How to meditate – How you prepare is fundamental
Preparing for meditation is Stage Zero of the meditation process. With any kind of meditation, it is essential to do some preparation for things to go well.
Stage Zero is often seen as an optional extra and either skipped or not done thoroughly. It is sad because it hinders the effectiveness of one’s meditation even before it begins. If you want to get a particular result, you need to set up the right conditions to get that result. According to Buddhists, there is a principle called “conditionality,” which states that if your goal is to achieve “x,” you need to set up the conditions that will enable you to make “x.” Buddhists put a heavy emphasis on the importance of preparation. They believe that it’s impossible to skip this step and expect to get the results that you desire.
Preparing for meditation involves both the external and internal. Externally you want to make a place that will be conducive to a deep, meditative experience. Internally, you want to address your posture, deepen your awareness of your body, and relax as deeply as you can. This preparation is essential for a calmer, less stressed, and more peaceful mind. Following are some suggestions on how you can prepare your external and internal environment in a way that will help you get the most out of your meditation.
Mirror your internal intention by an external act
Mentally you are emptying your mind of all irrelevant, powerless human thoughts to reload it with ideas that are in line with your spiritual higher self.
Physically, you can show your intent to purify your thoughts by taking a shower (to wash away your worries), brushing your teeth, or washing your hands and face. The act of removing yourself is a very symbolic cleansing ritual that will make you feel renewed, refreshed, and clean. It can also have an extremely positive effect on your mood and overall mindset as you prepare to meditate.
Create a relaxing atmosphere
If you want your body and mind to relax, then create an atmosphere that is conducive to relaxation.
Light a candle, burn some incense, dim the lights, place some fresh flowers on the table, or play some meditation music. Creating a sanctuary in which to meditate will go a long way in helping you clear your mind and experience a deep, enjoyable, and enriching meditation.
Provoke a meditative state
Take 5-20 minutes to read spiritual writings. These can vary between biblical God-centered books, religious healing material, or even some positive, encouraging words that feed your soul and get you in touch with Spirit. As you read, absorb and reflect on the meaning of every sentence. Take notes in a particular journal that you exclusively reserve for spiritual reflection.
Breathe deep
When you feel that your spiritual reading has led you to a state of awareness and peace, take between 5-10 slow deep breaths. As you breathe inward, open yourself to the peace-loving nature of God (or Universe). Let your outward breath release the tension and frustrations that are held within your unconscious. Let them go. Now begin the meditation practice of your choice. Breathe from your diaphragm and feel your body relaxing with every full, deep breath.
Choose the best time for you
There are no set rules in terms of the ideal time to meditate. It will depend on what works best for you and your schedule.
Morning meditation is preferred by some people because it helps set a good mood for the rest of the day. Others prefer meditating after work or school because it helps them let go of the tensions of the day. There are still others who opt to meditate right before bed to allow their unconscious minds to work on their intentions while they sleep. Some people will find this time difficult because they are tired and have to fight their desire to fall asleep. Choose the time of day that suits you best. It might involve some trial and error, but once you find your ideal time, it will nurture your meditative practice for months or even years to come.
Get comfortable and sit correctly
First, choose comfortable clothes that will not restrict or confine you. Make sure that the area you have designated as your meditation sanctuary is warm.
The way you sit during meditation is fundamental because the emotions and mental state that you experience during meditation are ultimately attributed to the way you hold your body. Even something as intricate as the angle at which you conduct your chin can affect how much thinking you do. It is why one of the first things you need to learn is how to sit correctly.
There are two vitally essential principles you need to remember in setting up a suitable posture for meditation:
Your attitude has to allow you to be comfortable and relaxed
Your position has to enable you to be alert and aware
If you are uncomfortable, you won’t be able to meditate. If you can’t relax, you won’t be able to enjoy your meditation. You might consider sitting cross-legged on a meditation pillow. However, if you are not very flexible, you will probably suffer from doing this. Your best bet is to sit in a chair that you find comfortable, and that allows you to sit upright. Here are some elements of good posture that you should consider when sitting.
