Face it – our daily lives are full of struggles and stresses. We all need to learn to slow down and basically stop and smell the roses. A lot of our stress is self induced by overloading our work and social schedules just to keep up the pace with everyone else we know. You need to be aware that Stress is the breeding background to all mental and emotional ailments. Learning to Meditate is one of the best ways to reduce stress and live a healthy and happy life.

Meditation traditionally is done with focusing on objects like candle, or your breath. When you meditate, your mind and body relaxes and you will experience inner peace. Staying focused is one of the techniques that will help you get better results. Using Meditation as part of your life skills will also help in developing your concentration levels. Although there are many non-believers that feel Meditation is not for them they have not given this method of relieving stress an honest try. Popping pills to relieve stress and anxiety is costly whereas learning the techniques to Meditation is free and that anyone can easily learn meditation and if you practice it regularly it will help in knowing yourself better.

One of the first techniques that is very important for meditation is breathing exercises. First find a quiet place or room, sit down and relax, then close your eyes and start counting your breaths. Simply breathe in and breathe out and pay attention to the sensation of your breath coming in. When doing the breathing exercises only breathe in and out through your nostrils. This will help you concentrate or meditate. When doing this exercise for a while, you will notice that your focus on counting your breaths is increasing and your contact with the outside world is reducing. Keep your eyes closed as this will help keep you focused during this process.

Chanting or some other form of mantra is also a technique used with meditation. The Hindu culture use meditation on a daily basis and use the word OM as it considered a magical healing power. The skill lies in not just speaking it but chanting it from the bottom of your heart. You can use any form of mantra and the key is to chant it again and again so that your mind starts focusing on it. Remember to keep you’re your eyes closed, breathe in and out through your nose while chanting. You will find that the longer you chant and meditate you will start gaining inner peace leaving the outside world behind you.

Thinking positive thoughts during meditation will have a positive effect on your body as your thoughts have a direct influence on your body. This is called self healing meditation which is involves deep meditation. Through this, positive energy is produced in our body that increases the healing process. Once achieving this deep form of meditation you will feel stress and anxiety leaving your body which will also lower your blood pressure and you have started healing yourself.

It is said that meditation is at its best when practiced early in the morning as your mind is fresh and helps you to stay focused. If you do not have time in the morning then mediate in the evening as this will help you to reduce the stress of the day, relax your mind and body and help you get a good night’s sleep.