Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom ~ Buddha

The last few weeks we discussed sleep, diet, and yoga; all of which are important to whole body health. However, meditation is another form of self care that nurtures our minds and therefore helps us to be healthier and happier! A regular practice of meditation helps calm anxiety, improves our sleep, and increases our ability to concentrate.

It seems there is a widespread misunderstanding about meditation. I suspect that the stereotype involves a complicated sitting-yoga-esque pose, while our eyes are closed and we hum. This couldn’t be further from the truth! I admit, some people might meditate in this way, however meditation is highly personal and individualized and no two experiences or methods are the same!

During meditation, the goal is to empty our minds of “chatter,” while focusing on a phrase (also known as a “mantra”) a prayer, or an image. If you are a beginner, here are some tips to get started:

1. Make mediation an every day habit. Remember our “21 days to a habit” rule? If you can commit to 21 days of mediation, chances are you will stick with it!
2. Focus on your breathing. Breathe deeply and slowly through your nose, exhaling or “pushing” the breath out through your mouth.
3. Start small. Try to focus on your chosen object, mantra, or prayer for 1 full minute. Remember that meditation is an active process; you will need to re-direct your attention several times in order to stay focused.
4. Don’t give up! Practice makes progress!

You might also want to experiment with lighting (total darkness or total light), indoors versus outdoors meditation, lighting candles or using aromatherapy to help calm your mind. Whatever you choose, do what feels right to you!

If you are interested in taking action to move your health to the next level, please apply for a complimentary Health Breakthrough Strategy Session by filling out the contact form here (Please note – it doesn’t matter where you are in the world for you to benefit, as long as you have an internet connection or phone line).