Your spine should be relaxed and upright
Avoid slouching because a slumped-over posture closes off your heart. You want your heart and mind to be open during your meditation
Your shoulders should feel loose yet rolled back and down a little bit
Your hands should sit on your lap, on the arms of a chair, or rest on a cushion
Your head should be straight with your chin tucked in slightly, and the back of your neck should feel long and loose
Your face should be free of tension, and your jaw loses
Have your feet flat on the floor
Avoid meditating right after a big meal
Research studies show that mental activity is intensified when the body is metabolizing food. To avoid unnecessary noise in your head, choose not to do your meditation right after a big meal.
Don’t rush off after meditation
After completing your meditation, sit quietly for a little while longer. Use this time to assimilate your experience as well as reflect and contemplate on it. Be conscious of the intuition or revelation that you might be feeling.
Doing this enables you to embrace your meditative experience fully. It also acts as a gateway for allowing the knowledge to become part of your ‘real world’ rather than keeping it as something separate from your day-to-day life. As you learn to listen to your inner voice, your ‘real self’ will begin to guide you daily.
Make meditation a daily habit
The benefits you will gain from meditation are cumulative. It means that as you continue to meditate regularly, you will acquire more and more profits.
If you are truly serious about improving yourself through meditation, make it a part of your daily routine by meditating at least once or twice per day. The rewards you gain will improve with commitment and regularity.
Anxiety and Stress Relief Meditation
The goal of anxiety and stress relief meditation is to learn how to let go of whatever is weighing you down and realize the peace and calmness the mind can experience. It serves the purpose of helping someone understand the position they are now in. The past and the future are impermanent. By letting these thoughts cloud our judgment and state of mind, we accept the troubles they drag along with them.
When it comes to anxiety and stress relief, it is highly advisable to separate yourself from everyone else. You need time to restore yourself to your most productive element because you might rub off some of the bad energy onto others. Close your eyes and try to relax your body. It is essential to prepare it to get into a state of well-being. Focus your attention on yourself. It is your time; forget all the other things that cloud your mind. You want to be at peace and resonate peace, and this is your time to manifest its existence. Start by inhaling and exhaling slowly through the nose and mouth in that order. Observe your body and the buildup of tension accumulated from the anxiety and stress.
You can imagine a stream of river passing and washing away all the buildup of anxiety and stress. Let it all go; let it all wash away. You can imagine anything. You can also decide to fold your stress and anxiety in a leaf and let it go in whichever direction the wind chooses to. Every time you exhale, envision all the worries go away. Your mind is your palace of imagination. You can do anything in the space you have created for yourself now. Slowly, go back and observe your breathing again. Keep inhaling through your nose and exhaling through the mouth. You can decide to let it happen naturally or give it intervals of three seconds—your space your choice. If your mind keeps wandering, you can perform a couple of deep breaths to bring back your focus to your breathing.
Now, imagine you are all alone at the beach, and you have worn your favorite pair of swimsuits. You want to take a dip because you are aware of the calming effect water has on you. Picture yourself running towards the sea and splashing your way in. To your surprise, when you take a dip, you start to glow and feel so lovely. The more you dip yourself into the water, the more your worries wash away, leaving you with a charming aura and a sense of peace. Keep imagining this before going back to observe your breathing.
Notice if there is any change in your breathing. Does it feel more natural and relaxed? Do you feel better? If not, start with the breath again. Do not let your source of stress or anxiety plague you in this space. Remember, this is your personal space. It is your time. Nobody can take away your time.
You can use any relevant scenario as a visual tool to let go of the stress and anxiety that has manifested itself. It does not have to be real what is above. If it works for you, that is all that matters. Keep transitioning from your breathing to visual scenarios until the time you desire. Even after feeling better, you might decide to continue doing it for a while just because you can. There is certainly no harm in that.
Apart from the above method, mindfulness meditation, some audio guided meditations, and Vipassana meditation serve as good alternatives to try. The practice of meditation does not restrict you from trying out something different if the one you are accustomed to doing does not show results. Any technique that is good for you is the best.
