A Stress Buster to Start the Day
If you’ve ever thought that you have to hike to a beautiful mountain top or go to a yoga retreat and sit in an uncomfortable lotus position in order to meditate, then think again!
While sitting in the lotus position is easy and comfortable for many, lying down or sitting in a chair is equally effective if you want to experience the benefits of meditation and don’t have the flexibility to contort yourself into a pretzel!
In fact, it’s an amazing way to start the day, so try this simple technique, which can be done anywhere: in bed in the morning, sitting on the train, at your desk at work or just before sleep at night.
It’s meditation “on-the-go” from the lovely Jillian Lavender, whom I had the chance to interview a couple of months ago.
Enjoy! xx
Body Feeling Technique
by Jillian Lavender, Director, London Meditation Centre
Stress and tension get locked into the body and this often makes us anxious and unable to sleep. A powerful way to release the stress is to do some Body Feeling Meditation.
Sit or lie down and close the eyes and take a moment to get comfortable.
- Somewhere in the body there will be a dominant sensation. It can be anything – a tightness in the chest; maybe pressure in the temples;
- Gently bring the attention to that sensation. There is no need to concentrate or focus – simply let the attention lightly rest there.
- After a moment, that sensation will start to dissolve and another sensation will become primary. Let the attention move to this new sensation in the body.
- Again after a few moments this will begin to dissipate and another part of the body will draw your attention. Continue in just the same way.
- After a few minutes, you’ll naturally find yourself thinking other thoughts easily – almost a sense of daydreaming. Open the eyes slowly.
This simple exercise allows the mind to settle down and stress and tension to be released from the body.
Immediately we feel lighter and calmer and ready to deal with the demands of life.
About Jillian Lavender
Jillian has practised meditation for over 15 years, and in 2003 qualified as a teacher after 14 months of full-time study in the mountains of Northern Arizona. Her continuing studies take her to the US and India several times a year.
Born in New Zealand, Jillian has lived in Australia, the U.S., Sweden and France and currently resides in London.
