Episodes
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Let's discuss some essential meditation techniques for beginners and some of the challenges for someone just starting to meditate.
Learning proper meditation techniques for beginners is very important for someone just starting to meditate. Each person is apt to experiencing various instances of stress. No person could prevent themselves from undergoing the sickening feeling of such pressure. However, various methods have been offered to aid a person in lessening stress.
One of the most frequently used ways is through meditation. However, neophytes are often troubled by fears and apprehensions on how to start developing such practice. In addition, they are uncertain about the methods and preparations they need to increase their success in this habit.
The first technique to be followed in meditation is selecting the place wherein you think you’ll achieve your inner peace. People have varying preferences in terms of which venues will sufficiently cater their needs. Make sure that you select a comfortable place, wherein you can easily organize your thoughts and achieve extreme silence. Do not meditate at public places. You should also avoid reflecting in places that remind you of stressful events that took place in the past.
Second, undergo meditation regularly. Have the drive to continue your contemplation, because it will nourish your inner soul. This means that you allow sufficient time for personal reflection. It helps whenever you remind yourself that maintaining this habit has numerous mental and emotional benefits.
Third, among the meditation techniques for beginners, practice the perfect breathing pattern. During this process, you have to focus your whole attention on your breath. This will block out unwanted ideas from formulating in your brain.
This may be difficult for beginners because some ideas tend to suddenly pop into your head. However, constant practice will help you develop this skill, and as soon as you master the appropriate breathing intervals, it will be easier for you to focus on your meditation.
Fourth, try your best to not sleep while meditating. It would be very difficult for you to appreciate the art of meditating if you fall asleep in the middle of your contemplation. As comfortable and quiet as your venue is, you have to keep yourself awake in order to fully grasp the happiness and lightheartedness that arise after meditation.
Fifth, learn to be patient. You cannot attain the positive results of such form of relaxation right away. It is normal to experience difficulties at the beginning of your meditation. However, if you learn to be patient, you will learn to develop meditation techniques for beginners that will help you in your future reflections. As time passes, it becomes easier for you to budge mental distractions. -
Choose the right meditation music for relaxation that works for you...
It has been proven that meditation music for relaxation keeps the body and mind are relaxed, the body's natural ability to heal itself is greatly enhanced. By listening to deeply relaxing music, you can assist your body to release its healing powers. By listening to relaxation music, you can create a zone of peace that allows you to experience each day from a place of alignment with your true nature.
For people who are into meditation, one of the most crucial factors for their practice of meditation is to hear some meditation music. Depending on the form of meditation you are practicing, meditation music plays a very big role in achieving the success of any meditation session.
What Meditation Music For Relaxation Should Be
People who have been practicing meditation for so long would definitely agree that the hardest thing to distract them from meditation is noise and ambient sounds. This is because even a tiny sound can penetrate the mind and distract it from whatever it has been doing.
Meditation music for relaxation while meditating is a way to isolate you from the outside world so you can focus your mind on your breath. Using meditation music mp3's are very effective for beginner meditators who are having trouble focusing their minds in the beginning.
Here are some guidelines for choosing meditation music for relaxation for you:
1. Make sure that it doesn't have lyrics. In choosing meditation music, it is always best to choose music that has no lyrics because it will distract your concentration. If you find plain rhythm boring, try to play something that has lyrics that you don’t understand so you don’t have to think what the song is saying. Aside from distracting your thoughts through the words you understand, music with lyrics will also encourage you to sing along which will totally shatter your concentration.
2. Relaxing music with soft rhythm is always advisable. For starters, this type of music will help you good because it will help you clear your mind to focus on the music. But, if you are already at a higher level of meditation, you can choose music that has faster rhythm.
3. Try to experiment with different types of music. Although soft and relaxing music is always advisable, try to play other types of music. Who knows? You might find better meditation music for relaxation by playing something that you truly enjoy.
4. Simple and soothing music is best to focus your attention. If you don’t have the luxury of time to experiment with different types of music to be played during meditation, then try a different type of meditation music on Youtube until you find what works best for you.
