Posts Tagged ‘Breathing’

Using Breathing as a Holistic Treatment in Meditation

Breathing
Image via Wikipedia

You are busy and you have little time to actually stop and meditate. Nevertheless, you know the value of meditating as well as how it can help you to achieve your goals both physically and mentally. One of the ways to bring yourself back to focus and to balance your mind and body is by using proper breathing techniques. Breathing itself can be a form of holistic treatment for individuals because it allows you to push out the stresses you are dealing with and gives you more focus on the present.

Proper breathing techniques work as an alternative health therapy. Using proper breathing techniques can help you to improve your overall health and emotional well-being. It takes concentration to breathe properly. Therefore, you cannot worry or stress over day to day life. The question most people have, though, is how to use breathing as a holistic treatment.

-Be sure each breath you take in is deep.
-Take even paced breaths.
-Focus on expanding the diaphragm muscle to expand your lungs. This means you need to sit up straight and see your chest move up and down.

As you do these things, your body is taking in more oxygen. Your body is also using the proper muscles to control your breathing. When you are slumped over and breathing without thinking about it, your neck, upper chest muscles and your shoulder muscles are doing the work for you. This does not allow you to breathe properly and therefore causes strain on the body.

As you consider the importance of breathing within meditation, realize the value of using breathing as part of a de-stressing method at any time during the day. As you feel yourself getting stressed, stop, close your eyes and focus on breathing. Take deep, long breaths that fill your lungs. By doing this several times, the process works as an alternative health therapy, working to cleanse your body of stress.
This highly effective holistic treatment is something you can do at any time. It is also something you can do quite effectively even with limited time. It is a core tool to use throughout meditation.

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3 Steps to Improving Your Meditation

Today at Sarvodaya's Early Morning meditation
Image via Wikipedia

For those who use meditation as a type of alternative health therapy, it is important to use the method properly. It is not always easy to actually meditate. Consider all of the things happening around you right now. There may be a television in the background, noise from coworkers or just the sounds of nature. In most situations, there are sounds that will intervene in your success with this form of holistic treatment.

The following steps can help you to improve your meditation skills.

1.Focus on your breathing. One of the biggest factors in improving your meditation is to improve your breathing technique. Focus on deep breathing that actual causes your chest to rise and fall because you are using your diaphragm.

2.Learn to pay attention to each of your body parts and to focus on them to relax them. Use a scanning technique to relax each of your body parts individually. This creates an overall level of relaxation that promotes holistic treatment.

3.Repeat your mantra. Pick a mantra, or a specific set of words you repeat to yourself over and over again silently. The words you use need to be positive and welcoming. You can use a prayer if you are religious. You can use a simple saying you create on your own, too. It should make you feel peaceful.

Another important tool to keep in mind is practice. By practicing meditation regularly, you will improve your abilities to achieve your goals. Spend some time focusing on your breathing. Focus on improving the way you relax. The key is to meditate often so you get in the habit of improving your health and your well-being.

In the long and short term, this will help you to improve your meditation skills while also helping you to use meditation as a form of alternative health therapy.
Keep in mind that most people can improve the quality of their meditation skills. By practicing these skills regularly, you can see improvements to your health many times over. This is a highly effective holistic treatment.

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Gratitude Meditation

As you teach yourself focus and mindfulness by meditating, you begin to realize that the different objects or feelings you choose to focus on make you feel differently: relaxed, exhilarated, joyful, peaceful, pure. One of the most joyful forms of meditation is gratitude meditation. It doesn’t have to be Thanksgiving season for you to engage in and get the most out of this liberating exercise.

Find your meditation spot, the one where it is quiet, safe, and comfortable. Relax there. You can lie down, perhaps using a relaxation pose from yoga, or sit on the floor or in a comfortable chair. As with basic meditation, you will need to breathe deeply and let your mind withdraw from the cares of the outside world.

As you relax, turn your mind to things that you feel grateful for. You may want to imagine yourself in a helicopter or hot air balloon, looking down on the objects or events of your life. You could also imagine yourself unwrapping gifts.

Because you are focused on your body, you may feel like giving thanks for the health you have and the comfort you feel. However, your meditation need not be restricted at all. You can focus on the gratitude you feel for your family and friends, and think of good times you have spent together. Think of the things that make your life exciting or bring it stability. Express gratitude for the skills and gifts you have been given and the opportunities you have had to use them. Nature is another thing you can focus on. Pay attention to the feelings of gratitude and love that come and nurture them. If any negative thoughts or feelings intrude, bless them and let them go. Keep breathing peacefully.

At the end of your meditation, imagine yourself being given a gift, the essence of your meditation. Allowing yourself to take this feeling with you will help you to feel positive and energized. You will more easily be able to avoid feelings of depression or worthlessness as you train your mind to focus on your blessings.

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