I am finally to the portion of So you want to be a Medium: A Down to Earth Guide
where the mediation exercises are listed, and yet I'm not having any luck.It isn't so much a problem with the visualization part as the breathing part. One of her breathing exercises says to breathe in for a count of 8, hold for a count of 6, and breathe out for a count of 10. While I understand the point behind the exercise...I feel like I have been holding my breath and immediately have to take multiple deep breaths like I've been drowning.
When we still lived in Las Vegas, the majority of the meditating that I did was while I was still a smoker, and yet now that I've stopped it's almost as if it's gotten harder to regulate my breathing. It's weird really and very very frustrating.
I'll keep trudging along in the meantime. =)
Jewell
5 comments:
ah meditation.
Intellectually and spiritually I understand the benefits but in physical reality I've struggled with the concept.
First the breathing ... I so get the holding your breath and feeling starved for oxygen feeling. I had to note the 'pattern' and give up the counting altogether to get anywhere myself.
Then I find it difficult (may be read as impossible LOL) to empty my mind. I'm better at just concentrating on something whether a 'point' or a word or a problem.
Then if I manage to relax all the muscles I generally fall asleep.
But if you're more disciplined than I've been able to manage and keep practicing I'm sure you'll have better results than me.
Hang in there, it will get better
Sally
i don't do 'REAL' meditation, if u know what i mean...but i'd think if you're told to take a breath...count...let it out...then how is that learning to meditate? you're supposed to relax, clear the mind...how can u do that if you're 'counting'? i say just R E L A X ...and breathe slowly...deep breaths til you feel your body slow down...
(anyway, that's what i'd do...) :) laura
Sally...I know what you mean about not shutting off your brain. Mine just seems to fly away on tangents! =) Falling asleep is a whole other issue that I deal with because the only time I am able to focus enough on meditating is at night in the dark. I just can't do it with the sunlight!
Laura...I think the exercise was more for teaching the need to breathe from the right part of your body cavity than to actually be a meditative exercise, but I had started with it because I've had a such a problem regulating my breathing since I quit smoking. =)
I don't know...I remember this frustrated me before I guess I just need to keep working on it...ugh - but patience just isn't my best virtue! =) hehe
Jewell
We used to do this thing in a speech class...(no not meditating) but it was similar breathing patterns. We laid on the floor in this art hall (yes weird I know) and we breathed in, held it, and released. (The counts you gave were the same) The idea behind this was to help us in several ways. First, it helped open us up and breathe properly...focus...and ultimately...give speeches without running out of breath! At first, we all found this hard...then we eventually began to increase our timing. Then we moved to a sit up position and then standing.
I found it quite quirky at first...but I now look back and realized that was probably the best class I had as far as delivery.
Anyway...my thought was maybe just work your way up to those times? Just a thought?
Hope its getting better for you!
Jenn..
Wow...Well, while I can understand the benefits of teachign breathing in a speech class makes sense I think that probably would have been the last type of class I would have guessed breathing exercises would be introduced. Interesting!
Not really getting much better but I am sticking with it. Hopefully something will happen that gives me something to blog about again! =)
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