Oswaldo Koch, MBA, PMP, P.Eng. / Fitness Trainer - Martial Arts Instructor
In a modern world that values achievements and results, it is perhaps surprising that more people are turning to meditation. Why? Because meditation is all about feeling good in ourselves, it is the opposite to feeling stressed, tense or anxious. The main purpose of meditation is to allow the individual to discover a place of inner peace and quiescence. It is a form of personal and spiritual development that acts to free one's mind from the trappings of the physical plain of existence.
Important: Meditation is the perfect practice for peace of mind and relaxing the body. Regular meditation practice may help you lead a happier life, and enjoy a more positive outlook on life.
Though meditation is usually recognized as a largely spiritual practice, it also has many health benefits. Numerous studies have shown that meditation has health benefits. Many of these benefits are related to the decrease in stress that occurs through meditation. The benefits of meditation are real, but, it also requires perseverance. It is mistake to expect all these benefits in the first few attempts; the mind takes time to tame. Also, it is difficult to explain all the benefits of meditation, because it involves a state of consciousness that cannot be expressed by words. You can gain some important health and lifestyle benefits from relaxation techniques such as:
We were born with intuitive abilities, and with daily practice of meditation we can learn how to enter deep levels of relaxation at will and then to use our creative mind to help us think of solutions to problems, enhance our creativity and intuitive abilities.
Do not mourn the past, nor should you worry about the future, says the Buddha. The only important moment is the present moment. How wisely we spend the irreplaceable moments of today, will allow us the freedom to shape our lives around our beliefs, principles, and most important values.
Living in the present moment - also called mindfulness - is a state of intentional attention to the solutions instead of problems. People who live in the present tend to be problem-solvers. Living in the moment help us increase creativity and productivity.
Good things come to those who sweat. And, once we see results, exercise becomes a lifestyle, not a punishment. No matter how busy we are, mindfulness comes into play here. When we exercise too hard and we are mindful of the fatigue or pain during the workout, it is easy to let go. The same applies to everyday activities - when we find ourselves feeling stuck and anxious, it's time to exercise and let go of negative emotions and stress.
Regular exercise is a proven way to improve our lives by reducing stress and anxiety. Whether it's every day or three times a week, consistent exercise encourages our brain to regularly release endorphins which helps us feel calm and in control of our lives. This in turn, boosts mental concentration, memory and helps reduce the risk of mental diseases such Alzheimer's.
Being present is the only way to enjoy life to the fullest. By being mindful, we enjoy friends and family more, we enjoy more anything we're doing - cleaning dishes, reading a book, exercising, studying or working. Mindfulness can easily fit into our everyday activities. The more we integrate mindfulness into our routine, the greater the benefits we'll experience.
The aim of mindfulness is to achieve a state of focused relaxation by paying attention to our thoughts and feeling without judgement. Rooted in Buddhism, mindfulness increases our sense of appreciation and gratitude for our family and friends. Now being examined scientifically, mindfulness has been found to be a key element in stress reduction and overall happiness.
When we keep dwelling on the past we are squandering our present. Once we decide to let go of the past, we become drawn towards new goals, relationships, places, and opportunities that will lead us to an exciting new life. As we make room for the new, we shed the old in order to make room for the development new skills and opportunities.
Most of the time, we act based on our conditioned, habitual ways of thinking. All of our past experiences, our habitual ways of seeing, our beliefs and opinions shape what we see and how we feel most of the time. By focusing on the here and now, people who practice mindfulness are less likely to get caught up in false perceptions from past experiences.
Doing nothing at all is downtime, paid vacation to recharge our energy, and to forget the bothers of the workplace. Our lives have become defined by busyness. When we look around in cafes, at the bus stops, out on the street, people are glued to their mobile, computers or tables. The challenge is finding time to do nothing when we suffer from information overload.
Learning how to do nothing might be the most vital skill for happiness and prosperity. By giving our brains a break, encouraging contemplation and daydreaming, we can improve mental health and allow ideas to incubate. Setting aside weekly, even daily periods of relaxation may be the best thing we can do to nurture our minds with ideas to improve our lifestyle.
Every day, we all face stressful situations throughout our lives, ranging from minor annoyances like traffic jams to more serious worries, such as a loved one's illness. According to the Mind/Body Medical Institute at Harvard University, 60 to 90% of all medical office visits in the United States are for stress related disorders. Studies have shown that stress can cause damage in different parts of the brain, affecting our physical, mental and emotional well-being. No matter the cause, stress floods our bodies with hormones. And, as a result, our heart pounds, our breathing speeds up and our muscles tense.
There are lots of ways to relax. Some techniques are designed to relax the mind and some to relax the body. But because of the way the mind and body are connected, not only should we start our day feeling relaxed and refreshed but, to prevent stress, we should continue to relax and refresh during the day - find some inner peace and give our energy a boost.
NOTE: Send us your list of spelling mistakes at info@mastermoves.com (for your chance to win The Power of Relaxation audio).
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