Self-Healing for On-The-Spot Anxiety
Anxiety can clock in at any time it feels like. Let us compare it to that manager who decides to walk into the office, yet nobody expected them to show up because it was their day off. From minor misunderstandings to significant problems, anxiety always comes packed differently for every individual. Luckily, several methods deal with stress immediately. These methods are:
Mindful Breathing
Take some time out for yourself for just five minutes. If you cannot, only pay attention to yourself wherever you are and start to breathe deeply while assuming an upright posture. Notice how the lower area of your bells expands as you breathe in through your nose and contracts as you breathe out through your mouth. Deep breathing is associated with lowering the heart rate, which in turn reduces blood pressure.
Focus on the Present
As soon as you feel the anxiety starting to kick in, in whatever situation you are in, just begin to focus on what is happening presently. If you are walking, focus on how your feet hit the ground and how the wind is blowing against your face or hair. If you are eating, focus on how your fingers feel holding that spoon. What kind of sensations do you feel around your mouth as you eat? Pay attention to these details, and slowly witness yourself starting to feel less tense.
Scan Your Body
This technique combines bodily awareness and breathing. It helps individuals experience the connection between the body and the mind. Start by observing your breath. Inhale and exhale through your nose. The purpose is to clear all the stories in your head and concentrate on yourself. After a few minutes, focus your attention on a specific group of muscles and release any tension you feel. Move to the after the flesh and so the same. Keep doing this until you have covered the whole body. You can do it in whatever order you like.
Use Guided Imagery
Due to the availability of the internet, it is easy to find apps or audios online that can help you create guided images. However, this technique might not be so efficient for people who have a problem constructing mental models. If you can build mental pictures with ease, make sure that the images are relatable to you. Otherwise, you might not understand what is going on-which beats the whole point. Guided descriptions are there to help someone reinstate the positivity in themselves. If you find it difficult to visualize such images in your mind, you can stare at one image for a few seconds, and then close your eyes with the idea of retaining the image in your account. As you practice this technique, you will find it to be more comfortable and easier to achieve mental imagery.
Start Counting
In school, it was a common thing to hear teachers or parents say, “If you feel angry or you want to say something out of bitterness, just count to ten first.” It is funny how this holds. Counting is one of the many easy ways to deal with your anxiety anywhere it occurs. You do not have to count to ten; you can even do it to one hundred if it feels right. Challenge yourself and score backward as well. This way, you can get your mind into it. Sometimes the anxiety goes away quickly, while other times, it does not. Whatever the case, ensure you try to keep calm and collected. Counting distracts you from the cause of anxiety and keeps your mind busy. It will eventually return you to a state of calm.
Interrupt Your Thoughts
From my experience with anxiety, your thoughts can become so influential to the extent of making you feel like your fears are going to manifest themselves. The idea itself then again doubles your anxiety, and the cycle just keeps going. Then again, you realize that the majority of these things never get to happen and that you were so anxious for no good reason.
Interrupting your thoughts as they come can bring you back to a sense of calm. You can do this by starting to think about a person you love- a person who brings peace into your life. If you like a specific meditation music album, skip to your favorite music and relax. Remember to always observe how you feel after a few minutes. Observe how none of these feelings is permanent.
With these few tips, you are ready to break your anxiety cycle.
Meditation for Panic Attacks
They may occur at any time, even when you are asleep. Sometimes they have no trigger. A panic attack gives you breathing difficulties, makes your heart pound, and it gives you a feeling that you are going crazy or are about to die. It is not a pretty experience just from what it sounds like. Other symptoms that occur may include sweating, shaking, fever, nausea, your legs may ‘turn to jelly’, and feeling a disconnection from yourself.
Many people only get to experience less than five panic attacks in their lifetime. The problem usually then goes away after the stressful episode has ended. Some people have very regularly recurring panic attacks, and they happen to stay in constant fear of the danger of having another panic attack-these people suffer from a condition called panic disorder.
