Want To Reduce Stress? Meditate!

Research and studies reveal that even spending a few minutes in mediation can go a long way in reducing stress, anxiety and restoring mental peace and inner calm. The best part about meditation is that you do not need any expensive equipment and you can do it anytime and anywhere you want - while riding on the bus, out for a walk, in the middle of an intense meeting or waiting for a doctor's appointment.

Meditation Has Been in Practice for Thousands of Years

For over a thousand years, meditation has been practiced. Originally it was practiced for gaining a deep understanding of the mystical forces of life and death but in the present times, it is commonly used for stress reduction and relaxation. Unlike other practices, this one is a proven technique and helps one to reach a state of deep tranquility.

Meditation for stress basically focuses on strengthening one's attention span and eliminating jumbled stream of thoughts that might be heavy on the mind causing a lot of anxiety and stress. Not only does this help in enhancing one's mental well-being but also positively affects one's emotional and physical health.

What Can You Gain by Meditating?

• Be able to gain a different and better perspective on stressful situations
• Be able to build skills that empower you to better handle daily stressors
• Be more aware about yourself and surrounding
• Be able to put more emphasis on the present
• Be able to handle negative emotions and consequently reduce them

What are the Different Meditation Techniques?

• Chanting Mantras: You basically have to silently repeat word/words or phrases to help calm yourself down and get rid of distractions. The most common words are 'I can', 'Believe' and such other encouraging and motivational words.
• Mindfulness: Mindfulness meditation is when you are in a state of total awareness and accept your present situation instead of running away from it. Your focus should be on what you experience during mediations such as the flow of breath, observing your thoughts and emotions but letting them pass without any judgment.
• Tai Chi: Tai Chi is a form of gentle Chinese martial arts where you are required to practice a series of bodily movements and postures in a very slow and graceful manner while practicing deep breathing.
• Yoga: Yoga is a very popular form of meditation that is being used as a workout too these days. You will be required to perform various postures and practice control breathing exercises to gain a more flexible body and mind.
• Guided Meditation: In this type of meditation, you are required to use as many senses as possible. You are required to mentally conjure up images, places or think of a happy memory that you find relaxing. It is guided by a practitioner or a teacher.

If you feel that you are burdened with the daily stresses of life and it is adversely affecting your mood and health, sign up for online stress management classes to learn meditation techniques for stress relief because even though reading about it looks all easy but once you attempt to do it yourself without proper knowledge, you will soon realize how difficult the whole process is.