Posts Tagged ‘Meditation’

50. Don’t multitask!

49. Sing in the shower. Go ahead, no-one’s listening.

48. Look in the mirror and smile. Don’t laugh though or you might hurt your feelings.

47. Whenever you feel stressed about a situation ask yourself, “Will this matter in a years time?”. The answer is probably no.

46. Pet your pet. It’s what you got them for!

45. Play some relaxing music in the background.

44. Have one day a month where you avoid electronics. Phones, TVs and computers can over-stimulate the mind. This will also give you a full day of quality “me time”.

43. Stretch your muscles out for five minutes. This will leave you feeling calm, loose and relaxed.

42. If you’re having a difficult time talk to a friend about it. A problem shared is a problem halved.

41. Spend a night wrapped up on the coach watching your favorite TV show or DVD.

40. Ask your partner to give you a back massage. If you’re single you could treat yourself and go to a spa with friends.

39. Go for a walk and get some fresh air.

38. Before you go to bed have a warm drink, this will help you drift off to sleep.

37. Turn off anything that makes a noise and appreciate the silence.

36. Think about things in your life that make you happy and resolve to do them more often.

35. Dance around the house to some upbeat songs.

34. Don’t watch the news before going to bed. It causes anxiety and can disrupt your sleep.

33. Take the time to put your feet up and relax with a cup of tea or coffee.

32. If you’re busy at home turn off the phones so you won’t get interrupted and the work will be finished quicker.

31. Whenever you feel tense step back and take ten slow, deep breaths.

30. Light a scented candle and enjoy the relaxing aroma.

29. Writing is therapeutic so try starting a journal. Write about whatever you want but try to end it on a positive note.

28. Take a nap. Not only will this refresh you but people who nap tend to have a better memory than those who don’t.

27. Learn a new skill. This will invigorate your mind and give you a new sense of energy.

26. Cut out any activities in your life that you don’t enjoy and aren’t necessary.

25. Buy yourself a stress ball or Chinese worry balls and go to town on them.

24. Lie down in the sun, but don’t forget to protect yourself with sun block.

23. Consciously relax your face muscles and allow your shoulders to drop.

22. Hit something. Note I said “something” not “someone”!

21. Look up at the sky and allow yourself to daydream.

20. Go somewhere new. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 minute or 10 hours away.

19. Wear comfortable clothes. If you have a 40inch waist don’t wear 38 inch jeans because of a vague sense of vanity.

18. Tense all the muscles in your body and then let them go limp.

17. Hydrate yourself properly with a glass of water.

16. Find a spare moment to tell yourself “I am a calm, relaxed individual” over and over in your head.

15. On nice days leave the office and eat your lunch outside.

14. If you want to cry, CRY! Releasing emotions this way will make you feel much better afterwards.

13. Take your children or dog to the park.

12. Have a soak in a nice, hot bath.

11. Open up a few windows and let the fresh air energize you.

10. If you take sugar in tea or coffee start to slowly cutback. Go from two teaspoons to one, then once you’re used to that from one to none. Sugar causes hyperactivity and anxiety.

9. Constantly change up your daily routine. A change is as good as a rest.

8. Before you start a big task jot down exactly what needs to be done in order. This will focus your mind and help you to avoid stress.

7. Cut down on meat and processed foods and replace them with fruit, vegetables and nuts.

6. Visit the local library. It’s guaranteed to be quiet and you might just find a book that you can relax with while reading.

5. The hypnotic state is an extremely relaxing one. So why not download the free Deep Relaxation Hypnosis MP3 here on Relaxation Haven or…

4. Buy a relaxing hypnosis session from a reputable online resource such as HypnoBusters.

3. Start participating in a yoga class. You’ll improve your fitness and flexibility plus get to meet new people.

2. Take 10 minutes in the morning to meditate.

1. Come to Relaxation Haven and we will teach you about methods of relaxation as well as provide great videos and audio.

As a follow up to An Overview of Meditation which I posted a few days ago I have sourced this excellent video that provides a quick introduction to meditation. I realise that some people prefer to watch videos rather than read reams of text so whenever I write a piece I will try and find a video which complements it well.

After watching the video you may have noticed the mention of yoga, this is a topic I certainly intend to discuss more in the future. Until then though check out the Relaxation Haven archives and feel free to leave comments and suggestions below.

Many people associate meditation with religious or spiritual practice and while it can be used for these reasons it is also a technique that can be used to achieve a state of deep relaxation. Meditation is used to clear the mind of all thoughts or alternatively to focus on a single detail, this for example could be the sounds you hear around you or your breathing patterns.

Some confuse meditation with hypnosis and this is understandable. They are both similar in many regards in that they quiet the conscious mind and are by their very nature deeply relaxing. The difference is that while meditating you aim to stay in this altered state of awareness whereas hypnosis uses this state to help you change thoughts, habits and behaviors.  There is no advantage one holds over the other and I personally use both to aid relaxation and self improvement. Together they are incredibly beneficial exercises for the mind as well as the body.

The Feeling of a Meditative State

Meditation is a profoundly personal experience so one person may feel quite different from another while meditating. When I meditate my body feels very loose and light and time seems to speed up. However for you it could be the complete opposite, your body may feel heavy and one minute may feel like five. The important thing is that the mind is clear of all mental chatter.

Allow your meditation to be as natural as possible. If you body begins to shiver let it do so, if you can’t keep from smiling don’t try and stop it. There really is no right or wrong when you meditate, it’s all about you.

A Beginners Meditation Exercise

Find a place, whether inside or outdoors, where you can relax and unwind without fear of being disturbed. It is important to be sat in a position where your spin is straight yet not rigid, this can be on the floor, a stool or a comfortable chair. The classic posture for meditation is the lotus position which is pictured to the right. If you aren’t that limber you can sit with you legs out straight or slightly bent, whatever works for you.

Begin by closing your eyes and taking slow, deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Pay close attention to how the air feels as it’s taken in by your lungs and then expelled. Allow all the muscles around your body to relax, especially around your face and shoulders. Know that while you are meditating nothing else matters to you except this amazing experience. Let the time drift by until you are ready to end the session, it may be five minutes, fifteen or even more.

Words of Advice

Meditation can be a life changing exercise. Like any other form of exercise to get the most from it it’s important to meditate regularly, at least once a day even if it’s only for five minutes.

If you tried to exercise above and enjoyed it or even if you struggled with it but would like to continue with your learning then I would recommend that begin with guided meditation mp3s. These are excellent for beginners as all they require you do is relax and follow the spoken instructions. I have included a link below to a page that hosts a group of free guided meditation mp3s that you may find useful, particularly the ones read by Malcolm Huxter.

http://www.buddhanet.net/audio-meditation.htm