A big part of this website is finding ways to look after yourself and making sure you put you first. It's very easy not to when you're busy building a client base, focusing on your business, family..etc the list goes on. It can feel overwhelming so it's important to find ways to look after yourself.
Meditation is relatively new, I've dabbled for years and still dabble but it can be a super useful tool and very helpful for bad periods of anxiety. Don't take my word for it, there are lot's of studies that explain all the benefits of meditation.
Benefits of Meditation
Reduces stress
Can help control anxiety
Promotes emotional health
Enhances self awareness
Improves sleep
Can decrease blood pressure
Can increase patience
Helps you focus on the present
These are just a few of the benefits and there's lots of scientific evidence which shows all the different ways meditation can help your mind and body, the reason I'm saying this is because before I even thought about actually trying to meditate I didn't believe it worked. I guess I thought it was a bit of hocus pocus, turns out I was totally wrong and it really does work.
Different types of meditation
Yes, there are different types of meditation..who knew! not only that but one shoe doesn't fit all so it's about finding what works for you. I can only really meditate with guided meditation audio, video, apps etc. I find it very difficult to focus my mind without someone telling me to. My husband on the other hand can sit on his meditation pillow with the gentle sound of whatever he's decided to play and guide himself through his session and usually has a mindfulness meditation where he purely focuses on being in the moment.
The below explanations for meditation have been taken from the following site:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858
Guided meditation. Sometimes called guided imagery or visualization, with this method of meditation you form mental images of places or situations you find relaxing. You try to use as many senses as possible, such as smells, sights, sounds and textures. You may be led through this process by a guide or teacher.
Mantra meditation. In this type of meditation, you silently repeat a calming word, thought or phrase to prevent distracting thoughts.
Mindfulness meditation. This type of meditation is based on being mindful, or having an increased awareness and acceptance of living in the present moment. In mindfulness meditation, you broaden your conscious awareness. You focus on what you experience during meditation, such as the flow of your breath. You can observe your thoughts and emotions. But let them pass without judgment.
Qi gong. This practice generally combines meditation, relaxation, physical movement and breathing exercises to restore and maintain balance. Qi gong (CHEE-gung) is part of traditional Chinese medicine.
Tai chi. This is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts training. In tai chi (TIE-CHEE), you perform a self-paced series of postures or movements in a slow, graceful manner while practicing deep breathing.
Transcendental meditation. Transcendental meditation is a simple, natural technique. In this form of meditation, you silently repeat a personally assigned mantra, such as a word, sound or phrase, in a specific way. This form of meditation may allow your body to settle into a state of profound rest and relaxation and your mind to achieve a state of inner peace, without needing to use concentration or effort.
Yoga. You perform a series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to promote a more flexible body and a calm mind. As you move through poses that require balance and concentration, you're encouraged to focus less on your busy day and more on the moment.
If you're totally new to meditation it can seem like a lot to take in. The best place to start is with an app. I like to use calm for my guided meditation but there are many different ones you can try.
Here are a few you could try to get you started:
Headspace
Calm
Breethe
Aura
Sattva
Buddhify
Smiling mind
Simple habit
The important thing is you find a quiet space where you can focus and start slow and steady. Try doing 5 mins every other day and build yourself up from there. I usually do 10 minuets and that's enough for me, I have done 20 minuets but it's not a regular occurrence. It's about finding what works for you and going with that. Like anything it takes patience and practice, it can be a lot harder than you think to quieten your mind but if you're struggling there are lots of tips to help you stay focus on the moment. Felling your body, listening to sounds, counting and only focusing on the numbers.
Lastly if you've never tried it before and not sure it's for you, just give it 1 week of trying it. You don't have to do it everyday. Try 2-3 times and see how you feel, I guarantee you'll notice a difference. The biggest thing for me is if I'm feeling like I'm going to explode from stress it will bring me right back down and calm me completely.
Here's a guided meditation from youtube to get you started.
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