“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”
~ Maya Angelou
It truly is all about quieting your mind. Stress...it's a malady of overthinking...everything! And, that same stress will lead to a whole host of problems that will throw your body into a frenzy. From weight gain to digestive issues, skin problems to muscle twitches - stress creates dis-ease. But...there is a way to start taking control of that silent little monster - it's called meditation.
No, you don't have to sit in Lotus pose and chant "ommmmmmmmm". In fact...you don't have to sit at all if you don't want to. Meditation is all about concentrating on the present moment...enjoying the exacting peace that is in the here and now. Whether you are making dinner for a loved one, or quietly reading...meditation can be as simple as not allowing your mind to wander and concentrating fully and gratefully on what you are doing. Try to quiet your mind once a day... start slowly and eventually you'll love it so much you'll look forward to it. Try these five simple steps to begin easing yourself into meditation, quieting your mind, and allowing your body to strengthen...from the inside out.
1. Commit to just 2 minutes a day.
Start simply if you want the habit to stick. You can do it for five minutes if you feel good about it, but all you're committing to is two minutes each day.
2. Pick a time.
Not an exact time of day, but a general time, like morning when you wake up, or during your lunch hour. Sometimes early morning is best, before anyone else it awake.
3. Find a quiet spot.
It really doesn't matter where as long as you can sit without being bothered for a few minutes.
4. Sit comfortably.
Don't worry about how you sit, what you wear, what you sit on, etc. A pillow on the floor is fine and so is a comfortable chair. Where ever you are most comfortable and relaxed is perfect
5. Focus on your breath.
Breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. Make sure to keep your breaths deep. Fill your lungs and your belly. Sit straight, gently close your eyes or keep them open and focus on something softly like a candle, a picture, or something outside the window or in the distance. If it helps, count your breaths ... repeat to yourself “breathe in, breathe out” ... or recite a favorite verse or a prayer in your head or imagine you are painting a canvas with a rainbow of color as you breathe. You can even use mindfulness meditation where you concentrate solely on what you are doing without distractions. Walking meditation works for many as well. As you walk recite a prayer to the tempo of your steps, a Mantra like; “All is as it should be” or even a single word like “surrender” “faith”, or “trust”. Some find that the simple act of walking and counting steps to avoid allowing anything else to enter their headspace works wonders. Whatever works for you, is what is most perfect.
Enjoy this beautiful, quiet time and make it your own.
~ Maya Angelou
It truly is all about quieting your mind. Stress...it's a malady of overthinking...everything! And, that same stress will lead to a whole host of problems that will throw your body into a frenzy. From weight gain to digestive issues, skin problems to muscle twitches - stress creates dis-ease. But...there is a way to start taking control of that silent little monster - it's called meditation.
No, you don't have to sit in Lotus pose and chant "ommmmmmmmm". In fact...you don't have to sit at all if you don't want to. Meditation is all about concentrating on the present moment...enjoying the exacting peace that is in the here and now. Whether you are making dinner for a loved one, or quietly reading...meditation can be as simple as not allowing your mind to wander and concentrating fully and gratefully on what you are doing. Try to quiet your mind once a day... start slowly and eventually you'll love it so much you'll look forward to it. Try these five simple steps to begin easing yourself into meditation, quieting your mind, and allowing your body to strengthen...from the inside out.
1. Commit to just 2 minutes a day.
Start simply if you want the habit to stick. You can do it for five minutes if you feel good about it, but all you're committing to is two minutes each day.
2. Pick a time.
Not an exact time of day, but a general time, like morning when you wake up, or during your lunch hour. Sometimes early morning is best, before anyone else it awake.
3. Find a quiet spot.
It really doesn't matter where as long as you can sit without being bothered for a few minutes.
4. Sit comfortably.
Don't worry about how you sit, what you wear, what you sit on, etc. A pillow on the floor is fine and so is a comfortable chair. Where ever you are most comfortable and relaxed is perfect
5. Focus on your breath.
Breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. Make sure to keep your breaths deep. Fill your lungs and your belly. Sit straight, gently close your eyes or keep them open and focus on something softly like a candle, a picture, or something outside the window or in the distance. If it helps, count your breaths ... repeat to yourself “breathe in, breathe out” ... or recite a favorite verse or a prayer in your head or imagine you are painting a canvas with a rainbow of color as you breathe. You can even use mindfulness meditation where you concentrate solely on what you are doing without distractions. Walking meditation works for many as well. As you walk recite a prayer to the tempo of your steps, a Mantra like; “All is as it should be” or even a single word like “surrender” “faith”, or “trust”. Some find that the simple act of walking and counting steps to avoid allowing anything else to enter their headspace works wonders. Whatever works for you, is what is most perfect.
Enjoy this beautiful, quiet time and make it your own.