Why Traditional Relaxation Methods Fail in Today’s Hectic World
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Religious purposes aside, meditation techniques reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase the mind-body connection, making meditation an important tool in complimentary and alternative medicine. They can have been used to treat anxiety and depression, and help those suffering from chronic pain.
All meditation techniques prompt you to clear and focus your mind. The goal of meditation is to be in the moment without thinking of worries, stresses, or discomfort. This intense focus creates deep relaxation so that you can return to your project or daily life refreshed.
New Twists on Old Relaxation Techniques are the Key to Modern Meditation
Unfortunately, the same chaos we seek to escape can make it impossible to quiet the mind and receive the benefits of relaxation meditation. Traditional meditation techniques require privacy, silence, and extraordinary concentration, all of which are very hard to come by these days.
Zen Buddhist meditation calls for special settings, shoji screens, plants, warm tropical breezes, incense, pillows and all sorts of things meant to help you shut out the outside world. Even if you can sit alone in your office, or find a quiet space in your home you’ll still need to overcome the emotional and stressful associations you have with that place.
Grounding yourself to the physical world
One solution for shutting out the world around you is to focus on an object. All meditation techniques suggest focusing on your breathing, or a sound (such as a prayer or chant) or even a picture or symbol. Another ancient meditation technique is to focus on physical movement. You see this type of meditation practiced in the art of Yoga and Tai Chi.
Alone, these techniques can be frustrating and difficult. Chanting out loud in the office is likely to cause unwanted attention from your co-workers and just thinking about Yoga’s pretzel like poses can raise your blood pressure.
Actively focus your body
A new method for quickly and easily reaching meditation is to combine object focus with simple physical movement. To try this, choose an object that is comfortable to hold, like a small, smooth stick. (Zen sticks designed for meditation are available from http://www.SleepingTiger.org).
Close your eyes. Then, practice tossing and catching, flipping or turning the stick over and over again, while keeping your eyes shut. Concentrating on the repetitive motion while catching the object will allow you to tune out distractions. If you use the same object each time you practice this relaxation technique you’ll find that just touching or holding the Zen Stick helps you calm down and focus.
Meditation solutions for a busy lifestyle
The combination of object focus and simple physical movement works especially well for people who are constantly on the move or simply can’t sit still. You can toss and catch the Zen Stick while you pace back and forth across the office or take a walk in the park. (Keep your eyes open if you’re walking.)
No matter where you are, in the office, stuck in traffic, waiting in line, you can use this meditation technique. No incense or shoji screens required! Furthermore, because the combination of object focus and simple movement helps you achieve focus quickly, it’s great for busy lifestyles. You won’t need an hour, or even half an hour to settle down and meditate.
To learn more about modern relaxation techniques and meditation objects, visit www.sleepingtiger.org. Sign up for the Sleeping Tiger newsletter to get information about living in harmony with nature and the world around you.
About the Author
Sleeping Tiger, LLC is a company that created and produces, Zen Sticks™, a meditation tool made of polished, exotic hardwood. Sleeping Tiger uses woods such as Koa and Olive Tree wood that are harvested using environmentally sound practices. They also give a portion of all proceeds to My Brother’s Keeper, an organization that provides habitats and healing for tigers that are abused or abandoned.
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