Uncovering Different Meditation Techniques: What are their unique benefits?
Uncovering Different Meditation Techniques: What are their unique benefits? Uncovering Different Meditation Techniques: What are their unique benefits? Meditation refers to a state of awareness. It provides an antidote of serenity and positivity to a chaotic brain. Studies have shown, meditation also regulates anxiety, fear, stress and depression. Here are some of the simple yet impactful meditation techniques which are likely to pull out a calmer and rational version of you. 1. Mantra Meditation Mantra refers to a sound, word or phrase which is reiterated in a low voice during meditation. These mantras create sound and vibration which infuse peace, enhance focus and establish a concrete connection with the supreme lord. Inhale air deeply, and let go of the mantra on exhalation. Some of the good mantras for meditation include “Om”, “Shivoham” and “Aham Bramhasmi”. Mantra Meditation Benefits: Increased self-awareness Reduced stress and anxiety Enhanced sense of calmness and peace Strengthened self-compassion Improved focus and concentration Greater sleep quality 2. Chakra Meditation “When your crown chakra is in balance you feel at one with life, on track with your higher calling and connected to all of the universe around you.” -Dee Waldeck This type of ancient meditation technique makes you feel more grounded, centered and connected. Chakras are the intangible energy loops inside the body positioned from the base of the spine to the top of your head. For this technique, you must sit in an upright, cross-legged or bent-knee position. Start by simple breathing, and slowly expand you breathes. Deepen your breath over a period of 5 mins. Repeat this cycle until you reach a state of thoughtlessness. Chakra Energy Meditation Benefits: Increases the threshold of mental capabilities Improves memory and concentration Provides inner peace Reduces brain fog Reduces body pain, headache and anxiety 3. Mindfulness Meditation Mindfulness meditation works on the basic human ability to remain present in the current life’s circumstances. In this meditation, you have to ask yourself, where are you at present? What are you doing? What are you feeling? What has led to the thoughts inside you’re your head? Are you being overly reactive to what is happening around you? The aim of mindfulness meditation is to enable you to pay attention to the inner working of your mental or emotional state. Mindfulness Meditation Benefits: Reduced rumination Stress control Improved memory Less emotional reactivity Greater cognitive flexibility Reduced impact of setbacks Morality and stress modulation 4. Body Scan Meditation Body scan meditation involves paying attention to every body part and bodily sensations. In this process, one has to gradually release tension from head to toe. Sometimes the stress which invades our mind brings great deal of physical discomfort. Hence, it is important to analyze the low to high bodily sensations to release unnecessary tensions. Body Scan Meditation Benefits: Regulates blood pressure Reduces physical discomfort or pain Improves sleep Reduces anxiety and stress Enhances self-awareness 5. Buddhist Meditation (Loving-Kindness) “Under the sky, under the heaven, there is but one family” -Bruce Lee Buddhist or Metta is a centuries old meditation in which you wish a happy, blissful and healthy life to others. That also includes your adversaries. It is a challenging meditation technique which will push you beyond your boundaries of prejudices, grudges, assumptions and animosity. For this meditation, you have to randomly remember your adversary, acquaintance, friend or a relative, and recite, “I wish you happiness, I wish you health, I wish you strength.” 6. Walking Meditation “As we walk, we should imagine that we imprint peace, serenity and happiness on the ground.” -Thich Nhat Hanh (Vietnamese meditation master and peace activist) Shortlist a serene and alluring place to walk. A garden covered with trees, plants and green grass, a quiet hallway inside your home, parking lot, or a lane without obstacles. The location plays a crucial role and should be free of clamor. Loosen your arms, keep your body upright, un-stiff your muscles and feel the breeze colliding with your face. While walking, accept your thoughts, no matter how bad they are. Just be a mute spectator of these mental events as they arise and leave. No need to take anything seriously while walking meditation. Walking Meditation Benefits: Improves digestion Helps fight insomnia Reduces depression, anxiety and stress Enhances creativity Reduces brain fatigue Regulates blood flow
Too much to handle in a day?
Too much to handle in a day? Unwind with these simple relaxation techniques Relaxation is not just peace of mind or a hobby. It is a way to broaden your mind which is helps you reduce stress and optimize your thought process to stay intact in case of high-stake situations. In this blog, we will tell you how simple relaxation techniques can help you counter long-term stress, which can further prevent heart diseases, diabetes, or high-blood pressure, among other health issues. 1. Mindfulness Meditation This technique, attested by Harvard Medical School, involves sitting in an up-right position in a comfortable spot inside your house or workplace and focusing solely on your breathing. Inhale oxygen and slowly let it out, letting go of all the burden of your past and concerns of future. 2. Yoga/Tai Chi Yoga and Tai Chi are classic examples of ancient rhythmic body movement techniques which significantly impact your muscle strength, core, flexibility and breathing. This numbs down your racing thoughts, rendering positivity and new perspective on life. 3. Praying Pray whenever you get time. Speak to the supreme and tell him your concerns. Visualize God in your own way, admiring his features, divinity and serenity. Google simple mantras or short prayers and recite them accordingly. 4. Aromatherapy Aromatherapy is a proven holistic healing approach which involves essential oils, extracted from nature. Gaining traction in the field of science and medicine, aromatherapy offers products such as diffusers, aromatic spitzers, bathing salts, and clay masks, among others. These products help manage pain, sooth sore joints, improve sleep quality, and reduce stress. 5. Guided Visualization In this technique, you imagine soothing scenes, familiar environment, dream places, and great life experiences in your mind. This helps you relax and focus. In addition to this, there are online recordings and free apps offering the desired views. 6. Touch the nature Earth is giving and universe itself is a treasure box of wealth. Walk bare feet on the grass, go for a run, let the gust of air collide with your face and hair, smell the flowers in nearby park, feed stray dogs. Nature protects, provides and reduces stress significantly. 7. Assess deeper and consult a professional If you are facing a trauma beyond which is beyond repair, or there happens to be something that is in your head for a really long time, reach out to professional services.
