Meditation - The Health Benefits

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Hi everyone,
I felt like sharing with you all, something which has helped me a lot recently.
Many of you I am sure will be familiar with the idea and/or practice of meditation as a relaxation method. Whether you do it at home, or in the office on your lunch break, it is considered by many to be very beneficial to your health. If it is something you have never tried before, why not give it a go?

It doesn't matter whether you are still in school, or even a high flying profession, everyone gets stressed at times and this is not good for you. It can negatively impact your mental and physical well-being, manifesting in various ways which we could all do without.
Joint pains, fatigue, headaches, ulcers and suppression of the immune system are but a few of the effects an overly stressful lifestyle can cause.

Deep relaxation methods, basically just switching off and tuning out for a while, can positively effect your body in many ways, these include Increased Immunity, Increased Fertility, Lower Blood Pressure and Emotional Balance, amongst others.

Your personal health should be a priority and you can lead a happier life, by living a healthier life.

How To Switch Off

You don't have to dress in robe and surround yourself with incense and water features to meditate. You can do it practically anywhere, any time. These four methods are useful as a guide.

Body Scan: Starting with your head and working down to your arms and feet, notice how you feel in your body. Taking in your head and neck, simply notice if you feel tense, relaxed, calm or anxious. See how much you can spread any sensations of softness and relaxation to areas of your body that feel tense. Once your reach your feet, work back up your body.

Breath Focus: Sit comfortably. Tune into your breath, follow the sensation of inhaling from your nose to abdomen and out again. Let tension go with each exhalation. When you notice your mind wandering, return to your breath.

Mantra Repetition: The relaxation response can be evoked by sitting quietly with eyes closed for 15 minutes twice a day, and mentally repeating a simple word or sound such as ''Om''.

Guided Imagery: Imagine a wonderfully relaxing light or a soothing waterfall washing away tension from your body and mind. Make your image vivid, imagining texture, colour and any fragrance as the image washes over you.

If you are new to mediation, why not try as a first step, a guided relaxation from www.calm.com - take 2 minutes out of your busy schedule, relax, and just feel better.

This has helped me a great deal with the stresses and pressures or college, i'm sure many of you can remember what that was like, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who has never tried it before.
If you are a seasoned pro and have first hand experience of the health benefits of meditation, or even if you have a different technique that has worked for you, please post a reply below and let everyone know.

'Keep Calm and Carry On'

Liz

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