain medical issues.
Some additional emotional, mental, and physical benefits can include:
Gaining a wider perspective in stressful situations,
Building new skills to manage stress,
Increase self-awareness and focus,
Staying focused on the present,
Reduction in negative emotions,
Increase in patience and tolerance,
Lowers resting heart rate and resting blood pressure,
Improves sleep quality.
How to Meditate?
There are numerous ways to meditate, and it is recommended that find a way that feels good to the body, mind, and soul. When meditating, clear away the information overload that builds up every day and contributes to stress. There is no prescription on how often a person should meditate. Meditating is dependent on the individual themselves and what feels right to them.
Meditation is much easier than most people think. If you aren’t sure how to meditate, here are some steps you can try.
Begin by finding a quiet place where you can relax into the process,
Set a timer, if needed (if this is your first time, it is recommended only attempting 5-minute intervals while working your way up to longer periods of time),
Notice you body and posture (try sitting in a chair with feet on the floor or loosely cross-legged),
Close your eyes or lower your gaze,
Follow the sensations of your breath as it goes in and out of the body,
If your mind wanders, give yourself some compassion and bring your attention back to the rhythm of your breath,
When finished, close your practice with kindness and gratitude.
Congratulations! You did it!