Do you ever feel like the older you get the busier life becomes? It seems there is very little time in our daily schedule, let alone our life for Rest. There are kids' activities, work projects, birthday parties, travel planning, and time needed with family both near and far. We have programmed and planned our entire lives leaving little to no room for anything that might remotely rejuvenate our body and offer us rest.
Many of us view resting as a form of laziness, wasted time. For some, resting means chilling out at home doing absolutely nothing, sleeping until noon or sitting around in our pj's all day. While there may be an element of that in our restful times, that's not the whole story.
Rest in the form of Meditation is about RECOVERY.
It is knowing when we are drained, exhausted and need to breathe deeply for a while. Rest and Meditation should be a part of everyday so that our bodies and mind are ready to take on the stress of the day. In order for our bodies to truly recover, we must receive abundant, uninterrupted sleep (rest) of 6-8 hours each night between 10pm and 6am in the morning. If you find yourself tired on a regular basis, it would be wise for you to evaluate not only the amount of nightly sleep you are getting, but the time frame you are getting it in.
Rest in the form of Meditation is about REFRESHMENT.
Meditation is one of the strategies to cultivate a peaceful happy mind. Where does Happiness come from anyway? Most of people seem to think that happiness comes from external conditions in the form of stress. Our mind is bombarded with things that need to be done, places we need to go and people we need to see. This is only part of where happiness comes from. Our mind is constantly changing based on these outside stimuli. But happiness also comes from inside. Happiness is a state of mind that is peaceful and content no matter what is going on the outside. We must learn how to quiet our minds and incorporate activities or stillness that will bring refreshing times to our spirits.
Rest in the form of Meditation is about RENEWAL.
The Vagus Nerve is known as the "wondering nerve". It originates in the medulla of the brain and travels through the body to communicate with organs like, the liver, heart, lungs, stomach and intestines. Basically, it regulates "rest and digest". Meditation is a way to experience a deep renewal in all parts of our life and body. It shifts our focus to something more positive and calming. Taking even 10 minutes to meditate at the start of the day can bring your hormones into balance, allow for complete digestion of food, strengthens your heart and can put the day and all of it's stress into proper perspective.
In Summary:
Meditation can improve blood pressure, memory, sleep and libido.
It can also be used as a tool for transformation, peace, and greater contentment. Helping you
- Get some space from your mind
- Control what's going on inside to help cope with the outside
- Find mental and emotional balance
- Strengthen the tone of the vagus nerve regulating "rest and digest"
Meditation works like a phone charger. Try this 10 minute Breathing Meditation and cultivate your peaceful mind. Then see if you can start to add it at the beginning of each day for a week. Let me know how it goes for you by sending an email to: healthcoachkellogg@gmail.com