It is difficult to pinpoint what exactly causes feelings of panic and the onset of attacks, but they tend to the families. Major life events such as marriage, graduation and retirement, and the death of someone you love also show a bond with panic attacks and panic disorders. Some medical conditions can also be caused by panic attacks such as hyperthyroidism and low blood sugar. The use of stimulants in the likes of caffeine and cocaine can also trigger panic attacks and disorders. If you have panic disorders, it would be advisable to refrain from such. If you have had a panic attack and it has passed, it would be nice to give your body what it needs. You might feel fatigued, hungry, or even thirsty. Make sure you give yourself some proper treatment after it happens. It is advisable to inform someone that you can confide in about the situation. It is not a bad thing to ask for help.
Below are breathing techniques that reverse the symptoms of panic disorders:
Diaphragm Meditation for Panic Attacks
When we encounter a situation of distress, the pattern and rate of our breathing become different. On an average day, we always breathe slowly using our lower lungs. However, in situations of distress, our breath shifts to be shallow and rapid while situated in the upper lungs. If it happens when resting, it can cause hyperventilation. It also explains some of the symptoms experienced during the panic. Luckily, by knowing how to change your breathing, you can start to reverse the signs of your panic attack.
The body has a natural calming response called the parasympathetic response that triggers by changing how you breathe. It is compelling and is the complete opposite of the emergency response (the feelings that kick in during an attack). When the calming response comes into play, all the primary changes brought about by the emergency response start to shift.
The two meditation techniques recommended to help with this disorder are the natural breathing technique and the calming counting technique. The natural breathing technique is pretty much the same thing as the abdominal breathing technique. If you can practice breathing like this daily, it will only prove beneficial.
The Natural Breathing Technique (Abdominal Breathing Method)
Gently inhale a healthy amount of air through your nostrils, making sure it fills your lower lungs. You can decide to place your hands beneath your lower belly to supervise this, or you can do whatever seems comfortable. Make sure to exhale while focusing on the movements of your lower stomach. Feel it expand as the air gets in and go down when you exhale. Carry this practice with a relaxed mindset, not forgetting to fill your lower lungs with air. Try your best to actually “feel” the oxygen rushing into your body and making its way through your blood. You will feel how every tissue in your body imbibes the fresh oxygen you have just inhaled.
Calming Counts
Assume a comfortable sitting posture and take a deep breath. As you are exhaling, slowly whisper to yourself to relax. Keep your eyes closed to avoid losing focus. Now, start taking natural breaths while counting down from the desired number. Make sure to only count after a successful exhale. As you keep breathing, throw your attention to any areas of tension. Imagine the pressure getting loose and shriveling, leaving you feeling calm and refreshed.
When you arrive at the end of your countdown, open your eyes, and notice any difference in what you are feeling. If it has worked but not as efficiently as desired, give it a longer try making sure your willpower is set to let go of the panic. Eventually, you will notice yourself getting better.
Studies have shown that these meditation techniques if practiced even when one is not anxious, are bound to yield the same results. If you can, dedicate a little time every morning and evening to practice the technique that works best for you.
Two things should be highly observed when practicing these techniques: focusing on changing negative thoughts and not thinking of anything else while meditating. It is because our ideas directly influence our breathing, and changing your negative thoughts can help lessen the symptoms quickly. Concentrate most of your effort into not thinking about anything else. Do not even think about your after breath; it should happen naturally.
We spend about a quarter to a third of our lives asleep, but just because we are not awake doesn’t mean that time is unproductive. The physiological changes that occur when we are asleep determine how well we feel and perform when we are awake. It’s often said that diet, exercise, and sleep are the three foundational pillars to good health and well-being. While many of us understand the importance of eating a healthy, balanced diet and of keeping fit, we are perhaps less familiar with how important sleep is. We’ve all experienced the effects of too little sleep: what it means for our mood, focus, and concentration, and also how it affects us physically—we have less energy, and feel tired and groggy. However, the importance of sleep and the consequences of being sleep-deprived go beyond this. Sleep influences all the major systems in our body, and those systems in turn influence our sleep. Insufficient sleep can disrupt bodily functions that affect how we think and behave, and how we think and behave can disrupt our sleep. Therefore, problems with sleeping can quickly become a vicious cycle. Deep sleep meditation music is an effective but simple therapeutic treatment to make you fall fast asleep and to stay asleep the whole night, this has been recommended by medical and health professionals for more than 30 years, more about how to use and download free music online mp3 down below.
