A PEACEFUL SPIRIT

Mind over matter: July 10, 2018 weight 228 (-12)

When the Mortgage Company I worked for moved into its new offices, there was a separated small corner room. In this room were 2 large leather recliner chairs and 1 small table. Some of my co-workers called it the nap room and for them it was. In my mind, this was the meditation room. It was a place to take a quick break and decompress when the business got too stressful. I would walk in, sit down, and breath. This is meditation. Being able to release stress is the third key to fitness.

 

    You and I have heard the simple psychology of a Type A or a Type B personality. Type A is associated with coronary disorders and other stress-related issues. These “aggressive personalities” have huge benefits to the world, but they must decompress or risk dying prematurely. It is with premature death in mind that I started to meditate. Meditation has many forms and is different for each person. There can be a spiritual component to meditation which I will not cover here. Meditation can be practiced without it. Here are some of the physical benefits: reduced stress and reduced depression, reduction of blood pressure, fewer headaches,  increased productivity, and muscle and joint tension reduction. I like the benefits.

    The following information is on page 5 of The Power of Meditation.

 

“Regardless if you choose to meditate for spiritual reasons or for physical

and mental health, meditation generally consists of the following elements:

• A relaxing environment: whether it is in the woods, by the lake, in a

studio, or in your living room, mediation usually occurs in an

environment that is physically comfortable and free from noisy

distractions. Some people choose to sit on a cushion and focus on

their breathing in complete silence while others may choose to lay on

their beds and listen to relaxing music.

• Posture or movement: during mediation, the participant will generally

sit in a specific posture, such as with the legs crossed, spine straight,

and hands resting on the knees. Sometimes participants will lay

down or engage in specific movements, such as with yoga or t’ai chi.

• Focus: while meditating, the participant will focus on a number of

things from their simple breath, the feeling of energy moving through

the body, an object, a value or ideal, or a word or phrase called a

mantra.

• An open mind: during meditation, the participant allows their mind to

let thoughts flow through their mind without judging them. Often

times, the meditator will observe the thoughts instead of suppressing

them and then gently bring their focus back to the intended subject.”

What I do is find a quiet spot, sit for 5 to 20 minutes and focus on my breath. The quiet spot is so I am not easily distracted. I will add soft or meditation music if I am easily distracted. There are plenty of free YouTube or other music choices. Incense can be added to help create a mode or change the energy of the room. I sit in a chair with my feet uncrossed and on the floor. My focus goes to my breath, feeling it move in, out, and all through my body. I focus my attention on sets of 3 breaths. 3 breathes in and out. 3 more breathes focused as the energy moves from head to toe. At this point, I can usually separate the flowing body energy from the breath. I focus on this energy. If I become distracted, I return my attention to my breath. Focusing on the energy allows me to dissociate completely from the days’ issues to unconsciously drift or focus on something different from my physical surroundings. This focus is usually my choice. Sometimes the focus seems to have a power of its own and I am an observer. That is okay too. The power of this state of being is amazing and well documented. Take 5 minutes and focus on your breath; in through your nose and out through your mouth and relax.

In the Spirit, Dave

click in this picture.