Using meditation techniques to build a healthy mind polishes the gem you’re creating… you! You’ve built the physical foundation with healthy eating choices and physical fitness but you can’t enjoy your healthy body without a healthy mind.
Many people would associate meditation with Buddhism or Hinduism. Even within those religious schools, the basic form of contemplation, the root of all practices that follow, is a simple mindfulness meditation. There is no need to adhere to religious iconography or dogma just because you want to sharpen and clear your mind. Regardless of religious alignment or the lack thereof, calming your mind allows you to focus on the task at hand.
“If you are depressed, you’re living in the past. If you’re anxious, you’re living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
– Lao Tzu
Establishing time every day for focused mindfulness, even as little as 5 to 15 minutes, will bring a calm to your mind that will positively impact all areas of your life.
You won’t find a simpler meditation practice than this. Just sit in a room and pay attention to where you are. There are two types of mindfulness meditation practices/exercises. They are Focused Attention (in Buddhism, the Sanskrit term is shamatha) and Open Monitoring.
Should my eyes be open or closed during meditation? This is easily one of the most common questions asked about meditation techniques. While meditation is a personal practice and there are no rules written in stone, there is a reason for my answer… It’s best if your eyes are open. Look at the picture above. […]
Are meditation myths keeping you from sitting and breathing? You’ve heard hundreds of times that meditation is beneficial not only for your mental health & peace of mind but also for your professional success. But the little voice in your head doesn’t buy it. Are these meditation myths keeping you from quieting that little voice […]
Mindfulness meditation doesn’t always require sitting. Some of my favorite meditation techniques are done outside. These exercises can help you realize that mindfulness and meditation can happen at any time.
Meditation for beginners is not as daunting as you may think. A few simple meditation exercises will get you on your way. We’ll keep out any dogma or religious iconography and focus on what’s most important when learning meditation techniques: mindfulness and focus.