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Meditation as a form of total relaxation
Meditation is a way of releasing built-up tension and pain -
reaching a serene state that refreshes both mind and body, without
the use of any drugs. As with all other areas of life, practice
makes perfect, and by indulging in 10 to 20 minutes each day of
effective mind and body control, you may just be teaching yourself
the art of supreme self-help, which in this case can be very
beneficial.
Whether you choose to teach yourself, or join a group, the procedure
in which you aim to accomplish total relaxation will be basically
the same, and although some have difficulty in switching-off
completely, there are those who achieve this with minimal effort, so
it is only through perseverance that one will reach the end goal.
How to meditate:
- Choose a quiet dimly-lit room where you are most likely to
remain uninterrupted
- Obtain a comfortable position, either lying down, or sitting
cross-legged with your arms resting in your lap.
- Fill your mind with one calming thought such as puffy white
clouds floating through the air or rolling green grass. The aim is
to prevent any other thoughts from entering your mind.
- Concentrate on breathing, filling your lungs and then gently
releasing, making sure that every part of your body is totally
relaxed and that your teeth remain unclenched.
- Maintain this state of relaxation for at least ten minutes,
and after a little practice you will find that you are able to
achieve this technique almost anywhere and at any time of the day,
which will be a blessing during labour.
- At the end of the session you may find that you suffer from a
mild form of dizziness due to the lowered blood pressure, so it
may be wise to move each limb around for a minute or two before
resuming a standing position.
In the beginning it is normal for other thoughts to intrude, but
don't let these discourage you. One should just acknowledge them,
then let them go and carry on concentrating on each breath or the
pleasant scenario chosen.
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