Some of these may include classical sounds, sounds from nature such as clapping of thunder, sounds of ocean waves, sounds of insects, and the wind. Other alternative options may also include simple instruments including a Tibetan singing bowl, flute, sitar, and tamboura which are known to have meditative inducing qualities.
When choosing meditation music for relaxation, it is very important to keep in mind that the type of meditation music for relaxation you should play must induce you to deep concentration and not into deep sleep.
If you are the type who practices meditation in just one place, then it is best if you play the same meditation music all over again. But if you are the type who changes places when you meditate, then it is best to bring along several types of meditation music to help you adjust to your surroundings.
You can download the meditation music that you like from various meditation sites on the Internet and burn a CD. But if you have a portable MP3 player, it is best to upload the music there so you can listen to it anytime you want to practice your meditation music for relaxation. -
Episodes manquant?
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Guided Meditation Script - Be sure and download this meditation above to your phone or mp3 player.
Find yourself a comfortable position in a location where you will not be disturbed and can have the time and privacy to completely explore meditation without the external pressures of everyday life invading your time and space for the next 30 minutes
In the next few minutes, you will delve into the practice of meditation with me as your guide.
Meditation is the practice of finding peace, stillness, and silence in the midst of a hectic world. It is personal and you will develop your very own practice.
So as we move into the practice of meditation, simply release any existing ideas or thoughts and suspend any beliefs you have about meditation and let us begin.
Now once you are comfortable either seated or lying down, pay attention to your breath, inhaling and exhaling and feeling the air fill your lungs and releasing negative energy on the exhale
Continuing to focus on your breath and as you do so notice how your body is feeling…
Are you experiencing any tension in your body, perhaps in your neck or shoulder, back or jaw…?
Just continue to focus on your breathing allow your breath to go onto these places of tension and release the tension on your exhaling
Bringing your attention to your breathing is the easiest and quickest way to bring your awareness to the present moment.
And feel your body relaxing now and as you continue to observe your breathing feel the tension leaving your body, leaving your hands and feet, your jaw and eyes, your neck and shoulders all relaxing now… -
What are Contemplative Practices?
Contemplative Practices cultivate a critical, first-person focus, sometimes with direct experience as the object, while at other times concentrating on complex ideas or situations. Incorporated into daily life, they act as a reminder to connect to what we find most meaningful.
Contemplative practices are practical, radical, and transformative, developing capacities for deep concentration and quieting the mind in the midst of the action and distraction that fills the everyday life. This state of calm centeredness is an aid to the exploration of meaning, purpose, and values. Contemplative practices can help develop greater empathy and communication skills, improve focus and attention, reduce stress and enhance creativity, supporting a loving and compassionate approach to life.
Contemplative practices are widely varied; for an illustration of just some of the many types of practices, please see the “Tree of Contemplative Practices” for more information. They come in many forms, from traditions all over the world. Examples of contemplative practices include various forms of meditation, focused thought, time in nature, writing, contemplative arts, and contemplative movement.
Some people find that active, physical practices, like yoga or tai chi, work best for them. Others find nourishment in still and silent practices, like mindfulness meditation. Some people find that rituals rooted in a religious or cultural tradition soothe their soul. And not all practices are done in solitude–groups and communities can engage in practices that support reflection in a social context.
We encourage you to discover for yourself how contemplative practice, in whatever form is best for you, can enrich your life and work.
Attribution:ContemplativeMind.org -
The subject of the benefits of meditation can be confusing and even be intimidating to some people. Meditation is an art form that dates back thousands of years.
It is well known for being a practice that monks and other religious people participated in for the many benefits of meditation.
Today meditation is associated with many health benefits for the mind and the body. It is being used more widely, and what most people don't know, is that there is more than one form of meditation.
The best way to describe meditation is by this; it is a practice that allows a person to train their mind to a better way of thinking. This could be to stop focusing on the past and let things go or to develop a more positive mindset.
The practice of meditation allows you to learn how to relax your mind and your body. It can help you develop a new life force, also known as gi, ki, and prana. At the same time, you can learn how to love again, have compassion, improve your generosity and to forgive things are just some of the benefits of meditation.
