I love travel documentaries, an armchair opportunity to learn about the different countries and cultures- that I may not visit in person.

Last week, I enjoyed Michael Portillo’s fascinating trip to India; he visited a Buddhist monastery in Calcutta, and he readily participated in meditation. But, knowing that it seems hard to accomplish, he asked one of the monks- what is the easiest way to master the soul-nourishing technique.

I found this interesting. because I wrongly assumed that the well-seasoned journalist might automatically know about meditation; but equally, whilst I practice it daily, I also know how challenging it was initially, to switch off my thoughts.

Additionally, social media bombards us with advice on both meditation and mindfulness, because it is extremely beneficial to our entire physiology. But since the perception is that it requires full concentration, it can feel like another daunting, steep- learning curve which can be off-putting.

To assist you, here is the definition:

Meditation is a practice of training attention and awareness to achieve a calm and stable state of mind, and to increase focus.

This helped me greatly in my early days, since I originally thought it was far more complicated. Or, regarding mindfulness: that I would have to notice and savor every morsel of food that passed my lips.

It’s no wonder that many people don’t apply it to a daily routine, apart from anything else, it feels time consuming, which it doesn’t have to be at all.

Here’s what the monk told Michael, and this method has been passed down through many generations of Buddhist monks.

“First,” he said: “Close your eyes with a mind that you want to rest or sleep”

This means it’s transportable, that you can easily do in bed or on the sofa when you’re needing to relax and find a calm state of mind.

Next, behind closed eyes, breath in through your nose, hold your breath to the count of four, and exhale through pursed lips. Notice the air filing and then leaving your lungs. Repeat this, with no need to count further, simply breath in and out through your nose and mouth. Observe how the air feels, as it travels in your nasal passage and filtrates down into your chest, and the rest of your body.

Whilst you’re doing so, also notice the air outside your body, but only around the exterior part of your nose, the tip of it specifically.

I did this during the commercial break, it only takes a matter of minutes and IT WORKS!

Later, in bed, I repeated the simple exercise, and I enjoyed a blissful night’s sleep.

Perhaps you might like to give it a try later, it feels incredibly relaxing.

 

I hope you find this helpful.

With SUNNY wishes,

Emma x