| Breathing is an important part of coping with and | | | | normalizes, oxygen is used more efficiently and |
| relieving anxiousness and stress. When you are | | | | you sweat less. |
| anxious, you tend to breathe from your chest, a | | | | 1. Meditating also causes your glands to produce |
| method called thoracic breathing. | | | | less cortisol, your immune system will improve |
| The rapid, shallow breaths tend to create a | | | | and you will have a greater sense of physical and |
| sensation of hyperventilating and tightening of the | | | | emotional calm and well being. This feeling helps to |
| chest which in turn tends to cause anxiety and | | | | combat the anxiousness, stress and worry that |
| panic. Most people that are anxious are unaware | | | | can invade your daily life. |
| they are breathing so shallowly. Sometimes, | | | | 2. Meditating is easier than you think but it does |
| simply focusing on the breath and engaging in | | | | take practice and dedication. It begins with sitting |
| abdominal or belly breathing can restore a feeling | | | | in a relaxed position and clearing your mind of all |
| of calm and reduce your anxiousness. | | | | thoughts. Silence and privacy are helpful at first |
| Breathing is very important to both the | | | | but as you become experienced you will find |
| psychological and physical comfort of our bodies. | | | | yourself able to take a few minutes out |
| Yoga and meditation practitioners will be familiar | | | | anywhere, at your desk, in the theater, or on the |
| with the importance of the breath and spend a | | | | ride home, to meditate. |
| great deal of time focusing on breathing in their | | | | 3. Meditation is a great tool in your fight against |
| practice. In fact if you are an anxiety sufferer of | | | | anxiety because it is free, always available and |
| any kind, participating in yoga or meditation | | | | very effective in short-term stress reduction and |
| classes or programs can be a real assistance in | | | | long-term health. You will be able to feel the |
| coping. | | | | benefits after just one session and the effects |
| By learning and practicing relaxation techniques, | | | | will compound as you continue to practice. |
| you will be able to reduce the level of your | | | | However, to be successful at meditation you will |
| anxiety and panic attacks. You may even be able | | | | need to practice. Don't get distressed if you don't |
| to defuse an attack in the making. | | | | get it right away, you don´t feel |
| Our bodies automatically respond to the stress | | | | comfortable with it or you don't think it's having |
| that we encounter throughout the day. In some | | | | an immediate impact. It is important that you |
| cases the body prepares to run, in other cases it | | | | stick with it and find the free time to engage in a |
| prepares to fight. When you are in extreme | | | | little meditative practice each day. The time and |
| danger, this automatic reaction is helpful. However, | | | | effort it takes to learn and practice is well worth |
| if you are simply engaged in your normal daily | | | | it in terms of the benefits it provides. |
| activities and the fight or flight response is | | | | For many people, meditating on their own sounds |
| constantly being engaged, it can exact a heavy | | | | difficult and intimidating and confusing. There are |
| toll on your body. | | | | lots of ways to learn. Yoga is a great way to get |
| Meditation is a good way to exert the opposite | | | | your meditation practice down and a little sweat |
| effect on your body. Meditating restores the | | | | going. |
| body to a clam state, helps the body repairs itself | | | | Meditation and yoga don't have side effects |
| and prevents new physical and emotional damage | | | | except a more positive outlook and a healthier |
| due to the effects of stress. | | | | body. You don´t need special equipment, |
| There are numerous benefits to meditation. As | | | | anyone can do it. All it takes is a little discipline, |
| you meditate, both your heart rate and your | | | | commitment and practice. |
| breathing slow down, you blood pressure | | | | |