At its simplest, sleep plays an important role in: Creating a healthy immune system, repairing muscle, consolidating learning and memory, regulating growth and appetite through the release of certain hormones and regulating mood and emotion. Sufficient sleep is essential to our well-being, both physically and emotionally, so it is not surprising that when we are deprived of it we feel the impact in all areas of our life. There is plenty of evidence that poor-quality or too little sleep can have serious consequences for our physical and mental health. Research on sleep usually measures objective and/or subjective sleep quality, and there is an important distinction between the two: Objective sleep quality is assessed in laboratory conditions to determine the duration, efficiency, minimal broken sleep, and proper cycling through the different stages of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Subjective sleep quality is our perception of how easily we fall asleep and whether it feels as if we had enough to feel rested throughout the day. Problems with either can be debilitating, but the difference is significant in that, while it may be difficult to significantly improve sleep objectively for physiological reasons, we can change our perception of our sleep and its quality, and thereby our relationship with it. If we don’t feel depleted by our experience, we are much more likely to view it neutrally or even favorably. This is where practicing sleep meditation may be particularly helpful, since with meditation we never “tackle” a problem in order to fix it. Instead, as we learn to accept it, our perception of the difficulty changes and it becomes less of a problem for us. However, we must practice sleep meditation to allow this to happen—we can’t just tell ourselves to accept something. Acceptance arises from a raft of things coming together.
Sleep meditation music is a simple yet effective way to help you fall asleep and sink into a deep sleep with the help of soothing delta brain waves. Powerful delta waves help to quiet an overactive mind. Sounds to help you rest during the daytime and unwind during the night. Good music for sleeping consists of soothing sound waves over a wide frequency range, that is often mixed with soft instrumental music or atmospheric ambient music to encourage deep sleep. The most common thing that interfere with a good night’s sleep is anxiety, the right type of music or sound can change this and improve the overall sleep quality. People with complete sleep deprivation like those who suffer from insomnia might be helped by the right type of music for sleeping. Some prefer soft music for relaxation or meditation to treat anxiety or relieve depression when one is feeling down and hopeless. Others prefer sleep meditation music to stimulate lucid dreaming, some with insomnia play relaxing background music during bedtime to help them relax both body and mind which improves the chance of falling asleep, a safer and cheaper alternative than sleep inducing medication. Improve your sleep quality today download free music online mp3 and sleep through the whole night without any disturbances with our unique sleep meditation music with delta waves. Music specially made for deep relaxation and an uninterrupted sleep cycle.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SLEEP?
Until the early 20th century, when we became able to measure brain activity with electroencephalogram (EEG) rays, it was believed that during sleep the brain shut down and rested from the activity of the day. However, the reality is very different, and in fact the brain can be more active when we are asleep than when we are awake. Whether we are awake or asleep depends on activity in specific areas of the brain. The part of the brain that promotes wakefulness also inhibits the part that promotes sleep activity, and vice versa. The shift between the different areas is caused by internal factors such as the circadian rhythm and the release of hormones, and is usually self-regulating. The drive to sleep increases the longer we are awake, and as we sleep it abates so that it is near zero when we wake. Sleep, or more officially the sleep cycle, is made up of different stages of REM and n-REM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. Each cycle lasts about 90 minutes and is repeated three to six times each night. However, this cycle may be disrupted by stimulants such as coffee, nicotine, and alcohol, as well as by medical conditions and sleep deprivation. We usually spend about 75 percent of the night in n-REM and 25 percent in REM sleep. Each of the different stages is as important as the others, and it is believed that the right balance of all the stages is crucial for restful and restorative sleep, which promotes learning, memory, and growth processes such as cell formation and repair, and regulates mood and the ability to concentrate. The first cycle begins with a period of n-REM.
