If there is one tried, tested and proven method of relaxation in this world, it must surely be meditation.
The benefits of meditation
Meditative techniques have been used successfully for millenia to create a balance between body and mind, thought and stillness, action and inaction. It is a universal gift – everybody in the world can massively benefit from meditation, and you don’t need to spend any money or prepare anything particular in order to slip into a meditative state and let the troubles of your life and the world flow away from your mind.
If you are finding yourself struggling with stress at home, and are finding it difficult to relax and enjoy life as you feel you should be able to, then the chances are you really should be setting aside a bit of time each day in which to meditate.
You don’t need to do it for very long in order to see some improvement in your mental state; some people find as little as fifteen minutes of meditation each day can make a dramatic difference, and allow them to really let go of their worries and cares which perhaps are brought home from the office.
Of course, you can meditate for as long as you like – there are no time limits. One of the most beautiful experiences of meditation comes from the feeling of timelessness, and once you are in a meditative trance, the minutes can blissfully slip away in what seems like seconds.
Using music to meditate
But how do you use meditation to relax, and how exactly does one meditate? There is no simple answer to this question, as it is clear that most people meditate in their own way, and have their own method for entering a meditative state.
Many people nowadays are using specially made music to help them meditate. There is a plethora of beautifully relaxing and intelligently engineered meditative music available online which can quickly set your mind in a state of deep relaxation, and with the help of good quality headphones, it can be a very effective way of eradicating any distractions in your home, or outside noise which may hinder your relaxation and concentration.
The breathing method
Most people would agree, however, that the key to meditation is a balance of relaxation, breathing and concentration. If you want a simple way to meditate, try sitting comfortable on the floor or on a cushion or seat.
Sit upright, so you can breathe more deeply, and begin to try to empty your mind of anything – absolutely anything – apart from your breathing. Take a deep inward breath, and hold it for a couple of seconds, before slowly and steadily releasing it. Once your lungs are empty, leave them that way for two or three seconds before breathing in again.
Continue this cycle for as long as it takes for you to become comfortable with your breathing, and concentrate on your breath moving around your body, filling each part of you with oxygen. Enjoy the experience, but continue to focus on as little as possible.
If it helps, visualize a relaxing, still scene, and imagine you are part of this scene. See yourself as floating on a still, blue ocean, only breathing, bodiless and relaxed. Before too long, you should be able to just ‘let go’ of anything else, continue to breathe deeply and feel utterly relaxed.
Learn a special chakra meditation that will help you both relax and heal your energy centers.
Benjamin Norris is a journalist from Bristol, UK, who spends his days lecturing Indian Cultural History at one of Europe’s leading Architecture Universities. He is particularly fascinated by global spiritual cultures and practices, and by many subjects of an esoteric nature.
His writing often reflects these interests, and he enjoys little more than delving deeply into unknown worlds of research. Benjamin is a part time writer for ChakraHealing.com and SilvaMethodLife.com where he covers topics of healing, meditation, personal development and mind body connection.
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