Why is Meditation Important?
The autonomic nervous system has two main parts: parasympathetic and sympathetic. The parasympathetic nervous system is dominant during “rest-and-digest” functions. We need this for repair, restoration and health maintenance. The sympathetic nervous system activates in response to perceived threats to protect us with the “fight, flight or freeze” response. In many of our lives, the sympathetic nervous system is so frequently triggered that it may not subside. Relaxation, such as meditation, can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help decrease anxiety, relax the mind and body and improve mood.
Meditation is a healthy relaxation habit that is easy to learn and can be effective in only 5 minutes per day! This will benefit your body, mind and emotions. Five minutes a day or as much and as often as you can. It can truly transform your life.
Relaxation Videos Just For You!
Visit these videos daily, weekly or whenever you need a moment of self-care. Our providers have created these videos to be eyes-free. Play it during your commute, while you wash the dishes or before bed. Build time into your schedule for mini-moments of mindfulness. As you build these moments in more and more, it will become second nature and you may be able to run through these mindfulness session without the videos.
Short Meditation
Use the power of your imagination to calm and restore your body-mind.
Take a minute or two throughout your day to check in with yourself and ask “what are you feeling?” If it’s not something pleasant or beneficial then change it. This is easier if you make a practice of generating a sense of peace and well-being every day. Settle for a moment and bring to mind an image or memory of something simple and wholesome that brings a smile into your heart. The feeling is your object of meditation. The feeling of warmth, lightness, softening in your chest around your heart, is what you are creating and strengthening until it becomes available to you at any moment. Practice makes perfect, this is a skill like any other except it has amazing benefits that you can’t even foresee yet. This is a form of meditation anyone can do at any time to create more resilience. When you check in with yourself, if you notice this feeling needs strengthening take a few moments to bring it back. Doing this over and over will make a tremendous difference.
Face Yoga
This yoga practice is designed for you to layer it over what you are already doing instead of adding to your to do list. It is a very simple practice of relaxing the muscles of the face and the hope is that you can finish this short practice feeling more embodied, resilient and calm. Enjoy!