Some stress relief tips....

Well, now that the election season is over, you might need a little help relaxing. I'm here to give you some tips about how to use meditation to reduce stress. Meditation has a reputation as being something yogis somewhere do or former hippies. Over the past few years, though, it’s become much more acceptable. People all over are discovering not only spiritual benefits, but health benefits as well. You don’t have to sit around cross-legged chanting “Om” to get the benefits of meditation. There are many ways to join in on this popular practice.

First... let's talk check list. Here are some things you might want to consider getting together when developing a meditation routine.

• Library Card (optional)


• DVD rental service (optional)


• A quiet place to perform your meditation


• Comfortable clothing


• Relaxing music or Meditation CDs/DVDs (Optional)


• Meditation BooksInternet Access (optional)

Now... here are some guidelines to consider that will help you develop a great routine for you:

1) First, do all the research into the various forms of meditation you can. Borrow/Buy books, research the topic online or ask people you know who meditate about their practices. The more research you do into the topic, the better you’ll understand the different ways to meditate and find the method that’s right for you.

2) Once you have finally settled on a method, develop a schedule for it. You can choose to schedule your meditation time in the morning when you get up, in the afternoon or before bed- whatever time works best for you. You can also choose to devote only a few minutes each day or a longer time several times a week.

3) Once you have figured out what practice works best for you and what times you want to meditate, you’re ready to find a place to meditate. You can choose to meditate in your backyard, a quiet room in your house or even join a class. The most important part is finding a place where you’re comfortable and can fully devote yourself to it.

4) Being comfortable is the key to any meditation session. Make sure your clothes are comfortable and you’re sitting in a way where you will not feel any pain or other discomfort. Tight pants or a numb foot will keep you from losing yourself in the moment and you’ll end your session feeling as bad or worse than when you began.

5) Be consistent. Meditating can be a lot like working out. We know it’s good for us, but we can get distracted by other things and let it slide. To make sure you keep it up, give yourself some kind of reward every time you finish a session. When your tired or busy, a reward can give you the push you need to tough it out.

Here are some other things to keep in mind:

1) Give yourself time. You might not feel the benefits of meditation instantly, but you will if you keep at it.

2) If a certain type of meditation starts making you uncomfortable, find a new one.

3) Start slowly with your routine. Give it a few minutes a day at first, building up to longer sessions over time.

That's all for today. Be sure to come back through out the week, though, because I'll be sharing some Florida election results, helpful articles and local information. In the meantime, stop by and see us on MySpace.