Meditation and Wellness
Meditation is the centuries-old practice of calming and centering your mind to bring about an inner peace. It has long been used as a means to attain personal mental wellness. The idea is that if your mind is peaceful, you will be free from worries and mental discomfort, and thus experiencing true happiness. By training yourself in meditation, your mind will gradually become more and more peaceful, and you will experience a purer and purer form of happiness. It is a great way to deal with stress, anxiety and depression caused by a racing or worrisome mind.
As human beings, we sometimes find it difficult to control our mind. Thoughts race around in our head, switching at lightning speed. For some people, this is the cause of much stress and general anxiety. They find it hard to relax because their mind is going so fast. By practicing meditation, you can create an inner space and clarity that enables you to control your mind regardless of the external circumstances. Gradually you develop mental equilibrium, a balanced mind that is happy all the time, rather than an unbalanced mind that oscillates between the extremes of excitement and depression.
Breathing and Meditation
The first step in practicing meditating is focusing on your breathing. Focus on your lungs taking in and releasing air. With each exhale, relax your body more and more, sinking into a deep relaxation. Follow your breath closely, feeling the air moving within you and becoming aware of where the air is coming from and going to. Become aware of the point furthest from you that air moves because of your inhalation. Feel the air move through your own body. Be aware of the deepest place in your lungs to which the air travels. When you exhale, be aware of the furthest point from you that the air moves from your exhalation.
As thoughts race in and out of your mind, keep focusing on your breath. When beginning meditations, this can be the hardest part. Keep a clear focus on your breath pattern and avoid letting your mind wander. Clearing your head and having a calm mind is the first step along the way to finding an inner peace and general mental wellness.
Meditation Posture
While practicing meditation it is best to have a comfortable seat and good posture. Your back should be straight and your head should be floating naturally atop your neck. It is a good idea to sit on a cushion or something that has a back that is slightly more elevated than the front. This allows your pelvis to slightly jut forward, allowing for better posture.
You can sit in the classic cross-legged style, or any way that is comfortable to you. You may also want to try meditation while lying down, but be careful, it is very easy to fall asleep while doing this.
There are seven features of good meditation posture, often referred to as Vairochana’s posture:
- Sit cross-legged. This is thought to reduce thoughts and feelings of “desirous attachment”.
- Place your right hand in your left, palms upward, with the thumbs slightly raised and touching.
- Your back should be straight but not at all tense. Tensing up is everything meditation works against.
- Touch your tongue to the back of your top teeth. This is believed to keep the mouth from drying out when your mind enters a deep level of meditation.
- Tip your chin slightly downwards so your gaze is cast down. This is supposed to help prevent mental excitement.
- Keep your eyes neither wide open nor completely closed, but let them remain half open and gaze down along the line of the nose. If the eyes are wide open we are likely to develop mental excitement and if they are closed we are likely to develop mental sinking.
- Keep your shoulders level and elbows held slightly away from the sides to let air circulate.
Don’t worry about it if you don’t feel comfortable in this position, just make sure you are in a relaxed and comfortable position with a straight back.
Take time whenever you can to meditate. It doesn’t have to be every day, but by taking the time to clear your thoughts and focusing on yourself, you will develop a clearer sense of being and your goals and ambitions will become clearer.
Meditation helps to clear your mind calm your thoughts. It is a great way to promote your own personal wellness. So often the cause of stress and anxiety is the racing of thoughts through the brain, never allowing for any relaxation or feelings of inner peace and contentment. Mental wellness can only come from a clear mind.
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