How many times have we been told "just relax"? Too many to count? When we're panicking or carrying tension of the day, general worry or anxiety. Then we take a series of deep breathes, we feel our muscles relax and we let out a big sigh of relief. That, breathing, is a focus of meditation. Learning to breath deeply, and allowing the anxiety, the worry and the fears leave with every exhale. Letting our thoughts come in and gently releasing them. That is focus. Focus on our inner self. That's how we grow.
Breathing brings oxygen to the everyday functions of our bodies: moving our muscles, digesting our food, even just thinking requires oxygen. Carbon dioxide is produces as a waste product. Our lungs provide these processes with oxygen and eliminate waste gas.
Benefits of breathing (aside from keeping us alive) include:
Decrease stress, decrease pain. Stress releases cortisol, the stress hormone. By breathing deeply, your heart rate slows and more oxygen enters your blood stream and ultimately tells your brain to relax. It increased endorphins, and reduces pain.
Detoxifies the body. By stimulating the lymphatic system your breathing can cleanse about 70% of the toxins out of your body.
Immunity boost. When your blood is fully oxygenated it carries and absorbs necessary nutrients and vitamins more efficiently.
Increase energy. The more oxygen in the blood, the better your body functions and increases stamina.
Lowers blood pressure. As your muscles relax your blood vessels dilate, which improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. Is slows and regulate the heart rate.
Combined with mediation, focused breathing will heighten your spiritual connection.
While they tell us in my readings that if you start to bring meditation into your life as a part of your routine you will be more inclined to stick with it. Develop the habit by meditating everyday for 30 days. Taking those long deep breaths, filling your lungs so deeply that your abdomen rises and then your chest, exhaling and feeling all the garbage leave with your breath cleanses and clears your energetic body as well. With more oxygen getting to your brain, you're clear - combined with the inner focus you can then move to a deeper connection with your higher self and then your guides and angels.
We should incorporate meditation into our daily routine because it takes time to develop a synchronicity where you feel the connection and the inward journey begins to connect us with that profound joy and understanding. The solid routine of meditation - spirit care - allows you to move more easily through any bumps on the road of our lives. You will consistently feel an improvement in your mood which grows over time. Meditation has its own version of the physical fitness endorphin rush. A beautiful uplifting feeling of peace, awareness and joy. Consistently engage in meditation practice. First it alleviates anxiety and tension and then it starts doing amazing things. This is the foundation of your spiritual growth. It is almost guaranteed during my readings the subject of meditation comes up.
ADD and ADHD can prevent us from meditating. Hard to concentrate, unable to focus and this results in frustration and even more anxiety. So how do we get there if we are struggling with the basic ability to sit still and focus for 10 minutes?? There is specific type of breathing which is often practiced in some types of yoga - Pranayama - a formal practice of breath control. Many cultures and ancient religions practice breathing techniques to alter consciousness for spiritual purposes.
Then I was introduced to Breathwork, a decidedly modern take on this ancient practice. I have attended this online Breathwork and Meditation session myself and really liked the way they work. It's held on Mondays at 8pm EST.
I've spoken with those who have had trouble focusing because of ADD, who attended these sessions with some consistency. They found that they were soon able to meditate. They were able to more easily let go of thoughts which seem to take over their minds. It does take extra discipline to remain focused on this process but they assured me it was worth the effort.
If Breathwork doesn't resonate with you then try slowly building up meditation. If 10 minutes seem way to long, then try 5 minutes. Too long? Try 1 minute. When you are able to sit and just let thoughts go for 1 minute, then increase it to 2. Even if it takes weeks to get to 2 minutes, keep going, baby steps are alright. It is exactly like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets. You will develop the very good habit of meditation in your routine. You will not want to stop, in fact you will do longer sessions and go deeper.
Give it a try, you've got nothing to loose but anxiety!
Here is a link to a very simple guided meditation for beginners. You are guided to a state of relaxation and left to breathe. Just when your mind is wandering a voice comes on and reminds you to just return to focus on your breath. Guided mindful meditation.