Buddhist monks used meditation on a daily basis and it helped them perform all of their rituals. They would use things like prayer beads to help them keep track of things that needed to be accomplished. As well they would touch their beads while saying mantras.
Many religions incorporate some form of meditation into their beliefs.
It is often used to help clear the mind and to sync your body and mind together. Mantras were often performed while in a sitting position and helped a person develop a calm state of mind.
The goal is to relax your mind and become totally aware of your thoughts and feelings. This can be done by clearing your mind and only thinking about one thing at a time. You may wish to focus on things like losing weight or forgiving someone for a recent action they took.
Today it is recognized that meditation can be done in many ways with tons of benefits.
Taking part in yoga is one way to experience the benefits of meditation. Kneeling or sitting and repeating phrases or quotes, is yet another way. It is even possible to meditate while walking, and numerous people actually perform it this way.
While at one time there may have been strict guidelines and expectations for meditation. Today how you meditate and where is more of a personal choice. You want to choose a location and position that is comfortable for you, and one that allows you not to be disturbed to realize the greatest benefits of meditation. -
A Candle Meditation can be used to help clear your mind and increase your ability to focus. You can do this is by lighting a candle and focusing directly on the flame.
You can download and use the guided meditation audio mp3 above to learn how to perform a guided candle meditation.
Many beginners find it much easier to clear their mind when focusing on an object.
Candles can also help to create a relaxing environment to aid in meditation. To use candles for meditation, you will need to choose a candle, create a relaxing environment, and position the candle for meditation. Then, light the candle and begin to clear your mind and focus on the flame.
Warnings For A Candle Meditation
Don't fall so deep into your meditative trance that you wouldn't notice the house burning down. If you think you're going to be in an unresponsive state while meditating, have a friend or relative come check on you.
Choosing a Candle For Your Meditation
Select a non-toxic candle. Many candles are made from toxic chemicals, such as paraffin. These release harmful vapors while the candle is lit and should not be used for candle meditation. Instead, select a candle made from a non-toxic or natural substance, such as beeswax or soy wax.
Choose a white, blue, or purple candle for spirituality. While meditating you will be looking at and focusing on the candle. Some people believe that certain colors can have symbolic meaning and can enhance your meditation experience. If you want to meditate for protection, purification, inner peace, spirituality, or intuition, you should use a white, blue, or purple candle.
Use a red or pink candle for love, passion, and power. If you want to focus your meditation session on love, romance, passion, power, or happiness, you should use a red or pink candle.
Select a green candle for fertility and wealth. Perhaps you want to use your meditation session to focus on prosperity and wealth. If this is the case then you should use a green candle. Green candles can also be used for fertility.
Determine if you want a scented candle
Some people find that scents help them reach a deeper level of relaxation. Others; however, may be allergic or sensitive to certain scents and prefer to use a non-scented candle. Experiment with both options and choose the one that helps you focus and relax.
Some scents to consider for meditation include lavender, vanilla, pine, peppermint, cinnamon, or jasmine.
Creating a Relaxing Environment
Choose a quiet room. Meditation is a relaxing experience, and you want your location to match your inner state. Find a place where you won't be disturbed for the duration of the session, typically 15 to 30 minutes. Pick a room that is free of household traffic and loud noises.
Dim the lights. Before you begin meditating, dim the lights in the room and pull down the window shades. It will be much easier to focus on the candle in a dimly lit room. If the room is too bright you may experience eye strain.
Remove any distractions from the room. When you meditate, you want to clear your mind and focus solely on the candle. Turn off your phone and/or other technology that may disturb your meditation and relaxation.
Wear comfortable clothing. You should try and be completely comfortable while you are meditating. If you are wearing uncomfortable clothing, your mind may stray and focus on your discomfort. Instead, wear flowing clothes that are loose around the waist, chest, and hips.
Positioning the Candle for Meditation
Place the candle at eye level. When using candles for meditation, you are supposed to keep your eyes open and look at the candle. For maximum comfort, the candle should be positioned at eye level, or just below eye level. This way you will not have to strain your neck to look up or down at the candle.
