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Author:
Steve Gillman

Is Meditating Too Much Time And Trouble?

If you haven't meditated before, you might think it's too much trouble to learn. If you do meditate, you know it can be difficult to find the time to do it consistently. So is there really a meditation you can learn right now that can be done in 45 seconds? There is.

Three Deep Breaths

Try this: breath through your mouth, and notice how your chest expands; then breath through your nose and you'll notice how your abdomen goes out more. You see, breathing through the nose causes the diaphram to pull the air to the bottom of your lungs. This delivers a good dose of oxygen into your bloodstream, and into your brain. It also tends to relax you.

This is why meditators breath through their noses. It's healthier, and it is the basis of this forty-five-second meditation. You simply close your eyes, let go of your thoughts (to the extent possible), and take three slow, deep breaths through your nose, paying attention to your breathing.

The Rest Of The Story

Now, this won't get you into a deep meditative state, especially if you've never meditated before. Is this a reason not to do it? Not at all. You'll get what you get out of it, and that almost certainly includes a clearer mind and a reduction in stress.

Make it a ritual. For example, each time you get into your car, quietly do your three deep breaths. Having a regular "trigger" like this to remind you will keep you from procrastinating so often that you eventually forget to meditate altogether (isn't this typical when we don't make a habit out of the things we want to do?).

Want it to be a deeper experience? There's nothing wrong with just enjoying the relaxation created by three deep breaths, but you can go further, if you wish. Longer meditation will help, of course, but that isn't the only way.

If, when you have more time, you learn mindfulness, how to relax more fully, or better ways to let go of distractions in your mind, you can more effectively use that forty-five-seconds. You may even be able to get to that "alpha" state (brain wave frequecy of 8 to 12 hertz) during your short meditation.

Don't worry if some say this isn't "real" meditation. We walk before we run, and not everything has to be difficult to be of value. Why not do a forty-five-second meditation right now?

About the Author
Steve Gillman has meditated and studied meditation for over
twenty years. You can visit his website, and subscribe to
The Meditation Newsletter at:
http://www.TheMeditationSite.com/newsletter.html

| Article Keywords: Meditation

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Meditation... 5 Tips For Successful Meditation Meditation is an art that takes a certain degree of consistency, but almost anyone can find time to meditate, no matter how busy your days may be. Meditation takes little to no preparation time if you follow a few rules, so in less than a half hour, you can meditate and continue on with your normal daily schedule. Remember, meditation is all about being relaxed. First, find a convenient and appropriate place and time for meditation. Many people choose to participate in a class or meditate with a more experienced person (commonly known as a guru). However, if this is not possible, you can still meditate and achieve great results. The place you select for meditation should be away from wherever you typically do your work—i.e., don’t meditate at your desk if you can help it. Also avoid any areas that are noisy or otherwise distracting. Not all outside distractions can be cut from your life, but try to keep them to a minimum. Most people agree that the best time of day to meditate is in the morning, before you begin the rest of your daily routine. At this point in your day, the hustle and bustle of life has yet to begin, and therefore you can more easily concentrate. However, other people choose to meditate in the middle of the day—this relieves some stress already building and helps you continue through the rest of the day. Others prefer the evening or directly before bedtime in order to release stress and sleep better. Whatever time you choose, try to be consistent every day. It is important to be comfortable when you meditate, but not sleepy. Therefore, avoid meditating after large meals. It is also, on the other hand, detrimental to try to meditate when you are hungry. This can be very distracting, which is counterproductive to the goals of meditation. Meditating on...