FOCUS ON THE BREATH...

Are you seeking change? Looking to reduce stress? Feel more balanced? As within, so without… take time to focus on your breath...

CREATE DAILY MIND BODY AWARENESS IN SILENCE

"Mindful awareness can be defined as paying attention to present moment experiences with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with what is. It is an excellent antidote to the stresses of modern times. It invites us to stop, breathe, observe, and connect with one's inner experience."

~UCLA HEALTH mindful awareness research center

Here are some free relaxing guided meditations

brought to you from ucla health :)

http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

MEDITATE 101

FIVES TYPES OF MEDITATION:

MINDFUL MEDITATION: THIS REFERS TO IN-THE-MOMENT MEDITATION, WHICH IS BEING CONSCIOUS OF ALL THE LITTLE THINGS HAPPENING AROUND YOU.  NOT LOUD DISTRACTIONS, BUT QUIET SOUNDS, SENSATIONS, AND SO ON.  THIS FLUID OR FLOWING TYPE OF MEDITATION IS CHARACTERIZED BY CAPRICIOUSNESS; THE ABILITY TO BE AWARE WITHOUT FOCUSING ON ONE DISTRACTION.

 

FOCUS MEDITATION: IN CONTRAST, FOCUSED MEDITATION INVOLVES CLEARING YOUR MIND OF ALL THOUGHTS AND ALL IN-THE-MOMENT LITTLE THINGS, AND INSTEAD FOCUSING ON ONE ELEMENT.  IT COULD BE A SOUND, AN OBJECT, OR A SINGULAR THOUGHT.  THE MEDITATING PARTY MUST BE COMMITTED TO HOLDING ONTO THE THOUGHT.

 

SPIRITUAL MEDITATION: THIS COVERS PRAYER MEDITATION AND OTHER FORMS OF RELIGIOUS MEDITATING. WHILE THE THOUGHT IS BASED ON COMMUNICATING WITH A GOD, IT STILL INVOLVES A SIMILAR THINKING PROCESS; CALMNESS, QUIET AND USUALLY FOCUSING YOUR ATTENTION ON ONE QUESTION.

 

MOVEMENT MEDITATION: MOVEMENT MEDITATION IS CHARACTERIZED BY MOVEMENTS, WHICH ARE REPETITIVE FLOWING MOTIONS.  YOU FOCUS ON THE MOVEMENT IN THE SAME WAY AS YOU WOULD FOCUS ON A SOUND OR ON A THOUGHT.  WHILE FOCUSING ON THE MOVEMENT YOU ALSO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR DIAPHRAGM BREATHING.

 

MANTRA MEDITATION: MANTRA MEDITATION REFERS TO THE OLD WAYS OF CHANTING, ALOUD, AND ON A SPECIFIC WORD AND THOUGHT.  THE SOUNDS YOU MAKE BECOME THE OBJECT OF FOCUS.  USUALLY WORDS THAT CAUSE DEEP VIBRATIONS ARE USED; FOR EXAMPLE “OM”.

FIND A QUIET PLACE AND FOLLOW WITH THIS GUIDED MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS