Modern blogging for all women on health, self care and fashion!
Follow us on Instagram!

Meditation and Mindfulness: The Peace You Need

Meditation and Mindfulness: The Peace You Need

Meditation has been around for thousands of years.  While the exact date is unknown, archaeologists and scholars agree that the practice has been around for at least 5,000 years.  The earliest documented teachings of meditation were sourced from ancient India, approximately 1500 BCE. This practice has stood the test of time, and has proven to be beneficial to our health in a number of ways.

Meditation benefits you didn’t know you needed:

  • lower blood pressure
  • improve your overall happiness
  • battle depression, anxiety, and panic disorder
  • reduce stress of every day life
  • improve self-awareness
  • promote a healthy lifestyle
  • improve concentration
  • assist in falling asleep
  • lowers heart-rate and improves cardiovascular health

Sounds great, right?  We all could benefit from at least one of these things.  If meditation is new to you, don’t worry, it’s easy and costs nothing to start.

First, find or create a space you are comfortable in.  This could be in a kitchen chair, in a seated floor position, or laying down.  You can be outside, inside, in front of an altar, in bed, or in your living room. Beyond that, you can mindfully meditate while walking, showering, cooking, or sitting in an airport.  Meditation is first and foremost, accessible.  Find that area you are most comfortable in.  Consider putting a cushion under your seat for comfort, and settle in.  For beginners, it may help to wear headphones and play relaxing music to tune out “outside noises”.  Chose lyric-free nature sounds, classical music, or simply a meditation music soundtrack.  Feeling relaxed? Perfect.  Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.  Continue this, while extending each breath an extra second each time. Once you are feeling relaxed, try these tips for meditating:

  • Breathe gently, not rushed.  Let your breath flow naturally.
  • Hold your palms open.  Do not clench your hands.
  • Release tension in your jaw and shoulders, breathe into those spaces and let them drop.
  • Everyone is different, but try keeping your eyes closed for fewer distractions.
  • Remove all your thoughts, your worry, your to-do lists.  Let go of today’s troubles and problems.
  • When thoughts come, welcome them, and let them pass.  Do not punish yourself for having thoughts.
  • Come back to your breath.  Focus on the feeling of your belly extending with each healing breath.
  • Scan your body for pain, does it hurt anywhere?  Breathe deeply into the pain and accept that it is there. Let go of the pain.
  • Come back to your breath, again. In and out.
  • Continue breathing deeply and calmly for 5-10 minutes.  Set a gentle timer to end your time.
  • Open your eyes, stretch, breathe.
  • Continue on your day more peacefully and aware.

Other ways to improve your meditation practice could be finding a comfortable, favorite cushion to sit on.  Consider building yourself an altar.  This does not need to be spiritually or religiously charged, unless you want it to be.  Your altar could contain seashells, candles, and mementos that bring you peace.  Light candles, shut your doors and blinds, start quiet and gentle music, and begin your practice.

Try meditating early in the morning, before the stresses of the day begin.  You’ll find you walk with more confidence and a calmer spirit.  Bring your practice with you on the train, in the car, at work, and back home again.  Meditation is open and free and within yourself.  Practice it daily.