50 | ElementsForAHealthierLife.com | December 2016
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. There are many varieties of meditation, all of which help to produce a deeper state of relaxation and tranquility. The practice allows a person to quiet their mind and promote stress reduction. The end result is enhanced physical and emotional well-being, stronger sense of self, and strengthens intuition. Types of meditation include yoga, guided meditation, mantra meditation, qi gong, transcendental meditation, and mindfulness meditation.
To enhance your experience:
1. Have a glass of water nearby. At the end of the meditation, it is a good idea to drink some water to help you feel “grounded” and bring you back into the here and now. Often times when working with the throat chakra we may get a tickle in our throat as we release stagnant or blocked energies within this chakra.
2. Have a pen and paper nearby. It is common to receive messages during a meditation. Write down the experience you had while in meditation; what did you see, feel, touch, hear, and/or smell? If you do not believe you received a message, that’s okay too. There are times when it is more important that we get the mental and physical rest.
3. Sit in comfortable chair, or lay on something comfortable, in a space where you will not be interrupted and away from distractions.
4. Turn off the volume of your phone's ring tone, or any devices that alerts you of an incoming calls, new messages or emails. Meditation is practice in which we center your attention on our self; a time of peace without distractions from the outside world.
5. Don't worry about the “how.” Starting anything knew can create a sense of insecurity or questioning Self, “Am I doing this right?” Each person experiences meditation differently, and not always the same way from one to another. There are individuals who will visualize the scene as it is played out while others remain in the darkness of having their eyes closed with the other four senses feel, smell, hear, and/or taste active.
6. At the conclusion of the guided meditation, open your eyes gently and ease into being aware of your surroundings and your physical body.
7. When guided to take in a deep breath and exhale the deep breath, try to evenly space out the duration of time. For example, breathe in through your nose for a count of six and exhale out your mouth for a count of six.
8. Our minds may wander during any type of meditation. This is normal. Try to bring your thoughts back to the guided meditation.