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One Meditation Mistake People Make
Heather Dominick
The point is to achieve a sense of being centered and letting
go of every day concerns.
How do I DO that?
This can be done in many ways: reciting words or mantras,
controlling breathing patterns or engaging in physically active
meditations such as yoga or trance dance.
Don't have time for any of that?
Take what you do have time for and what WORKS for you. Meditating
is simply taking a moment to BE. A big mistake that a lot
of people make is making meditation a big deal and then not
doing anything at all.
Let's break it down:
Reciting words or mantras: feeling stressed, anxious, upset?
Take note of that and then use a phrase that works for you.
One of my favorites, "You will be fine." Take a moment to
listen to the thought that works for you and then move onto
your task. It is the moment that has the power more than the
actual phrase.
Controlling breathing patterns: just breathe. Ever notice
when someone says the word "breathe," you do? Try it. That
right there is controlling your pattern. Take a deep breath
in and slowly let it out. You just meditated.
Physically active meditations: modalities like yoga and trance
dance are wonderful if they work for you, but want to know
what is really meditative for me? Swimming. Love it. I get
more from doing laps in my little NYC gym pool than any yoga
class could give me right now. There was a time when I did
yoga twice a week, but right now the thought of getting to
a class stresses me out. It is always about finding what works
for you. Just find it.
Modern science has shown that relaxation of the mind has a
healing effect on the body, helping people to reduce stress
and, as a result, prevent disease - even something as simple
as a cold.
How is this possible?
In a meditative state, metabolic processes, including respiration
and blood flow, slow down. Key words - SLOW DOWN.
That's it.
Meditation does not need to take an enormous amount of time.
It only takes conscious effort. You need only take five minutes
to slow down, focus on the center of your body and let the
rest of the moment happen.
If you would like a more focused approach, try this:
Meditation Exercise
1. Sit in a comfortable position that allows you to relax.
Dim the lights and light a candle. Concentrate on the flame.
2. Relax and breathe softly and slowly through your nose (breathing
through the nose keeps energy and warmth contained within
the body). Concentrate on how your abdomen rises and falls
with your breath. If you are breathing through your chest
try to drop your breath into the belly. Placing a hand on
your stomach may help with this.
3. Allow your thoughts to wander, calmly. Welcome every new
thought, but do not dwell on it. Keep your eyes focused on
the candle and let everyday thoughts drop away. Do this for
as short or as long as you desire.
Where do the lemons come in?
Just as Meditation can help to put health back on track so
can one special fruit: the lemon.
Did you know that the lemon actually functions as a buffer
in the body and can reduce hyperactivity in the stomach? How
about that the lemon stimulates the production of enzymes
and digestive juices in the mucous membrane of the stomach,
enhancing the absorption of iron and calcium of other foods?
What about the fact that it helps to cleanse the body by promoting
perspiration?
All of this will give you an increase in centered-focus and
have you feeling more relaxed.
Here are some ways to use this powerful fruit:
1. To alleviate sore throat and hoarseness squeeze one lemon
and dilute the juice with one cup of hot water. Gargle three
times a day with the diluted juice.
2. Relieve joint and nerve pain by grating the skin from 1
lemon, being careful to get only the yellow layer, not the
white underneath. Rub the grated peel onto the sore parts
of the body and then wrap with a cloth or bandage. Keep in
place for about 1 hour.
3. To reduce fever, coughs and asthma pour one cup of boiling
water over 3 tsp. of dried lemon leaves and allow to steep
for 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey. Drink two to three cups
a day.
Heather Dominick, "The Energy Expert" is an energy~nutrition
specialist with over 10 years of teaching and coaching experience.
Heather's primary focus is in helping women identify nutritional
sources for increasing physical energy and making permanent
lifestyle changes. To sign up to receive your own 20 minute
Energy Make-over, for her freebie how-to articles and no-charge
teleclasses on creating your most energized life, visit http://www.individual-health.net.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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