Placating Ancestral Spirits to Attain Growth
Placating Ancestral Spirits to Attain Growth Placating Ancestral Spirits to Attain Growth The term ancestor is defined as someone from whom a person has descended. The theory of ancestral spirits following you is perceived differently among various religions or school of thoughts. In Vedic Indian astrology, ancestral spirits have the ability to influence the lives of their alive family members, provide guidance, keep them from harm’s way and shower blessings. On the other hand, adverse ancestral spirits can bring great misfortune, rendering diseases, acute stress, delays or deaths. Let us delve deeper into the concept of ancestral debts, sins, and blessings. How are you Connected to the Ancestral Spirits? The spirits posing great impact on your life are the ones with whom you shared a healthy and warm relationship. Do you remember any old family member of yours who helped you with studies? Taught you how to walk? Picked you up when you fell down on the floor? Saw you sobbing and heard your break-up stories like a damn good listener? Brought you your favorite toys? Well, there are some signs that those long-gone ancestors are still trying to communicate with you, wanting to guide you through your journey. The signs are: You are gaining wisdom from real-life experience You are more empathetic You are more loyal than before You are consistent with hard work You have started admiring spirituality You like taking responsibility Life has awarded you with new positivity You are not afraid of uncertainty Disrespecting your Ancestors (Pitra Dosh) Living like an average person is a disrespect to your ancestors. It is a sin called as Pitra Dosh. It renders all the divine forces of ancestor spirits helpless. Below are some of the habits which cause Pitra Dosh: Excessive drinking/smoking Laziness Unhealthy food consumption Lack of purpose in life No exercise Showing disloyalty to your family Discarding these habits can bolster the flow of ancestor spirits, enabling the divine forces to assist you when you need them the most. Guidance by Ancestral Spirits Worshipping your ancestors, especially during the period of Shraadh, gives you the confidence to persevere while enduring tough issues of life. Just like your elders used to give you a roadmap when you were small, their spirits provide you with the much-needed guidance when things go bruhaha. Meanwhile, the spirit of those ancestors who didn’t act or behave well, guide you how not to act while facing intense adversities. Here are some of the easy remedies to garner the blessing of your ancestors to grow in life: Be grateful for what they have done Respect your elders Motivate your juniors Discard unhealthy foods/drinks Exercise regularly Find a purpose of life
Stress Management
Stress Management Understanding Stress Stress is defined as a physical or mental reaction experienced by human beings during a major event, change, or challenge. It is an inevitable truth of life. Among all the mammals including humans, stress acts as a survival mechanism, rendering quick response to life-threatening situations. No matter what situation you are in, stress cannot be evaded, instead, it can be managed. Stress management plays an important role in an individual’s life as it channelizes the impulsive sequence of hormonal changes while facing any adversity. According to research, one in every third Indian struggles with stress. A study conducted by ICICI Lombard further attests that millennials and GenZ across India are more prone to stress and anxiety compared to the elder generation. Let’s delve deeper into the importance of stress management. Importance of Stress Management To manage stress, one needs to analyze what, why and how? What is the root cause of stress, why is it there, and how to manage stress? Understand yourself as much as you can. Maintain a journal, pen down your insecurities, and confront your soul. Stress management is imperative to re-center focus to execute day-to-day tasks. It is important for you to understand, no matter how stressed you are, earth never stops rotating, your competitors don’t stand still, and nobody has the time to empathize with you. Here are some of the effective stress management techniques: 1. Make a transition towards healthy lifestyle There is no better medicine than healthy food and no better stress manager than exercise. Exercise promotes secretion of endorphins which reduce stress levels and increase your sense of well-being. This motivates a person to embrace factors which trigger stress, such as change of place, departure from home, or family issues, among other stuff. Eating healthy food post exercise sends a person into a euphoric state, rendering a positive state of well-being. 2. Understand the root cause of Stress Stress can be triggered by various aspects of life, including job loss, work pressure, mental/physical concussions, or major changes in life, among others. What you need to do, is set up an accountability mirror for all the things in life which went wrong. Understanding and acting upon it solves 50% of the problem. Once you have understood the what and why of the stress cause, then you can gradually make an effort towards finding a solution. 3. Have faith in divine “The real cause of one’s difficulties in the hard struggle for life may be found in one’s forgetfulness of his relationship with the supreme lord.” -Bhagvad Geeta The most crucial aspect in the study of five stress management techniques is the unconditional love and faith in the supreme lord. Get yourself a spiritual teacher, who can guide you through the cosmic realm, providing all the necessary tools to counter stress. 4. Avoid too much alcohol or nicotine There are certain myths attached to alcohol and nicotine consumption, such as it reduces anxiety and depression, removes stress, and provides a sense of relaxation, among others. However, these claims are only partially true. Some studies have shown that smoking or drinking can actually trigger tension and stress. These addictive activities can escalate cravings, rendering restlessness and headaches. Therefore, an efficient stress relief medicine would be to avoid these types of addictions. 5. Indulge into hobbies Another efficient and effective stress management technique is indulging into hobbies and activities which pushes your body and mind to discard immobility. Think about the activities you used to love during your childhood. Even if there weren’t any, maybe it’s time to adopt one. For instance, yoga is a time-tested activity which facilitates union of an individual and supreme being. Some other forms of hobbies worth adopting can be swimming, dancing, Zumba, aerobics, and painting, among others.
