Relaxation and Meditation

It's no surprise - but including activities in your life which have a relaxing and calming effect really does make you feel better able to deal with all the pressures around you.

Regular reflexology sessions are very effective for relaxation and stress relief.

Including relaxation or meditation techniques in your daily routine is also a simple, effective way to reduce stress levels. Check out Footfairy blog for details of my first steps in meditation.

So what are the benefits of regular relaxation? - You'll find your mind is clearer - you'll be able to spot the early tell-tale signs of stress - and if you can intervene at this point by scanning your body and consciously relaxing - you'll be able to reverse the process.
In short - you'll be able to live your life the way you want to.

Everyone it seems has an iPod or MP3 player now - so if you're having a really bad day.  Why not sit down at lunchtime for 10minutes instead of rushing round catching up on the shopping. Listen to a simple relaxation routine - you'll feel the benefit for the rest of the day.

There's a meditation technique to suit everyone!    In south west Scotland we're lucky to have beginner's classes in over half the larger towns, Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Thornhill, Newton Stewart and Biggar.  These are run by Buddhists from the Kadampa tradition but are open to all denominations and beliefs and are a great way to learn about meditation in a structured way.  See Footfairy blog for more details of class contents.

Buddhists use meditation as part of the path to enlightenment. But even within Buddhism there are many different practices with over fifty methods for developing mindfulness and forty for developing concentration.

From simple techniques like progressive muscle relaxation, listening to natural sounds through to guided meditation to meet your spirit guide.

There are breathing meditations, simple concentration on the breath with or without visualisations or mantras, guided meditations on mindfulness, kindness and compassion, angelic themes, cosmic themes, self healing - so pick a genre that appeals to you - sit back, relax and take some time out to enjoy life!