Om Sweet Om

   Meditation is a thousand year old practice that still has numerous benefits for modern day man. The word "meditation" most likely brings to mind a picture of a skinny, dark, scantily clad man sitting cross-legged with hands in the 'OK' formation. Maybe he's chanting a familiar "Om" or similar soothing phrase. Regardless of what you may see or believe, that is not all meditation is about.
   I like to think of meditation as a "time-out" from reality. For a few moments a day, you get to sit in complete peace and allow every thought to drift through and out of your consciousness. The easiest way to start a meditation practice is to set aside a few minutes a day, find a quiet area you enjoy, and just sit and breathe. Focusing on your breath will really help you to let go of the other thoughts that may arise during the practice. A lot of people will get frustrated when they first start meditating because they think it's impossible to turn off all of the inner chatter. I thought this as well, but believe me, you CAN shut off the voices in your head.. eventually!!!
   When beginning a meditation practice, it's best to start with smaller time frames and work your way up. Start with 1 minute sessions, then up that to 3 minutes.. then 5 minutes and so on. Soon you'll be busting through a 30 minute session like a meditation master!!! You can sit cross-legged on the floor or lay down with your head supported by a pillow, any way that is most comfortable. Then you want to focus on your breathing. Feel your stomach expand as you inhale through your nose and then deflate when you sigh out an exhale. Try to keep your breaths even and as deep as possible. Soon you'll get into a rhythm and it will feel very natural to you. Most people have a tendency to breathe too shallow (also called chest breathing,) so breathing this deeply feels a bit awkward at first. One of the benefits of meditation is that it teaches you the proper way to breathe so that you get the most oxygen into your bloodstream, which makes for the happiest cells! :)
   More benefits of meditation include:

• Deeper levels of relaxation
• Decreased muscle tension
• Enhanced energy
• Cures headaches and migraines
• Increased creativity
• Improved relationships
• Less aggression and road rage 
• Can help to cure addictions to alcohol, cigarettes, ect. 
• Develops emotional maturity 
• Increases the synchronicity in your life 

That is just a handful of the amazing things meditation can assist you with! Click here for a more comprehensive list with 100 total benefits!!! :)
   Meditation is a life-changing tool that I encourage you to try! There is no risk, and the benefits are outstanding.. what do you have to lose?! Why not take a few minutes out of your day to practice something that can help your mind, body, and soul?! To help you get started, here's a free guided meditation from YouTube that I enjoy! Stay clean everybody!