Situate the candle 20 inches (50 cm) away from you. Place the candle approximately 20 inches (50 cm) in front of where you will be sitting. -
This method of meditation refers to an actual method that you can easily practice in the comfort of your own home.
Transcendental is often used in conjunction with some organizations, in the context of this podcast we are referring to the method.
The technique associated with transcendental meditation is one that should be practiced twice daily, for twenty minutes at a time.
It is best done when in a sitting position with your eyes closed. It is a widely used method for anyone wishing to improve or self-develop any aspect of their life.
Meditation works when you allow your mind to stop racing and thinking different thoughts.
Instead, you slow your thinking down and start to become aware of your body and your mind. This is known as finding your inner self.
When you can get your body into the correct state you will find that you are more aware, your body begins to relax and rest more, and that your brain works more sharply.
Transcendental meditation is extremely popular and is practiced by approximately 5 million people around the world.
This method of meditating is known as a natural method and is used across all age groups, cultures and religions.
Due to its popularity, there have been over 350 research studies done on this method of meditation. Even medical schools such as Stanford and Harvard have conducted studies.
While this method of meditation may be new to many people, it actually stems from an ancient Indian method or tradition known as Vedic. This tradition was handed down over the years and was recently introduced as the Transcendental methods by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, about 50 years ago.
The instructors and teachers that teach this method today, still use the same procedures and principles that were used thousands of years ago.
This method is very simple to implement as it requires no major use of concentrating, as other meditation methods do.
The only effort that is required is for you to find a comfortable sitting position in a chair. The process involves you transcending into a state of natural awareness. While your body becomes restful, your mind stays alert. This state is a natural response, which is why it is so easy for people to achieve.
If you have never tried any form of meditation and would like to, transcendental meditation could be a great starting point for you. -
Does your mind chatter or talk almost nonstop at you? This is something that millions of people are dealing with. This chatter can literally drive you crazy and make your stress levels reach new peaks.
One of the best ways to deal with this mind chatter is to start incorporating meditation into your life. Meditation can help different aspects of your life as we will discuss below.
1) It can help you to overcomes issues such as; anxiety, depression, mood swings, and feelings of confusion. Dealing with these feelings is a major problem for thousands of people around the world. Sometimes these thoughts can be detrimental to your life and can have devastating effects on your life. If you are dealing with any of these issues check with your doctor about the benefits of incorporating meditation.
2) Meditation also helps you build healthy outlooks when it comes to achieving things like losing weight. By meditating you are reinforcing a positive attitude. If you use motivational quotes you can easily improve your mindset. If your goal is to lose weight, congratulate yourself each day on your effects. Or you may want to focus on how fantastic you will look in those skinny jeans!
3) Meditation can help boost your creative streak. When you clear your mind and reduce all that chatter your ability to focus and concentrate increases. When your mind is free you can allow it to wander and dream up all types of new things.
4) Meditating helps you feel re-energized. Your sessions do not have to last that long at all. A 20-minute session can help clear your mind and thoughts and leave you feeling refreshed and re-energized.
5) It also helps you deal with stress. This is achieved by reinforcing positive thoughts and by allowing you to focus on the tasks at hand. You will develop the skills need to deal with your stress more efficiently.
6) Meditation helps to improve your focus and your attention span. Participating in activities such as yoga or Tai Chi can help you in these areas. As can repeating motivational quotes or listening and focusing on sounds such as waves crashing on the beach.
7) Meditation benefits cardiovascular and immune health. Meditation induces relaxation, which increases the compound nitric oxide that causes blood vessels to open up and subsequently, blood pressure to drop. One study, published in 2008 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, showed that 40 of 60 high blood pressure patients who started meditating could stop taking their blood pressure medication.
Meditation also improves immunity. Meditation may make you less likely to get sick by improving your immune system, the network of cells that protects your body from disease. In a study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, test subjects who meditated were 25 percent less likely to get sick than those who did not meditate.
Doctors are now recommending meditation to more and more of their patients. This can be a helpful way to deal with many health issues and it really doesn't cost anything! To date, the results that have been seen from meditating are extremely positive, so it is something that is well worth looking into in more depth. -
No doubt when you first hear the word 'meditation' a picture of a monk appears in your mind. While monks were certainly big practitioners of this art, meditation is more popular today than you might think.
