Get a fresh perspective on hasn by examining the key points covered in If mindfulness meditation hasn ’ t worked for you , don ’ t beat....
If mindfulness meditation hasn’t worked for you, don’t beat yourself up. There is no end of effective meditation strategies to calm the mind.
I’ve worked with arguably some of the most stressed individuals in our society, like veterans returning from war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their trauma is heavy, they have insomnia, anxiety, depression and some even live bunkered up in their basements.
Sitting with their eyes closed and doing nothing is not something these people really get excited about. In fact, it could be anxiety-provoking.
What tends to work for people who have been under incredibly high amounts or stress is shockingly simple: breathing. I gave a TEDx talk on this topic which led people to ask me how they can learn more.
Yoga-based breathing exercises can help those of us who can’t be inactive because it is an active meditation.
It requires that you do something, instead of trying not to do something. It also leads to immediate results. (Breathing can slow your heart rate in minutes, as opposed to mindfulness meditation, which takes repetition over time). In our study, veterans’ PTSD scores normalized within a week of practicing yogic breathing, and the benefits remain as much as 1 year later, suggesting permanent improvement. (The kind of breathing we researched is called Sudarshan Kriya which is taught through the International Association for Human Values and the Art of Living Foundation)
So, should we all be doing these breathing exercises?
Maybe. More importantly, my message to you is to explore your options. If mindfulness isn’t for you, that doesn’t mean meditation isn’t. There are so many forms of meditation. From breathing practices like the one we researched to mantra-based meditations to loving-kindness and compassion meditations. You just have to find the shoe that fits.
Breathing Tip:
The breath can help you tap right into your parasympathetic nervous system—that’s the “rest and digest” part of your nervous system, the opposite of the “fight or flight.” When you breathe slowly and deeply, you start to calm down.
In fact, research shows that when you breathe in, your heart rate speeds up and when you breathe out it slows down. So, a quick way to relax is to lengthen your exhales. No matter where you are—on your commute, a date, or an interview—just tapping into the power of your breath will trigger your relaxation response.
You may even find that, after calming your nervous system with breathing, you actually are able to sit and do nothing more easily.
To read the full article see the link below or in my instagram bio:
In conclusion, we hope this article has added real value to your journey in a world concerned with topics like If mindfulness meditation hasn ’ t worked for you , don ’ t beat.... Share your opinions with us!
We've fetched this topic's video from Facebook for your viewing. If you need to download facebook video If mindfulness meditation hasn ’ t worked for you , don ’ t beat... in mp4 video, simply ask us in the comments section and we’ll make it available.
