Living in Awareness – Day 7
Try different ways of meditating. There are many ways to meditate. Guided meditations, where you listen to someone’s voice as they guide you through the meditation process, are often helpful when you are just starting. Chanting a mantra is another method. There are also dancing and moving meditations. The options are essentially endless, and the various methods can offer some differing benefits. Within this series, you will find more than one meditation technique.
Don’t give up! Each meditation experience is unique. Just because it doesn’t feel like you expected it to, don’t assume you are doing it wrong, or that it doesn’t work for you. Keep at it; you’ll see the benefits in time, and so will everyone around you!
Meditation to Relax the Body
Relating to the psyche/somatic cycle, the dance between the mind and body, it helps to remember that a relaxed body is a relaxed mind, and vise versa. A relaxed body is a receptive body, a body that regenerates, recharges, and is rejuvenated. You can use the mind to assist with this process.
Did you know that you can place your focus on a specific area of your body, and ‘ask’ that part of your body to relax, and it will? This is the idea behind this meditation.
Begin this technique in the same manner as you would with any meditation. Set the stage for a peaceful environment. Get comfortable, and begin with a few conscious, deep breaths.
Begin by placing your focus at the top of your head. Place your focus on your scalp, your forehead, and across your eyes. Ask that area to relax, and breathe. Sometimes, it is even beneficial to tighten the muscles in that area, and then consciously relax them. Once that area has begun to soften, then move your focus further down on the face, such as the area that governs your jaw and tongue. Ask that area to relax, and use your breath to help you with the relaxation. Continue to do this, as you move further and further down your body until you have reached your toes. Go section by section, first your head and face, then your neck, your shoulders, your back, your torso, then your hips, then your legs, until your reach your feet. Take your time, and do not rush.