REM sleep usually occurs about 90 minutes after falling asleep. It recurs every 90 minutes or so, and lasts longer as the night progresses. There is intense brain activity similar to when we are awake. This is when we are most likely to dream. During REM sleep, breathing is faster, shallower, and more irregular. The heart rate and blood pressure increase, and the eyes often dart back and forth, causing the eyelids to flicker. Body temperature drops to its lowest point. Although the brain is awake, the body is paralyzed—a safety measure preventing us from acting out our dreams and perhaps causing injury. It is thought that memories and learning are consolidated during REM sleep, that the body’s brain chemistry is restored to a natural balance, and that mood is regulated.
Hormones play an important role in regulating our sleepiness or wakefulness. During the various stages of sleep, some hormones are secreted and/or released and others are inhibited or reduced. These often determine how the body functions, for example suppressing appetite. When our sleep is disrupted, therefore, the hormones are unable to function as they should, and that can have a negative impact on our health and well-being. For instance, diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to produce insulin, and insufficient sleep increases the risk of diabetes. However, those who sleep longer than 9 hours also seem to be at a greater risk of diabetes, so, where insulin is concerned, it seems to be the right balance of sleep that may be significant.
High levels of stress hormones and anxiety disrupt the sleep of millions of people worldwide. Tossing and turning in bed and over thinking keeps many of us up all night. Listening to deep sleep meditation music at night time will have a great effect on your overall health. As an example, instead of sweating and worrying in bed your attention is no longer on those intrusive thoughts that keep your mind active, but instead calmed by the soothing sound of sleep meditation music. Music for sleeping has the ability to affect you in a number of positive ways, it encourages better sleep patterns for people with sleep problems and it also encourages mind body relaxation. Listening to your favorite tune or relaxing music on a regular basis has shown to reduce unhealthy levels of stress. Patients suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression had a positive response to the auditory music therapy, it positively altered the patients’ mood and well-being. You can at this site download free music online mp3 for relaxation, meditation and sleep.
Mindfulness meditation is intentionally paying attention to your experience as it arises, without judging it. Most of the time what we experience just feels like a big blob. However, when we start paying attention we realize that our experience is multi- layered: It is made up of inner and outer experiences, and strands within them. Our inner experience consists of thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations; our outer experience is made up of the environment, behavior, and actions (our own and those of other people). All these arise individually and simultaneously, and interact with and influence one another. How we pay attention is crucial. We want to notice whatever is arising without judging it, and actively cultivate attitudes of kindness and gentleness to what we notice. When we start practicing mindfulness meditation, the first thing we often notice is how judgmental we are— judging situations, others, and, of course, ourselves. It is easy to fall into the trap of judging ourselves for being so judgmental! However, there is a difference between judging and discerning, and there is nothing wrong with having preferences. We can cultivate the quality of mindfulness meditation through practicing meditation, both formal (a regular practice that might include sitting practice, movement—yoga, walking, tai chi, qiqong—or a body scan) and informal, when we pay attention to what we are doing while we are doing it as we go about our day. Both types of practice are valuable and support each other. More about mindfulness meditation down below.
THE ORIGINS OF MINDFULNESS MEDITATION
The recent popularity of mindfulness meditation may lead you to think that it is something new, but it is quite the opposite. Mindfulness is a quality within us all, but it can be cultivated consciously through meditation, and this has been practiced for thousands of years. The secular form of mindfulness meditation that we discuss here came to the West more than 30 years ago and was developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and his colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Hospital as a way of helping patients with chronic medical conditions learn to live with them. Since then its use has spread, and adapted mindfulness-based approaches are being used for medical disorders such as depression, anxiety, addiction, cancer, and pain, among many others, as well as in mainstream contexts such as schools, prisons, government, the workplace, and the sports arena. One reason that it has been accepted into such a diverse range of areas is the strong evidence for its efficacy. This is growing all the time, particularly in new areas, and mindfulness and sleep is one of those.
