Meditate
Reduce stress, anguish and worry.
Sandra González de la Peña
Many speak of the benefits of meditating. But what is meditating, really? And what are the benefits? That’s what we’ll talk about today.
We live among a lot of movement, among a lot of noise, among many people and many activities. And it’s for this exact reason that it's important to stop, take deep breaths, and connect with ourselves. To inhabit ourselves in the great sense of the word.
First things first, what is meditation? Meditation is a mental exercise that has been practiced for centuries and combines relaxation, concentration and attention. We could say that meditating is for the mind what exercise is for the body. To meditate, we just have to sit in a comfortable posture, close our eyes and breathe. Even if you meditate with more people, the exercise is always individual and intimate.
Meditation, in addition to giving us a space to be with ourselves, has real benefits. For example, it helps against depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia; improves memory, peace of mind and positive feelings (towards yourself and others). It also helps you deal with serious illnesses and connects you to a deeper sense of self.
There is no correct way to meditate. There are different meditation practices that are the product of distinct religions and currents. The idea is that you find the one that makes YOU feel good and at peace. Here’s an exercise to start and discover everything that this practice, which is simple and complex at the same time, can give you.
Simple meditation to reduce stress, anguish and worry:
Before you begin, sit comfortably in a posture where you can be completely relaxed and gently close your eyes.
Let go of your thoughts.
Bring your attention to your breathing and watch the movement of your chest as you inhale and exhale.
Spend a few moments consciously observing your breathing.
If your mind wanders, don't worry! It is normal at first to have many thoughts that take you away from the moment, but with practice, you will find it easier to stay focused and in the present.
Feel your breath move from the tip of your head to your toes.
Now, we are going to count from number 5 to 1, repeating between each one, the words “stillness” and “attention”:
5 - stillness and attention
4 - stillness and attention
3 - stillness and attention
2 - stillness and attention
1 - stillness and attention
Observe your thoughts and your feelings. If there are negative ones, remember that you are not the feelings and thoughts, you are only the one experimenting them.
Now we are going to repeat the numbers, this time saying "calm and present".
5 - calm and present
4 - calm and present
3 - calm and present
2 - calm and present
1 - calm and present
Observe your thoughts and feelings, take a deep breath and feel the breath from your head to your toes.
Feel the calm and peace penetrating deeper into your being, stay here a few moments and enjoy your inner peace.
* Text written in collaboration with Sandra González de la Peña, a yoga teacher for 18 years and a meditation practitioner for 16 years.
“Breathe in the future, breathe out the past.”
“Sandy is a yoga teacher who takes you to the deepest part of your being, connects with your internal teacher, with your intuition. She works with the mind, spirit and body, and her deep love for this discipline is a great inspiration. She is a teacher of life and an incredible human being.”