People from all walks of life use meditation today. Business executives, athletes, stockbrokers and lawyers all incorporate meditation into their lives. Even large corporations such as Google, Target and General Mills advocate the use of meditation to their employees.
Meditation can be used for several reasons. This includes improving your spirituality, decreasing your stress levels and increasing your power of concentration and focus.
The basic concept behind meditation is that it allows you to control your own thoughts, instead of letting others control them for you.
People who regularly practice meditation find that their self-discipline improves.
In addition, scientists are discovering that meditating can help improve your health by lowering your blood pressure and boosting your memory functions.
There are five basic components of meditation techniques:
Mindfulness
How many times in the day do you find your thoughts wandering? Probably dozens of times at least and this wandering process can be totally distracting.
Mindfulness allows you to stop all these thoughts from popping into your head. This is achieved by quietening these thoughts by concentrating on just one thing for about 10 minutes. Many people like to focus on the sounds of a waterfall or birds chirping in the background. Or you could just concentrate on your own breathing by coming aware of each breath that you take.
Active Meditation
This is where you use physical activity to help sync your mind and body. To perform this type of meditation technique you can simply walk or take part in a yoga class.
Affirmations
This is one type of meditation technique that you may have heard of. It is done by repeating a phrase or quote over and over. Select a phrase that holds meaning to you and repeat several times during the day.
Insight Meditation
With this form of meditation technique, you simply focus on one thought or feeling. Choose a topic such as love or anger and then meditate on what this means to you.
Guided Meditation
These types of meditation techniques use some form of guidance. It could be a person in the same room with you or it can be done by listening to an mp3. During the process you actually let your thoughts run away with you. This can be a very enjoyable and liberating experience. -
The best thing about meditating at home, is that it doesn't require a lot of time. All you need is to set aside 20 minutes per day for this beneficial exercise.
Use the following steps to set up your own routine for meditating at home and aim for at least once, if not twice, per day.
Select a Time That Works For You
You want to choose a time that is convenient for you. During this time period ensure that you will not be disturbed. You need to feel relaxed and your mind should be free of worry.
Many people enjoy meditating either as the sun comes up or goes down. If possible you could even meditate outside by doing a walking meditation.
Find A Quiet Secluded Location
This is very important as you don't want to have your spouse or children interrupt you. A quiet room in the house would work or even a secluded spot in your garden.
Your Position While Meditating
You need to sit comfortably while meditating. While sitting cross legged, or in the lotus position, is recommended it is not always necessary. You can sit comfortably on a chair and still receive the same benefits.
It's Best To Meditate Before Meals
If you eat a large meal you often feel tired and lethargic. This is why it is best to meditate before you eat. But, do not try and meditate if you are on the verge of getting really hungry, otherwise your concentration levels will be disrupted.
Warm Up, Get The Blood Flowing
As with any type of exercise you want to warm up, even if you are just going to be sitting down. This helps to get your blood flowing to all areas of your body and your brain. Plus it helps to make you feel more alert and ready to meditate.
Smiling Will Help You Relax
Just the act of smiling can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable. Remember you are going to learn how to relax and allow your mind to wander. Feeling happier is one easy way to make this happen.
Your Eyes
During the meditation process you will be sitting or standing with your eyes closed. When your 20 minutes are up, you don't want to rush to open your eyes.
Instead, give yourself plenty of time to become aware of your surroundings. In the same way you don't want to jump up and run for the phone! Allow your body to return to its conscious state again.
By following these simple steps, you can easily reap more benefits from your meditation sessions by learning how to do meditation at home. Remember, the more often you meditate, the easier the entire process will be for you. -
There is no doubt that stress is a huge issue for thousands of people today. In fact stress is often referred to as the silent killer. It can creep up on you and take hold of your life in devastating ways.
If you are dealing with stress in any way, it could be to your benefit to start incorporating some form of meditation into your daily routine.