MINDFULNESS MEDITATION PRACTICE
When we practice mindfulness meditation, we are focusing our attention on something in particular (such as the breath, physical sensations, sounds, or thoughts) for a certain amount of time. The regularity of the practice is more important than the duration, so try to do it a few times a week if you can’t do it every day. It is better to sit for a shorter time, perhaps 5 minutes to begin with, and build it up, rather than struggle to sit for 30 minutes and feel that you have failed. When we meditate, our mind will wander sooner rather than later, and at some point we notice that. This is a moment of pure awareness—we are in the present moment and we know that we are thinking. We acknowledge that we are “thinking” and bring our attention back to the focus, whatever that is. If we practice mindfulness meditation regularly, we end up doing this thousands of times. Every time we bring the attention back we are practicing letting go of a distraction, encouraging the unconscious mind to notice mind-wandering (which is why it is important not to beat ourselves up about it), practicing deliberately placing our attention where we want it to be, and cultivating attitudes of kindness, gentleness, curiosity, patience, letting go, acceptance, and non-striving. Therefore every time we exercise this muscle of awareness, we lay down new neural pathways in the brain: We change our brain and the way it works. Much of our day-to-day stress is caused by trying to control our experience, and particularly by things not being as we would like them to be, and the same thing happens at night if we are not sleeping as we think we should. When we practice mindfulness meditation regularly, we notice how our experience is always changing. We become more comfortable with change and realize that we can’t control our experience. When we struggle with not sleeping, we can get into a vicious cycle of trying to control all the elements that may influence sleep; but actually, this undermines it. As we meditate, every state of mind will arise at some point: physical discomfort, boredom, restlessness, irritation, calm, peace, ease … Learning to explore these different states “on the mat” in a safe environment gives us the opportunity to practice being with them. Through noticing how they manifest in the body and how we habitually react to them, and through meeting them, we learn a different way to respond to them. Thus, when the same states of mind arise in everyday life, we are already familiar with them. There is also an important element of showing up to practice. If we establish a regular mindfulness meditation practice (maybe just 10–15 minutes a day), we do it regardless of whether we are in the mood. This is important: It cultivates a willingness to be with whatever shows up, however we are, and it can be helpful when we experience a bout of insomnia or face unexpected events. We often find it easier to pay attention to our experience if we make a specific time to do so, without any distractions, and setting aside a time to meditate allows this.
HOW DOES MINDFULNESS HELP?
According to Mindful Nation UK, mindfulness meditation training teaches people to become more aware of their thoughts, emotions, and body sensations, as well as being less reactive and judgmental toward them. They start recognizing thoughts as mental events rather than facts, and discover ways of dealing with automatic reactions to stress. They also become able to notice pleasant events and enjoy them, and develop a greater overall attitude of unconditional kindness, both toward themselves and others. The result of this is that they respond to their own experience, and to events in their lives and the people around them, in a healthier and more compassionate way. Whatever brings us to mindfulness meditation—anxiety, pain, sleeplessness, or something else—we never actually try to “fix” that particular problem. Instead, we learn to relate to our “suffering”—whether physical or psychological—in a different way. Forcing ourselves to fall asleep (or resisting being awake) is a non-starter. Learning how to move from a place of resisting or not wanting our experience to one of allowing it to be (since it’s already here) is at the heart of mindfulness meditation practice. Paradoxically, by letting go of the need to fall asleep you may find that your sleep improves. Regardless of this, however, acceptance involves letting go of the mental struggle that can be so exhausting, and therefore you may feel less tired even if you are not actually sleeping more.
Zen Guided Sleep Meditation for Deep Relaxation & Inner Peace
Guided sleep meditation can be a great way to get more balance and success in your life. So how does it work, you may ask? You need to do this on a regular basis, your mind needs to get awake by the vocal suggestions, soothing nature sounds, and the meditative soft music in the background with theta waves. This will transform your mind and spirit, all it takes is practice and time.
Lay down comfortably and listen to our unique free guided meditation that will walks you through a meditation to help you attain a relaxed body and a peaceful mind, guided by a soothing voice. Our complex brain does not make a difference between real or imagined events so what you are experiencing lying on your back is to your brain like having a real-life experience. Read More When we experience something in life new neural pathways are created in the brain and this information is passed to the mind’s subconscious levels for possible future use. So, when we imagine something our brain perceives that imagination as an actual experience. You are literally rewiring your mind to form new neural pathways for your future well-being and success. Numerous studies have revealed that practicing something mentally is almost as helpful as actually doing it in life. The ancient practice of Zen meditation helps to bring about inner calmness and relaxation. If you practice Zen meditation regularly it is like inviting
wellbeing and
balance to your life. However, to meditate without a teacher can be difficult sometimes and that is why
free guided meditation mp3 downloads for mind body and spirit can be great thing to undertake, it can be a great way for you to remain in the present and not wander off into mindless chatter.
