The notion of meditation brings to mind images of very healthy-looking people sitting cross-legged on the floor. They are chanting or doing deep breathing. Incense may be burning or small bells ringing.
Well, we may not like incense. We may never be able to get into those pretzel-like positions. Chanting or deep breathing exercises may make us feel weird.
Fortunately, meditation is not really like all that. And, a regular meditation practice may help to significantly reduce the effects of stress – both physically and mentally.
“But I could never sit still for half an hour,” you say. “I could never concentrate on one thing for thirty minutes at a time.” Again, fortunately you don’t have to. The benefits of meditation can be obtained from as little as ten minutes each day.
Also, meditation is not about “concentrating on one thing”. Your thoughts go where they go. The only purpose of meditation is to notice your thoughts, and return to a quiet place. In one popular form of meditation, you focus on your breathing. Not deep breathing. Just regular breathing – in and out. You focus on your breath. Your thoughts go where they go, and you notice and gently bring your attention back to the breath. That’s it.
Sit comfortably in a chair with a firm seat or on a mat. Focus on your breath and meditate for ten minutes. This may not be the easiest thing to do at first, but you’ll be surprised at how easy this becomes. Make this a daily habit. You may want to eventually add another ten-minute session. Soon, you’ll notice a decrease in your levels of stress and an improvement in your sense of your own well-being.
Contact Dr. Delgado to with any questions on stress relief and or post a comment to our blog.
