The practice of meditation has been around for thousands of years, but we have just as much need for it today, with our busy lifestyles, as the mystics seeking enlightenment in ancient times.
Learning how to meditate is one of the best ways to learn to relax and eliminate stress and, unlike medication, there are no nasty side effects. There are many different types of meditation from the extremely complex to the relatively simple but I’m going to show you a quick and easy method which anybody can learn in a few minutes.
First, find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed for about 10 to 15 minutes and sit in a straight-backed chair.
Place your feet on the floor and rest your hands comfortably on your lap. Sit upright and imagine a thread pulling the top of your head up toward the ceiling (no slouching allowed!)
Now, imagine that your belly is a balloon - as you breathe in, the balloon expands and as you breathe out the balloon collapses in toward your spine. This breathing method ensures that you’ll be using your diaphragm, instead of your chest muscles, which promotes greater relaxation.
Concentrate on the movement of your belly, expanding and contracting, and also on the sound of your breath as it goes in and out of your mouth.
Continue for about ten to fifteen minutes, then open your eyes but don’t stand up straight away, wait for a few moments to re-orient yourself first. Congratulations! You now know how to meditate.
Try to do this technique twice a day for a week and you’ll be amazed at how more relaxed and less stressed you feel. In fact you may feel so good that you’ll want to make meditation a permanent part of your life.
Mike Hughes has been practicing meditation for over 20 years and is the author of "The Power of Stillness" which will teach you how to meditate using a more powerful method.
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