<p class="p3"><span class="s2">Finding your inner zen isn’t about cutting out all of life’s sweet pleasures nor do you don’t have to become a monk to step into your zen. Perhaps you can think of it this way, it’s a different manner of accessing your sweet moments without having to hunt for them. </span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Zen is just another word for experiencing ‘<i>bliss, your sweet spot or being in the moment’.</i> For many of us, we look for the highs in life to give us this feeling and it’s usually associated with a surge of adrenalin, meaning we experience an external zen. What if we turn it around and you’re able to easily access this sweet spot internally? This way, it’s not dictated by what goes on around you, it’s more about what you’re boosting internally. </span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">That internal zen is a simple practice of connecting with yourself daily. It doesn’t matter whether it’s five minutes, fifteen or even sixty minutes. What matters is the frequency of connecting with yourself daily. Recent studies</span> have shown that you get an instant result after meditating for one hour, one time only. From the very first time you meditate, you’re reducing stress and anxiety from your mind, your body and emotions. It’s like getting into bed with fresh clean sheets and there’s nothing better than that crisp feeling and smell of freshly washed bed sheets. </span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">So what effects do stepping into our zen do for us – even if it’s only for five minutes?</span></p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Stops the monkey mind</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Brings clarity</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Reduces stress and anxiety</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Feeling energised</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Motivation</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Joy</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Drive</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Strengthens immune system</span></li> </ul> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Here’s a couple of simple meditation methods that you can do to experience your own internal bliss.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2"><b>Guided Meditation</b></span></p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">There are plenty of guided meditations that you can access online</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Choose one, get into a comfortable position and press play</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Follow the voice guiding you on a journey and let your imagination lead the way</span></li> </ul> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">For beginners and busy people, there are two <a href="http://simonnelee.com/product-category/products/meditation-audio-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span class="s3">meditations</span></a> that I have recorded, a 10min and a 16min which you can purchase and download straight away.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2"><b>Mindfulness Meditation</b></span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Part A:</span></p> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Get into a comfortable position, you can sit in a chair, cushion or even lie down.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Shift your attention to your breathing and find your own natural breath rhythm. </span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Follow your breath all the way to where it stops in your body and gently hold.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Then notice your breath as it leaves your body.</span></li> </ol> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Do Part A for three to five minutes initially and whenever you’re ready, you can add Part B into your practice.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Part B:</span></p> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Now bring your attention to a part of your body that’s really relaxed.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Breathe into that area, gently hold and softly exhale.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Find another spot on your body that is more relaxed than before and breathe in. As you breathe in you’re expanding this <i>relaxing</i> feeling in your body.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Keep repeating steps 1 and 2 until your body begins to unwind deeper and deeper.</span></li> </ol> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Do Part 2 for five to ten minutes</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2"><b>Sound Meditation</b></span></p> <ol class="ol1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Surf the net for some music e.g. a gong or a mantra being repeated in a rhythmic pace.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Get yourself into a comfortable position sitting down on a chair or cushion.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Place your hands on your knees (palms up or down is fine).</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Follow your breath in and out until you feel your body settle into position and relax.</span></li> </ol> <p class="p5"><strong><span class="s2"> Gong</span></strong></p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Let the sound of the gong shift your brainwaves into theta which is a deeper state of relaxation where you may feel yourself drifting in and out.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">Just relax and follow the rhythm of the gong beat.</span></li> </ul> <p class="p3"><strong><span class="s2">Mantra</span></strong></p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">A repeated phrase or word that you say out loud or silently e.g. Ah.</span></li> <li class="li3"><span class="s2">The word or phrase vibrates from within your chest as you repeat it.</span></li> </ul> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">You can do either sound meditation for five to forty-five minutes.</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">Life is about those <i>sweet moments</i> and how often we allow ourselves to stop and enjoy them. Instead of running around chasing these moments, stop and take a minute to pause. Create the habit to go within and slide into your sweet bliss even if it’s only for a moment, every day!</span></p> <p class="p3"><span class="s2">#simonnelee #simonneleemethod #meditation #mindful #mindfulness #stressmanagement #anxiety #zen</span></p> <b><i>The Carousel would like to thank Simonne Lee</i> <i>for this article.</i></b> Photo by Milan Popovic
