| Stress has its origins in the mind, but can also | | | | class, you can also meditate alone in your home |
| have effects on the body. Tension and anxiety | | | | or office. |
| can cause heightened emotions, headaches, | | | | Beginning Meditation |
| muscle spasms or cramps, and so on. Before | | | | If you are meditating on your own, you can try |
| these conditions reoccur or become permanent, | | | | several methods for relaxation to see which |
| it's important to learn ways to manage your | | | | works best for you. Soothing music may help, as |
| stress. | | | | might repeating or singing/chanting a mantra. |
| Is It All In Your Head? | | | | There are books, audiotapes, and podcasts that |
| Whether it comes from friends and family, or | | | | can lead you through visualizations or provide you |
| work, you will probably mentally notice stress | | | | with music and mantras. Try different ones |
| before you feel it physically. Your ability to control | | | | before deciding what kind of meditation is most |
| your stress, then, must also have a large mental | | | | effective for you. |
| component. Your ability to relax your mind is | | | | First, find a quiet place where you won't be likely |
| often the precursor to any other stress | | | | to be disturbed. If you live in a noisy area, try to |
| management techniques, and is necessary for | | | | keep your windows closed, particularly when first |
| objective, rational problem-solving. | | | | learning to meditate. Choose a comfortable place |
| Relaxation Through Meditation | | | | to sit (chair, floor, etc.) but don't lie down - the |
| A great way to achieve mental relaxation is with | | | | purpose of this exercise is not to fall asleep! Let |
| meditation. This can help you assess issues and | | | | your mind drift, noting each thought without |
| problems in a calm, focused way, leading to | | | | judging or focusing too much on it, much as if |
| stronger decisions and better mechanisms for | | | | you were watching your thoughts on a television |
| coping with your stress. | | | | screen. Try to let your mind go blank. |
| There are two primary ways to meditate: in a | | | | Next, think of a single problem to work on; make |
| class, or on your own. If you have two or three | | | | sure not to let yourself get overwhelmed by |
| free hours to spare, taking a meditation class | | | | trying to solve more than one at once. Again, |
| might be a good choice. Usually, in such classes, a | | | | don't judge the problem or yourself - merely |
| teacher or leader will guide you through different | | | | observe it, and over time, you will arrive at |
| physical and mental exercises to help you relax. If | | | | realizations without even trying. |
| you don't have the time or resources to try a | | | | |