| Is Meditation Too Much Time And Trouble? | | | | Is this a reason not to do it? Not at all. You'll get |
| If you haven't meditated before, you might think | | | | what you get out of it, and that almost certainly |
| it's too much trouble to learn. If you do meditate, | | | | includes a clearer mind and a reduction in stress. |
| you know it can be difficult to find the time to do | | | | Make it a ritual. For example, each time you get |
| it consistently. So is there really a meditation you | | | | into your car, quietly do your three deep breaths. |
| can learn right now that can be done in 45 | | | | Having a regular "trigger" like this to remind you |
| seconds? There is. | | | | will keep you from procrastinating so often that |
| Three Deep Breaths | | | | you eventually forget to meditate altogether (isn't |
| Try this: breath through your mouth, and notice | | | | this typical when we don't make a habit out of |
| how your chest expands; then breath through | | | | the things we want to do?). |
| your nose and you'll notice how your abdomen | | | | Want it to be a deeper experience? There's |
| goes out more. You see, breathing through the | | | | nothing wrong with just enjoying the relaxation |
| nose causes the diaphram to pull the air to the | | | | created by three deep breaths, but you can go |
| bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose | | | | further, if you wish. Longer meditation will help, of |
| of oxygen into your bloodstream, and into your | | | | course, but that isn't the only way. |
| brain. It also tends to relax you. | | | | If, when you have more time, you learn |
| This is why meditators breath through their noses. | | | | mindfulness, how to relax more fully, or better |
| It's healthier, and it is the basis of this | | | | ways to let go of distractions in your mind, you |
| forty-five-second meditation. You simply close | | | | can more effectively use that forty-five-seconds. |
| your eyes, let go of your thoughts (to the extent | | | | You may even be able to get to that "alpha" |
| possible), and take three slow, deep breaths | | | | state (brain wave frequecy of 8 to 12 hertz) |
| through your nose, paying attention to your | | | | during your short meditation. |
| breathing. | | | | Don't worry if some say this isn't "real" meditation. |
| The Rest Of The Story | | | | We walk before we run, and not everything has |
| Now, this won't get you into a deep meditative | | | | to be difficult to be of value. Why not do a |
| state, especially if you've never meditated before. | | | | forty-five-second meditation right now? |