Meditation Is Relaxation

Meditation is a buzzword, and sometimes that can scare people off from trying it. It sounds mystical and we might have heard it takes strange breathing techniques or emptying the mind. We may have even tried it to do that, but it was too hard. Yes, we can get to a meditative state by breathing in patterns or try to sit and letting go of our thoughts, but that's not the only way. Like many things on this planet, people like to overcomplicate things and our bodies are actually very simple.

Consider this, have you ever gone on a walk or out in nature and gotten lost in the surroundings. Or, sat on a beach and just let the sun soak into you? That is meditation. It's a state of mind, it's enjoyment in what you are doing because you know it's good for your body and mind. In that moment, we can be lost in the senses and beauty that surrounds us. There is nothing else to do or think about because it's so wonderful. This is the mode we are chasing in meditation, or relaxation; to be emersed in something with our hearts and minds. To not have to think about what's for lunch or what meeting is next. To not have to worry about the bills or the groceries. There is a time for that later.

It sounds so lovely, but how do we do this without having to go out to the forest or be at the beach? Meaning, if we're stressed or don't even have time for a break, when can this happen? That's where the idea of setting up that 'feeling' comes in without having to do it. Really, all we have to do is take a moment to close our eyes, think about the place that makes you feel that radiant enengy, the connection to mother nature and yourself. Since the mind loves to wander, start by giving it details to keep the mind busy. What time of day would it be there? Can you see the sun or the moon? What's the weather like? Do the air have a specific smell in this place? Can you find or make youself a comfortable spot to just sit or observe? What can you hear in this place? Are there birds, animals, or water? What type of landscape does this place have; plants, flowers, or trees? Most importantly, recognize how safe, peaceful, and comfortable this feels. We have switched the brain over from worry, to happiness. We can think of this as relaxing or resetting our nervous system with a positive experience.

When doing this, keep the mind open to anyway it might come into the brain. It's not about seeing this like the eyes would see it, it's more about the thought of it. For some people, they might be able to see it clearly, and for others it might be like looking at a picture, or seeing a flash. For some, thinking about a memory might bring back a smell, a word, a taste, or a certain feel. None of this is wrong. Again, let's keep it open and simple because every human mind functions differently. We are simply trying to get the brain to focus on something else than all the worries. This is why people go on vacation, so think of this as a mini-vacation from your busy day. This can happen for 5 minutes before getting up, or 5 minutes before going to bed. We're already in bed so it's easy to get started. Once this is established, more time might be spent in this state, or when needed in the middle of the day as a recharge.

Now if we are really stressed out, don't fret. Take 3-deep breathes and let them out the mouth. When exhaling think: mind calm, body calm. Imagine the body and brain relaxing as the exhale goes out; basically let it all sink down or puddle. This will help to relax the brain and body together on command. Yep, your body and brain are that cool, they can be lead on command. We are training ourselves to calm ourselves on command. There are many levels to relaxation (meditation), but this was one of the most helpful ones for me to get my mind out of the day. Keep it simple, make it easy, and keep it consistent! Being relaxed easily will be a helpful tool to keep stress down, and get deeper into meditation and self-healing.