Meditate for a stress-free life
The hectic pace and demands of modern life may make you feel stressed and over-worked. You may not have enough time in the day to get everything done.
The idea behind meditation is to consciously relax your body and focus your thoughts on one thing for a sustained period. This occupies your mind, diverting it from the problems that are causing you stress. It gives your body time to relax and recuperate, and to clear away stress hormones that may have built up. It is the best way to rejuvenate and refresh your mind, body and soul.
There is nothing mystical about meditation. On the contrary, it is something that you can do quite easily by following these steps:
- Find a position that is comfortable to sit
- Close your eyes
- Relax your muscles
- Pay attention to your breathing
Breathe in deeply and then let your breath out. Count your breaths as this keeps your mind focused and keeps distraction at bay.
Practice this for ten or twenty minutes.
Focusing on breathing and counting breaths is just one way you can occupy your mind during meditation. There are many other approaches that you can try!
Focus on an object:
Focus your attention on examination of an object. Study it in detail for the entire meditation. Examine the shape, colour differences, texture, temperature and movement of the object. Objects often used in such practices are flowers, candle flames or flowing designs, but you can use other objects equally effectively (for example alarm clocks, desk lamps or even coffee mugs!)
Focus on a sound:
Some people like to focus on sounds they