Meditation – the stress buster

Stress has become a part of life. No one can avoid it. One can only control the stress level. It is true that some level of stress is good, in fact needed for giving your best in studies and work areas. Any level of stress beyond the certain level is harmful. Suicidal tendencies, over aggressiveness, road brawls and falling prey to psychosomatic diseases like diabetic, hypertension, skin ailments, etc. are the common symptoms of stress building up and affecting the health. There is great need to optimize the stress level. This is easy to say and difficult to achieve.

Yoga and meditation are the simple techniques by which one can control the stress level. The techniques develop a person as a whole, body and mind. Yogic postures keep your body healthy and meditation control the thought process of the mind and keep the stress level under check. Yoga should be practiced under the guidance of a trained teacher. Never practice yoga by seeing TV programs and referring to books. The yoga practices shown on TV are generally common and not person-specific, and hence can be harmful if care is not taken. However, most of the meditation techniques apparently look simple such as trying to control the breath, try to feel the breath, try to focus or concentrate on any one “mantra” or object, etc. This simplicity is the reason why people do not take liking for the meditation. They are not able to sit in one place without thinking!

Control over thoughts is not easy to get. One can go for “Sakshibhavana” in Vajrasana, with eyes closed, posture. The technique consists of not blocking the thoughts but allow the thoughts, good and bad, to come and go. You be a witness without getting involved emotionally. Slowly one will find the number of thoughts coming reduces and will be able to calm the “utal putal” of the mind and relax.

It is reported that even a brief meditation can boost concentration and curb stress level. Then whom are you waiting for. Contact any reputed yoga and meditation center or a good yoga teacher and start practicing. Good luck to you.