One of the main benefits of meditation is that it can help calm your feelings. It can help both your physical health and your mental well being. While you may only spend 20 or 30 minutes actively meditating, the benefits of this session will stay with you all day long.
Stress often builds up because you just have too much to do or to think about.
Your mind is full of things that you want to accomplish and you just feel overwhelmed with it all. Meditating will help you diminish these thoughts by calming and soothing your mind. You will find it much easier to prioritize all your daily tasks and chores and you will be able to focus on what is important.
A key element to all of this is that meditation will help you learn the skills that you need to manage your stress level effectively.
Learning how to let go of the past and not dwell on it, is another important side effect of meditation. As well as stress, meditation seems to be showing positive results when it comes to other health issues. People who are dealing with health problems such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep issues and substance abuse have seen great results after meditating.
Your goal when meditating is to discover your inner peace.
Everyone has this, it is just extremely well hidden in some. There are different ways to find your inner peace such as using a physical form of meditation as in yoga or Tai Chi. Repeating a calming phrase is yet another method.
It is important to choose a way to meditate that will work for you. You may find that you need to experiment with various methods, before finding the one that works the best for you.
When it comes to dealing with stress you want to look at Mindfulness Meditation. This method helps you accept and deal with living in the present.
These circumstances are often the root cause of your stress, so this should prove to be an effect way to manage your stress. -
The face of meditation has changed to a certain extent today. This has been made possible by the acceptance of meditating in different places and in various ways. The whole purpose of meditating is to allow your mind and body to connect and to discover that inner peace.
The following ways are simple things that you can do to enjoy the benefits of meditation.
Enjoy sitting back and relaxing while soaking your feet in a tub of warm water with added bath salts. This can help you remove all the stresses from your long, hard day.
Use an ice pack, wrapped in a washcloth, on the right side of your body while sitting and meditating. This is supposed to help cool your liver. It is thought that people with an overactive liver have more mind chatter than others.
Use some type of external aid to assist you with meditating.
This could be a phone app to remind you when to meditate. Or you may prefer to use music or listen to motivational Mp3's.
Meditate while walking or jogging. You can listen to motivational tapes or just repeat your favorite quote whilst outside walking. You may wish to focus on just one thing during your walks, such as what a person or thing means to you.
While yoga and Tai Chi have been around for a long time, these are activities that have seen an increase in popularity in recent years. Both are excellent ways for helping you meditate and deal with the stresses of life.
Listening to music is another great tool you can incorporate into your life. Binaural beats are extremely popular and effective when it comes to meditating.
Your doctor or health care provider may also have ideas for how you can incorporate meditation into your life. In fact, doctors are recommending meditation to their patients frequently these days. It is extremely cost effective as all it requires is your time to learn the different ways of meditating.
It is important to choose a meditation method that suits your body and your frame of mind.
If you are dealing with a health issue you may not have the ability to sit with your legs crossed for long periods. It may be easier and more soothing to sit in a chair and soak your feet. Also, be sure that your room temperature is comfortable and use a blanket if needed.
When you feel more and more at ease from meditating, you will find it much easier to meditate and reap the full benefits of these meditation techniques successfully. -
Today it seems as though everyone in society is busy. Who isn't running around trying to juggle careers, schools, and home life? This can become a traumatic experience for some. The pressure from your peers and friends to fit in and succeed are enormous.
So how do you deal with all of this while still keeping your sanity?
Lately, there has been a ton of research conducted on the benefits of meditating on a regular basis. Meditation is nothing new, by any means, it is an art form that has been practiced for centuries. So why is it now being looked at as a healing process?
In short, we can put it down to our society as a whole.
Families today see both parents working and this places added pressure on the entire family. Everyone is always rushed. You go to work to run home and prepare dinner. Then there is homework to be done, laundry that needs doing and there seems like there is never any time for you!
Just look at some of the tools that you use in your life. You probably carry around a Smartphone or an iPad or laptop. This just increases your activity levels. Even on the bus or in the car you are busy doing something. Years ago a bus ride could have been viewed as a restful experience.
When was the last time you turned off all of your devices for 24 hours or even less? Quite some time ago I expect!
