Guided Meditation To Relieve Stress

By Holly Fagan

Meditation is just a means for relaxing your mind in order to give it some respite from the stresses of daily life. You don't have to perform it for hours in order to enjoy its benefits; in fact, fifteen to twenty minutes a day is plenty for most people. Many people have misconceptions about meditation, believing it involves long periods in which you still as a rock without moving at all. But that is not what meditation is.

In general, there are two types of meditation practices - concentration meditation and mindfulness meditation. Concentration meditation involves focusing on an object, sound, mantra or even a movement pattern. In mindfulness meditation, on the other hand, you open your consciousness to your inner world, developing aware of your thoughts, feelings and perceptions. While it is possible to learn meditation through a process of trial and error, it would be better to study guided meditation techniques under an experienced and qualified teacher who will direct you as to the right practices to follow. However, there are a few simple techniques that you can try out so you can sample some of the benefits of a regular meditation routine.

It is important before you start any relaxation meditation technique to learn how to first have complete physical relaxation. There are many different ways to do this. One in particular is to sit in a chair with your back straight and imagine a bright light covering you from your toes to the top of your head. Once you feel that your body is completely covered by this light you will have the feeling of total inner calmness and physical relaxation.

A great guided mediation technique involves using your imagination you can imagine yourself floating in a river or watching some fish as they swim serenely in a pond or create a haven in your mind a place that you love. You can think about things like the temperature of this place, or what it is made of. When you have created this imagine in your mind you can imagine your self being there enjoying the peace it can bring.

There are many other tips for effectively using relaxation meditation. First start out in a quiet comfortable place where you can have total concentration and will not be disturbed. One of the major misconceptions of meditation is that you have to have your mind completely blank, this is not true. You should always try to focus all of your attention on something. Another tip is to eat a light meal before so your stomach isn't completely empty. Don't force your body to cooperate just sit back relax and let go. You will be able sense something in yourself that give your this peaceful feeling and lets you know that it's working. - 31856

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