Meditation has been a part of the yogic culture for centuries. This powerful technique helped millions connect with the divine and realize their true self. Unfortunately, many think that meditation is only about sitting cross-legged and closing your eyes. But, there is more to that! It takes a lot of patience to just sit still. Also, with time, meditation has taken on various forms one of which is mindfulness meditation.
The technique of mindfulness meditation has been around for thousands of years. Practicing mindfulness meditation requires you to slow down racing thoughts, release all negativity, and calm your mind and body. Mindfulness meditation keeps you focused in the present and accept all feelings and emotions without any judgment. Yoga experts have come up with a small guide to help you understand more about this magical technique.
Do you know that mindfulness meditation has been mentioned in ancient texts of Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Buddhism? However, for you to understand this wonderful yogic technique, you should look a bit deeper into Buddhism.
Buddhism cultivates a non-judgmental awareness of yourself, what you feel, the mind, and surroundings. Mindfulness meditation is an excellent way for you to step back from the external world and focus on the internal one. At times, it also helps you resist temptations and negative behavior.
However, there are a few factors in mindfulness meditation. Yoga experts have come up with three of these.
Keep in mind, the goal of mindfulness meditation is to help you develop awareness. This awareness can be of the breath or the body. However, at times, it also focuses on the external or the internal world.
Have you experienced the peace of mind that comes by detaching yourself from something and just being a witness to it? Mindfulness meditation does not asks you to ignore your feelings and emotions, but to simply be a witness and not react to them.
Mindfulness meditation helps you develop awareness without any type of judgment linked to it. In other words, doing mindfulness meditation is more about being a witness than reacting towards a situation or emotion.
For you to experience the benefits of mindfulness meditation, you must know the correct technique of doing it. Yoga experts have come up with the correct way of practicing mindfulness meditation.
Remember, the goal of mindfulness meditation is to enter a state of alertness and focused relaxation by just being a witness to your thoughts and feelings. This is a powerful technique to help your mind focus on the present moment.
Given below is a breakdown of how you can practice this yogic meditation technique.
Sit quietly and focus on your breathing with a word or a mantra which you can repeat silently. Just let these feelings and emotions come and go. Do not react to them but only focus on the mantra or your breathing.
Notice the subtle body sensations like an itch or tingling without judgment and let them pass. Also, notice how each part of your body reacts from the head to toe.
For mindfulness meditation to work, you have to notice the sounds, sights, smell, taste, and touch. Let them come and go without being judgmental about them.
Just let your emotions be present without any judgment. Simply accept their presence and do not judge or react to them.
If you want to fight addictions or urges, mindfulness meditation will help you do that. Just notice how your body feels as the craving enters your mind. Focus on replacing it with a something positive.
There are some pretty impressive benefits of practicing this meditation technique. For starters, this yogic technique helps you live in the world with curiosity rather than judgment.
Given below are three major benefits of mindfulness meditation;
Mindfulness meditation improves your brain functioning by providing the left side of your brain and cerebral cortex a major boost.
When combined with cognitive therapy, practicing mindfulness meditation keeps you away from mental health issues like chronic depression. In the long run, you learn to balance the negative thoughts with positive ones.
Daily practice of mindfulness meditation improves your self-awareness and self-control, which helps you beat urges like binge eating. This keeps you away from numerous harmful eating behaviors and health problems.
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There it is!
Do you want to stay away from negative thoughts and feelings? You should try mindfulness meditation by enrolling in a certified yoga school. The experts would guide you in becoming a witness and not a judge when a not-so-comfortable thought or feeling rears your ugly head.