Low self-esteem and a lack of confidence are often the result of relying too heavily on the opinions of others. Zen meditation helps you to move your attention away from the opinionated voices and accept the person that you are today. As more accepting and loving that you are towards yourself, so naturally you project your inner experience outwards and become more accepting and loving of other people in your life too. Relationships are the ultimate mirror. The less you judge yourself, the less you judge others. The more at peace you are with yourself, the less you need to fix, change and manage other people in your life. You don’t need anyone to ‘complete’ you as you experience yourself as a complete being, lacking nothing. At this unique Zen music website, you can play free guided meditation and if you like what you hear you can download it too. Our Zen guided meditation mp3 downloads include calm and healing verbal guidance to relaxing Zen music, some include theta waves for healing meditation and others delta waves for deep sleep. The incredible thing with Zen meditation for mind body and spirit is that a positive physical change besides relaxation can be achieved by the use of the mind, that is a profound change on a cellular level and thus changing your biological state.
Free Guided Meditation for Deep Sleep, Healing Anxiety & Stress
We have all experienced how we become more irritable and reactive when we are lacking sleep and there is usually a decline in mood as well. We are more likely to rate our mood negatively after one night of sleep deprivation. Laboratory studies suggest that when we are deprived of sleep we may become more intolerant of and frustrated with others. We also lack empathy and are more self- centered. Research into Zen meditation and sleep is in its infancy, but, since difficulties with sleeping are so often tied to physical and psychological problems, sleep has at times been measured as part of studies into Zen meditation and conditions such as stress, depression, anxiety, and cancer. Research suggests that people’s subjective sleep quality improves through listening to calm and healing guided sleep meditation. Subjective sleep quality is acknowledged as an important factor in our perceived quality of life and overall health. Two people can have sleep of similar duration with a similar number and length of awakenings, yet rate their sleep quality very differently. This suggests that if we can change the way we relate to our sleep, we can change our perception of it—and that may in turn improve our subjective sleep quality. Peaceful Zen guided sleep meditation for anxiety and stress can help us to do this.
People who experience insomnia often relate to it in a particular way. Understandably, they become absorbed in it as a problem to be fixed, focusing on specific nighttime routines and feeling that they need a specific number of hours’ sleep, usually the “official” 8 hours. This lack of flexibility can feed anxiety and stress about sleep. Calm healing free guided meditation for sleep can help us to let go of needing things to be a particular way. This willingness to be with things as they are (in this instance awake, or not asleep) creates the right conditions for us to get to where we want to be, a reduction in the anxiety that fuels the wakefulness and that makes us feel miserable and frustrated while we are awake. Take a moment now to reflect on how you perceive sleep and deep relaxation. What routines do you employ to try to ensure you get a good night’s sleep? How much deep sleep do you consider that you need? Which Zen guided sleep meditation mp3 downloads for deep sleep is best suited for me? How you perceive difficulties with sleeping will determine the severity of your problem. If you see not sleeping as a major problem, you will likely become even more awake and more anxious about sleeping, which will further disrupt your sleep.
Often what keeps people awake is thinking—we are unable to switch off— and Zen meditation has been shown to be particularly useful in breaking the cycle of rumination and thereby reducing anxiety. We can also help ourselves by taking steps to modify our behavior. More studies into guided sleep meditation is needed, the fact that insomnia, pain, and psychological distress like anxiety and stress are usually intertwined suggests that an overarching, meditation-based approach to sleep problems may help. There is already millions of people worldwide who can confess to the amazing effects and results they had listening to calm and soothing Zen meditation for deep relaxation, how their chronic pain, anxiety, stress and other psychological and physical conditions disappeared thanks to healing guided sleep meditation mp3 downloads.
