Meditation is an art that can both be the simplest and the hardest thing to master as one of the stress relief techniques. It is simple because you only need yourself to do it, but at the same time it is hard because it requires discipline. There are different categories which you can use as a meditation guide and all forms of meditation (like Yoga, Tai Chi, Chi Kung and Tantra to name a few) fall into one of the following categories:
- Empty mind meditation — where the aim is to quiet your mind from thinking.
- Body meditation — normally involves a scan of the body, from head to toe, where you focus your attention on one body part at a time.
- Transcendental meditation — meditation that brings on a state of deep restfulness.
- Chakra meditation — Popular Buddhist meditation that focuses on the seven energy centres known as chakras.
- Energy meditation — focuses on energy that is around us and in us.
- Mantra meditation — using a technique of repeating specific sounds or words known as a mantra.
The goal of meditation is to take us to an altered state of consciousness that is different from what we experience during sleep, or when we are awake. During this altered state of consciousness, there is an increase in the level of brain activity so we become more aware of the balance and non-judgement from the universe, which can lead to stability in emotion, seeing problems in perspective and bringing us back to source. So whatever meditation techniques we choose to use, the results usually remain the same.
Meditation also has the following benefits:
- Stress relief – it is a valuable asset in maintaining optimum mental and physical health.
- Slows down alpha brain waive activity – causing heart rate, metabolic rate and respiration rate to be lower in comparison to sleep or hypnotic states.
- Clear thinking and improved concentration – because the mind is calm and you are in a quiet state, you feel free from the confusion of thoughts that you experience throughout your day.
- Improve focus and determination – Strengthens the mind and help to bring it under our conscious control.
There are many different categories of meditation and if you utilise some of the above-mentioned methods as a meditation guide, all of them can be used as stress relief techniques. You could also make use of knowledgeable professionals to assist you. If you need a professional to help you, please contact me and I will refer you to my personal contacts in London.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I was stressing that there where like, 25 things I SHOULD be doing! But then I saw that I can choose just one or two and start doing them more often. Thanks for a good article!
I’ve always found it very hard to just calm down enough to do meditation… my mind always wanders to whats for dinner or other things. How can I just relax more to actually get into it?
Thanks, keep up the good work! Looking forward to more posts
Jason
Visualisations usually works great for meditation. As you breathe in and out, focus on your breath moving through your body, visualise a bright healing light coming into your body as you breathe in, and all the dark energy leaving your body as you breathe out. Feel the breath creating space in your body… unblocking physical and emotional parts. This takes practice, and the more you meditate, the more you will be able to calm your mind from thoughts. The next 2 articles might also be helpful if you are looking to explore. Hope this helps:)
Annelie