Friday, June 26, 2009

Concentrate On Breathing For Simple Ways To Meditate

By Trevor Johnson

Focusing on your breath is one of the more simple ways to meditate. Meditation itself is the only real way to fully relax the active thoughts which take place in your mind every day. You don't have to follow any complex rules to meditate, switch off and achieve a mind that is in a state of peace.

The breath is a very important aspect of meditating, and focusing on this is a very good way to achieve a meditative state. Taking a breath happens in an involuntary basis, it is always there and because of the rhythm it is a good guide. Any relaxation class will always start with the words "take a deep breath" or "take five deep breaths". This is where you start to meditate, by taking a deep breath!

Deep breathing allows you to take stock and starts the relaxation process. It fills your lungs with oxygen and this in itself is relaxing. So "take a breather" and let us get on with this brief lesson in simple meditation using the breath as a guide.

When the breath is the focal point it can be used to release the stresses and anxieties which trouble us. So start by inhaling through the nostrils or mouth and on the exhale, imaging that all your stress, worry and anxiety is being released with the breath and out through the soles of the feet, finger tips or top of the head. Imagine that all the tensions and toxins in your body are being flushed away in that exhale.

Making your breathing the sole focus of all your attention can be accomplished in many ways, and another good exercise is to breathe very softly, while imagining a very light object is in the way of your breath and you shouldn't disturb it. For example a feather or a thistle down! In this way you control your breath, and it becomes your only focus, breathing so gently that you don't disturb your imaginary object.

You need to take whatever time you can out of your day and practice these breathing exercises whenever you have to opportunity. There are no fixed rules, do it when you go to bed at night or when you wake in the morning or both. Whatever makes you feel better! - 14130

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