Clear your mind and ease your stress with a few different creative meditation strategies.
Meditating is a great way to declutter the mind, but it becomes harder and harder to relax when all you can think about is everything you should be doing while practicing your asana pose.The good news is that Zen Buddhists have come up with plenty of other ways to help you achieve peace of mind without going outside of your comfort zone.
Here are some styles of mediation that will help you achieve the serenity you aim for.
Zazen and Seated Meditation
Seated Meditation/Soultrain.com
For traditionalists, Zazen, or Seated Meditation is the way to go. You might not be the type to sit and ponder on obscure metaphors in the same way as some Zen Buddhist monks do, but you certainly have enough problems to keep your mind busy. Take a deep breathe, exhale and remind yourself that all those problems are not important.
Zazen embodies the adage, “think before you act.” In this case, meditating cross-legged in the full-lotus or half-lotus position for ten minutes every morning before you start your day is an excellent way to help you become more aware of your daily actions.
Kinhin and Walking Meditation
Walking Meditation/Balanceinme.com
Can’t sit still? Find yourself jiggling your leg uncontrollably or clicking your pen repeatedly? Kinhin, or what the Zen Buddhists refer to as “Walking Meditation,” might be for you. While Zen Buddhists have a more formal ritual when it comes to Kinhin, you can still tailor it to suit your style. Take a long walk in a beautiful park or in your favourite neighborhood. Even try walking someplace new for inspiration.
Walk to clear your head. Instead of trying to work through your problems, let your mind focus on your steps, your breathing, and your environment. Instead of focusing on your goals, try to focus on the present. By doing this, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle your problems from a new direction.
Martial Arts Meditation
Martial Arts Meditation/123rf.com –
Do you hate to sit still and prefer to run rather than walk? Do you feel as if you can’t relax without working up a good sweat? Perhaps Yoga, Tai Chi, or another martial art are your best options. You’ll get into great shape but, more importantly, focusing on discipline and technique will help you with clearing your mind.
After a few classes you’ll be feeling as good inside as you’ll be looking on the outside.
Samu: Work Meditation
Samu Meditation/http://birankai.org/
Do you take comfort in tasks such as washing dishes or vacuuming? If so, then 'Samu' or work-based meditation is definitely for you. At monasteries, Buddhist monks believe that certain chores come with a sense of Samu, such as raking leaves, baking bread, or washing up. The repetitive motions gives oneself something to do, freeing their minds to wander or look inwards. At the same time, the motions can become a soothing pattern to follow. Knit one, purl two, knit one, purl two.
Gratitude Meditation
Gratitude Meditation/scienceofstillness.com
In some ways, Deepak Chopra’s Gratitude meditation can be the most difficult, but also the most gratifying and freeing. A Harvard study that was released this past year measures happiness in people. One of the things that generates the most happiness is the sense of appreciation and gratitude that a person feels. However, saying “thank you” to someone can sometime be incredibly difficult for us. If you’re not ready for personal confessions, try to sit in solitude for a few minutes and write a letter to someone that you would like to thank.
Another thing you can do is count your blessings each day. Some people treat prayer as Gratitude Meditation. You can also sit, walk, or write down the things for which you are thankful for in a personalized journal. You might surprise yourself by discovering that maybe your problems aren’t that bad after all.
It is only natural to feel stressed. As we carry out our day-to-day responsibilities, it is also crucial to reserve some personal time for meditating. Free your mind, free your soul, feel happy.
Try one or more of these techniques and tell us which one worked best for you.
Featured Image: Meditation Pose: Courtesy of Linfield College
Source: Soultrain.com, Balanceinme.com, wikihow,meditation-research.org.uk
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