Meditation gives you that time in your day when you can slow down and relax. Just sitting in a comfortable chair and closing your eyes for 20 minutes can be a huge help. Your body and your mind finally have the time to take a break. You can stop thinking a million miles per hour, instead, you have the time to focus on just one thing.
Research has shown that using some type of meditation method has helped reduced stress, crime, and violence in society. It has also shown increases in understanding, positivity and in people experiencing that peaceful, glad to be alive feeling.
You can really see just how busy we are as a society.
This is why taking up the art of meditation is an excellent choice for many people. Meditating forces you to take time out, sit down and clear your mind.
After a few sessions of meditating, you will notice that your concentration levels have increased as well as your productivity levels. Overall you will start to enjoy living life to the fullest again. -
There is no doubt that kids are more pressured today than ever before. The result of this is an alarming increase in the number of children dealing with stress in the classroom.
This is a widespread problem and stems from many different sources.
Classroom stress can be attributed to children having low grades and feeling pressured because they are not good enough. It can also be caused by feelings of anxiety and depression.
Then there is the issue of bullying and violence in schools. Even teachers are reporting that they are suffering from burnout.
Learning today is done on computers and this can lead to information overload in some children. While this can be a great method for teaching, some children are using their computers for more than that, and not in a productive way.
All of these technological advances are great for students and teachers. One downside is that using computers and other mobile devices doesn't allow your brain any downtime.
Even during recess and lunch breaks, children are busy on their phones sending text messages and chatting. When do they have time to spend a few minutes sitting quietly?
Stress amongst school-aged children is so rampant that many schools are now introducing 'quiet times or periods' into the school day. Some schools do this by scheduling quiet times before school starts and before it ends for the day.
This has been put into place not just for the students but for teachers alike. It gives everyone the chance to sit quietly for a few minutes to either read a book or to just rest and relax.
In the United States, a committee was established, in 2005, for Stress-Free Schools. This was done in conjunction with the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and for World Peace. This program reflects the benefits of using quiet time and meditation in schools today.
By teaching children at a young age how to handle their stress, it is hoped, that by adulthood they will have a good grip on dealing with this potential killer.
As well as including some form of meditation into the lives of your children, you also want to give them more time to play and just be kids.
It seems as though kids are being pressured into growing up and becoming mature at a much faster rate. This may not be done intentionally, busy parents are just reflecting their lifestyle and habits onto their children. Often without even knowing it. -
As you are aware there are several ways and methods you can meditate. While each method may have different benefits and processes, we will take a look at the overall benefits of meditation in general.
How Meditation Affects Your Brain
It is so easy to stress out your brain these days. You are busy at work, you have a family to take care of and provide for. This can lead to you not eating correctly, not exercising enough and we haven't even touched on social impacts such as drinking and smoking. It is easy to see that your brain is extremely taxed out.
As you become stressed out you start to make impulsive decisions. You are always in a rushed state, so you don't take the time to think things through. This can lead to making bad judgments that could affect everyone around you.
Using meditation methods such as the Mindfulness or Transcendental ones you can minimize and even reverse these effects on your brain.
By giving your brain permission to stop and relax, you are allowing it to enter a period of restfulness while still staying alert. What this achieves is that it helps to strengthen the communication process in your brain.
Without getting too technical, this is where your brain's prefrontal cortex and different areas that control brain functions are located.
The result of this restful period is that your ability to make strong, well thought out decisions is restored. Outwardly you project a more stable and confident appearance to your colleagues.
The overall benefits you will reap from meditating include:
Feeling as though you have a purpose in life
Your behavior becomes less impulsive
Your decision-making skills are enhanced
Your memory works much better than it used to
You stop abusing things such as cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol
Your energy levels are increased
You become much healthier overall
Your immune systems works better
Your self-confidence levels are increased
You feeling of well being is improved
Your relationships are better
You just feel happy and optimistic about your life
So if you are not totally happy or satisfied with your life then you may want to incorporate meditation into it. The nice thing about meditating is that it doesn't take very long at all. A twenty-minute session, once or twice a day, can do wonders for your health.
