| The age-old traditional practice of meditation is | | | | know that you intend for this time to be private |
| used in modern times as a way of improving | | | | and undisturbed. Take about 15 minutes at the |
| one's state of mind and overall well-being. This | | | | start of everyday to do meditation. |
| practice of simple everyday meditation can be | | | | 4. Choose a focus by formulating a short phrase |
| integrated as part of one's regular routine. It is | | | | that describes your personal belief system. In |
| simple to do and requires very little time to do | | | | religious meditation, this is often a quote from the |
| making it easy to squeeze into one's busy | | | | bible or a prayer. If you are not religiously inclined, |
| schedule. | | | | you may choose to focus on a neutral word or a |
| The feeling of general well-being that meditation | | | | motto. |
| brings makes it a worthwhile activity for anyone | | | | 5. Close your eyes and concentrate on relaxing |
| to undertake. If you are feeling the ails of busy | | | | your whole body. Do this sequentially by |
| modern-living, following these simple meditation | | | | concentrating on releasing tension from your |
| steps can greatly help you get through this day | | | | forehead, then your face, then your neck, then |
| and the days to come: | | | | your upper torso, and so on, working your way |
| 1. Look for a quiet place where you can do your | | | | down to your feet. By doing this, you are freeing |
| meditation without distractions or disturbances. | | | | your mind from stressful thoughts and your |
| Choose one that does not have your usual | | | | muscles from tension. |
| domestic "noise-makers" (i.e. telephone, television, | | | | 6. Breathe in and out in a slow and steady pace. |
| radio, alarm clock, family pet etc.). | | | | Repeat your focus statement silently in a steady |
| 2. Put yourself in a comfortable position. There | | | | stream over and over again. Just inhale and |
| are positions that are highly recommended by | | | | exhale while silently chanting your focus |
| meditation experts to bring about effective | | | | statement. Keep going still with your eyes closed. |
| meditation. Try the standard sitting position by | | | | Concentrate on your focus statement. When |
| sitting erect on a low chair, with legs uncrossed | | | | other thoughts enter you mind, do not play tug of |
| and both feet planted on the floor shoulder width | | | | war with it. Accept it, brush it aside and then |
| apart. According to meditation experts, this | | | | return to your focus. |
| position lets internal energies to flow more freely | | | | 7. Do this for your committed time period. Play it |
| throughout the body. In the eastern world, the | | | | by ear, do not use an alarm clock or anything |
| "half-lotus" position is a popular posture used in | | | | that will make a noise to suddenly jolt you into full |
| meditation. In this position, the meditator sits on | | | | consciousness, undermining whatever efforts you |
| the floor with legs crossed and the buttocks | | | | have taken to achieve a relaxed state. At the |
| elevated on a cushion. This position is believed to | | | | end of your meditation period, open your eyes |
| encourage the flow of energy upwards, moving | | | | while still in your meditative position. Sit still for at |
| towards the brain. | | | | least a minute and savor the feeling of relaxation |
| 3. Commit to meditate for a certain period of | | | | with simple everyday meditation. |
| time. It is recommended that you intimate to | | | | By following these easy steps, you would have |
| someone that you intend to use this period to | | | | had a simple yet effective meditation session. You |
| meditate. This creates for you a sense of | | | | will find at the end of this simple meditation that |
| accountability to fulfill a commitment that has | | | | you are more relaxed and more ready to face |
| been verbalized. Setting a fixed period of time | | | | the rest of your day productively with a positive |
| also lets other household members or friends | | | | mental disposition, simple everyday meditation. |