With the economic situation grinding on many people are worried and a bit down. It is easy to become negative when everything and everyone around you appears so gloomy. But this will pass, it will just take time.
Obviously Tai Chi will keep you calm if you practise every day, but what if you have just started and don’t have many moves?
Here is a simple technique that can calm you mind very quickly.
Sit in a comfortable, straight backed chair.
Try to keep your spine as straight as possible, but without tensing (if you have back problems follow the advice of your health professional)
Lay you hands naturally in your lap.
Focus your attention just under your nose and be aware of the breath naturally moving in and out. Do not try to control it in any way, just observe.
If you are stressed you will find that your worried thoughts keep intruding and taking your mind away from you breathing. When you become aware that this has happened, do not be angry or frustrated, just refocus your mind back on your breathing. Do not try and resist the thoughts, the more you resist the worse they get.
Allow five minutes to watch the breath move in and out.
You will find that if you do not fight the intruding thoughts they will start to subside.
Step 2
Without trying to affect the breath in any way, as you breathe in feel peace fill you and, as you breathe out, feel all of the tension and agitation leaving you. Just keep this up for five more minutes.
That’s it.
Simple and straight forward. But why does it work?
The breath is closely related to your mind. When you mind is agitated you tend to breathe fast and shallow, whereas when you are relaxed, the breath is deeper and slower. By focusing on your breathing it automatically slows down, taking your mind with it. The Buddha said the mind is like an unbroken horse that does exactly what it wants to until the rider (you) tame it.
Have a very good week and keep on taming that wild horse to do what you want it to.
Kind Regards,
John Hine
