subject: Meditation Is Natural To You, 4 Simple Steps.. [print this page] One of the biggest hindrances any beginner has to understanding meditation is that they think they have to stop their mind from thinking. This is a fallacy!! By the time you finish this article you'll know not only why this is false, but have some steps you can take to begin experiencing true meditation.
In truth, the mind is supposed to become clear eventually yes, but the important point is that it actually happens naturally, but only when you adjust habits slightly. Anyone can prove this by trying to force their mind to stop immediately. You either:
a) Achieve it but can't do so for long,
b) Can, but it bottles up the thoughts and you get more and more wound up or,
c) You simply can't and the more you try, the busier your mind gets.
I used to be more primarily a "c" person, although there are various subtle categories, these are the most common results; and yet essentially they all blend in to one, and none of those states of mind are healthy. So, if meditation is supposed to be beneficial, then trying to stop the mind can't be meditation.
A naturally settled yet alert mind is easily achievable by using a number of methods and is the true root of holistic health. Breathing meditation is one of the most popular and generally useful methods. In order to understand how this works, you need only remember the last time you were panicking....how did you breathe? My guess if your like most is your breath was fast; shallow and mainly in the chest.
Thought/emotion and the breath are very interdependent. If the breath relaxes and slows, it's easier for the thought processes to do the same.
What does this tell you about some of the benefits of doing this, even for 5 minutes? Can you imagine how your life would be different, to be able to master your reactions in any situation...to be connected to your subconscious in a way that allows spontaneous understanding and creativity....to regenerate your energy quicker than sleep!
Now consider this, as a baby you will have naturally breathed from the abdomen, and there are a few very important reasons for this:
1) There are more oxygen grabbing veins situated at the lower part of your lungs, so breathing this way is more efficient. If you consider that oxygen is one of your primary sources of energy in the body, you can imagine what this one simple and easy habit change can do for you alone.
2) As a baby, it wasn't long ago that you were the most efficient at breathing possible i.e. embryonic breathing in the womb. So breathing from the abdomen was easy.
3) Usually as a baby you didn't have so much unnecessary mental business going through your mind.
Influences around you had not taken hold as yet.
Lets move on to 4 tips you can use immediately to improve your breathing: -
1)Put the tongue in the roof of the mouth; inhale and exhale through the nose (added benefit - your nose efficiently deals with a large percentage 'air pollution'; dust etc.. This takes even more pressure off of the body).
2) When breathing deep, work up to it gradually, don't force it too deep too soon. This can actually seriously hurt you.
3) Half smile like a cat - sound silly? A half smile is the natural position for your mouth, doing otherwise is actually another unhealthy habit, it causes stress. A half smile helps your whole face to relax and your breathing also.
4) Sit up straight - but not stiff! Adjustments to any postural habit should be done not too hard or too soft. - You will find even these few tips when combined, will not only fill you with growing well being, but actually, you'll start to have a quieter mind, without trying to stop it. Magic!!
