H E A LT H
&
W E LL N E S S
oo much stress? You need simple stress meditation to combat the daily
T
stress of life. Of course, learning to meditate might intimidate you, and it’s
tough to find the time for daily meditation. A solution to both problems is
meditation that you can learn right now, that will take a minute to do each
day.
An Easy Stress Meditation
When you breathe through your mouth, it expands your chest. Breath
through your nose and you’ll notice how your abdomen extends. Nose-
breathing causes the diaphragm to pull air to the bottom of your lungs.
This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream and brain, and
it also tends to relax you. Breathing through your nose is healthier, and it’s
the basis of this one-minute meditation.
Here’s how you do it. Close your eyes, sigh, and let the tension go out of
your muscles. It may help to tense up your muscles first, then release that
tension. Then let go of your thoughts, as much as possible, and take four
or five slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your
breathing.
Can Meditation Be This Easy?
The short answer is yes. You are not likely to go into a deep meditative
state with this simple stress meditation. However, you will get benefits,
including a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.
It helps to develop a “trigger” for your meditation. For example, do your
four breaths when you get into the car, or right after lunch each day. These
triggers are places or times that remind you, so your meditation becomes a
habit.
A deep meditative state requires appropriate setting and ambience along
with regularity in practice, but there is nothing wrong with enjoying the
relaxation you’ll get from this technique. If you want, you can always
pursue deeper meditation later. Meanwhile, remember that not everything
has to be difficult to be of value.