Basics of guided meditation and stress free relaxation
Think meditation, and the picture that comes into your mind is that of an old saint sitting under a Peepul tree, with his eyes closed, oblivious to his surroundings. Yes, this is what meditation was a few hundred years ago. Today, however, it is a way of life and is seen as a technique that rids the mind from disturbing thoughts.
What meditation is not:
Meditation is not religion. Nor is it concentration or hypnosis. Meditation does not become better by taking drugs. You do not have to be a particular age to be able to meditate. Everyone can do it and you can get better at it with a little bit of practice.
Guided Meditation involves somebody guiding you through the meditation process. That is they literally talk you through the whole meditation process. There are some advantages and disadvantages to this technique. One of the reasons you may consider guided meditation is to help expand your understanding of the various meditation techniques. The Guided Meditation technique can be presented in a number of ways. You may do a guided meditation session in a small group with a meditation practitioner or you might do a guided meditation session using a meditation cd or meditation dvd.
Meditation is a process that leads one to inner peace and tranquility. It allows you to be in touch with yourself, completely relaxing you by taking you away from the humdrum of daily activity. It allows you to put things in perspective and makes you stress free. There are various forms of meditation. Some of the popular techniques are Vipasana, Transcendental Meditation and the Art of living. These techniques have been scientifically validated and have been proven to change the habits as well as attitudes of people. Though these techniques follow different procedures, they have some common benefits which include:
* A lower, more stable heart rate
* Lower blood pressure.
* Less chances of developing heart diseases.
* Better circulation of blood, which directly improves your work performance
* Slower, more stable respiratory rate
* Fewer psychosomatic symptoms
* Lower levels of anxiety
* Better concentration at work
* Better capacity for adjustment in society
* Better family and personal relationships
* Improved general health
* Make you a happier person
* Gives you more energy
* Helps you think positively
Meditation is a safe, easy-to-learn and a practical method of stress management, which can be practiced at home once it has been learnt under supervision.
Constructive guided relaxation: A hobby or interest that relaxes you can be a constructive way of relieving stress, provided it is not too time-consuming or taxing, that it becomes a source of stress in itself. If you are stressed, choose an activity that relaxes rather than stimulates you. Relaxation is a skill, and like other skills it can be learnt. It can induce feelings of calm and well being, while allowing you to remain in control. There are a wide variety of relaxation techniques which can provide the stressful mind with a number of benefits:.
* It is simple and easy to do
* Increases self-awareness of the effects of stress on the body and mind.
* Reduces fatigue by increasing awareness of excess muscle tension.
* Increases confidence in ability to deal with feelings of anxiety, stress and panic.
* Can improve personal relationships.
* Promotes sleep
* Provides an alternative to drugs (prescribed and non-prescribed).
Visualization : Visualization is an effective technique that can be used for treating many stress-related and physical illnesses , headaches, muscle spasms, chronic pain and many times even general and situational specific anxiety. For instance, if you are in pain, and try and think of something pleasant, most often it works.
Consciously visualizing may take some time to learn. You may even experience that the images are discouraging and uncooperative. This means that your images will be flickering on and off, moving around or disappearing altogether. A lot of time they may even be interrupted by another image. All you need is some practice. Remember that practice makes perfect, so try to practice the technique of visualization at least thrice a day. Do not get discouraged initially. With continued practice and determination, you can master any technique.
