Meditation and Other Practical Ways to Relax

Find a quiet place to practice meditation and other ways to relax.

Every doctor in America will tell you the stress levels for the average individual are off the charts. Our bodies and minds are not designed to be under as much pressure as we are in these fast paced times. If you’re feeling run down all the time from studying, working, parenting, partying, whatever…you’ve already ignored the signals your body tried to send you about burning out.

Patients are constantly told that unless they find ways to de-stress their lives they are in danger of serious mental and physical consequences. Fortunately, practically everyone can learn simple meditation and other practical ways to relax.

In that context, I recall this quote from Deepak Chopra…

“Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there – buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day” – Deepak Chopra.

Meditation and Other Practical Ways to Relax

Mantra meditation

According to the Mayo Clinic, the mantra meditation technique is a great calming meditation method. During mantra meditation, you mentally (silently) repeat a calming word, or mantra. The repetition of the mantra will replace all busy thoughts and help you shut out the outside world, thus calming your mind and body. The Mayo Clinic adds that transcendental meditation is another specific calming mantra meditation technique that can be effectively used to relax.

Mindful mediation

The Mayo Clinic recommends the mindful mediation technique to calm the mind. In mindful meditation, you increase your awareness of the present moment. You focus only on what you are experiencing in the exact moment while meditating, such as your breathing or the sensation of your feet touching the floor, and therefore keep your thoughts from wandering. Mindful, or mindfulness, meditation can be performed pretty much anywhere and while engaging in many different tasks, such as washing the dishes or walking.

For the full article go to Gaiam.com

Photo credit: shaka from morguefile.com

In the following excerpt from an article by Melissa Conrad Stoppler MD. she suggest you melt stress away with these Simple Strategies. 

Whenever you feel overwhelmed by stress, practice speaking more slowly than usual. You’ll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. Stressed people tend to speak fast and breathlessly; by slowing down your speech you’ll also appear less anxious and more in control of any situation.
Jump-start an effective time management strategy. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off (e.g., returning a phone call, making a doctor’s appointment), and do it immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energizing and can improve your attitude.
Get outdoors for a brief break. Our grandparents were right about the healing power of fresh air. Don’t be deterred by foul weather or a full schedule. Even five minutes on a balcony or terrace can be rejuvenating.

 

• 4. 5. 6. For those who argue that they don’t have time to meditate or breathe quietly for a few minutes a day, I promise you that you do have time. Just set an alarm on your cell phone and for 10 minutes you shut it off. Perfect time to grab some meditation time or a quick walk outdoors. Try it. You’ll like it!