I’m sure you’ve heard of all the great benefits of meditation. Studies show that meditation:
- enhances creativity,
- improves your relationships,
- helps you focus,
- boosts emotional intelligence,
- decreases anxiety,
- improves cardiovascular health, and more.
Despite all these real, tested benefits, chances are you’re not doing it. Am I right? (please let me know if you are a regular meditator …I’d love to be wrong).
A shortcut to nearly all the benefits
If you want the benefits of meditation, but for whatever reason it’s just not for you, try this Abdominal Deep Breathing exercise:
- Sit comfortably in a chair and give your full attention to your breathing.
- Inhale deep (through your nostrils) into your abdomen to the slow count of 4, and let your abdomen expand to it’s fullest.
- As you exhale (to the slow count of 4) pull your abdomen in and feel the air expand your chest as it escapes through the mouth.
That’s it! You can do this, can’t you? I can’t think of any other investment of time that gives as much benefit.
Here’s a good article from the Chopra Perfect Health Center describing the benefits and techniques of deep breathing. You’ll see a lot of similarities to meditation, but this is easier. You can do this lying on your back, or sitting at your computer, but to get the full benefit you have to focus entirely on the breathing (and nothing else), and continue for at least 5 minutes. Obviously, the more you do it the more you’ll benefit.
Victoria and I use a 15 minute guided meditation first thing in the morning that helps us keep on track with deep breathing, and also reminds us about our perfect life. Check it out here.
Also, we practice deep breathing throughout the day, when we’re feeling a little stressed, or we’re in stressful traffic, or we’ve just been working on the computer for too long.
I do hope you’ll give deep breathing a try. It’s a key part of our wellness program, and I know it’ll help you too. Just don’t call it meditation.
Best wishes for your best health, Donald
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