Quick Meditation Exercise for Stress-Relief
We
all have an inner flame (Agni) which gives us the unique energy of who
we are, providing us the sustainability for our body, mind, breath, and
spirit. As we ride the waves of life, sometimes the tides are high,
sometimes low, and when there is a disruption to the energy of our
life’s flow, imbalance occurs. Our inner flame may feel as if it is
being blown out, creating unwanted stress in our lives. Although stress
finds its way to all of us, it does not mean we have to surrender to it. Meditation
is one of the many positive ways to bring stress relief to ourselves.
It helps us live our lives each day with more peace and calm, while
keeping our inner flame strongly lit as we flow with the tides of life.
Here
is a quick meditation for you to practice if stress has made an
unwelcoming visit and has settled into your body. Read the meditation a
few times to become familiar with the exercise so it will come very
naturally to you when you are ready to begin.
Find
a comfortable place where you can relax with ease. This can be your
bed, couch, favorite chair, or even outdoors. Let it be a place where
you will not become easily distracted or interrupted. Close your eyes,
take a couple of deep breaths into your body, and settle into the
comfortable space that surrounds you. Allow your exhalations to be
longer than your inhalations, as this has a calming, soothing effect for
the entire body. Feel your chest and ribcage expand and relax while the
belly rises and falls as you breathe in and out through the nose. Let
the breath be soft, not forceful. As you inhale, feel the cool breath
travel to the roof of your mouth, all the way up to your brain, and let
the cool breath refresh your mind. As you exhale, allow the tension to
leave your body. Channel your next inhalation throughout your entire
body, soothing your nerves, and as you exhale, soften your spirit, and
lighten your load. With each exhaled breath, release your cares, empty
your mind, invite calm into your entire being, and come home to
yourself once again. Repeat as you wish.
If
finding a quiet place to relax is not possible, whether it is because we
are stuck in traffic, at work, or waiting for an appointment at the
doctor’s office, we may still practice this meditation. Focusing,
directing, feeling, and being aware of the breath and its sensations
brings us to the present moment and helps us not to concentrate on our
stress. This brings a grounding effect to our mind and body
when stress often makes us feel ungrounded. Also, by taking deep
breaths of fresh oxygen into our bodies, it sends a message to our
nervous system that all is well, leaving us feeling calmer and relaxed.
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