Self Guided Meditation

You can practice self guided meditation to help control the levels of stress in your life. Stress is one of the most common ailments in modern times, and you may constantly live under such financial and work pressures that stress can become a dominant factor in your life. Controlling stress through self guided meditation requires a few, quite obvious elements that can create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere.

Where to Begin

For proper and efficient self guided meditation, you must first find a very quiet area to sit and relax. For many people, especially those with children, it might be close to impossible just to get 5 minutes' peace alone in the house, but if you have someone you can ask to watch the children for a while, then certainly do so. The quiet place can be a room in your home, an area in a field or somewhere near a river or stream, if weather permits.

Have a soft mat, cushion or comfy chair to sit on. Meditation can be done sitting on the ground if you are comfy that way, but others might prefer sitting in a chair. Wear unrestricted clothing so that you are not sweaty or uncomfortable. Soft meditative music like pan pipe music is often a useful tool for getting the mind to empty and the body to reach a meditative state. If you are in a quiet room, scented or aromatherapy candles can also work wonders to create atmosphere.

How to Start

Monitor your breathing and make your breaths gentle but deep. Close your eyes and breath deeply, feeling the breath enter your body and swirl around your lungs. Clear your mind of all distractions by picturing something relaxing, like a long grassy walkway or a stream. Picture yourself leaving your space and opening a door to this mental world. Close the door behind you and mentally seal off the outside world. The choice is your own, so choose whatever image you feel you can use to follow the train of your meditation.

Once you have a clear image in your mind, begin to follow the path. Mentally walk along your pathway and just feel your way. You may find that you see animals or smell scents or hear other noises. Just stay with it. Keep feeling aware of your mental surroundings and monitor your breathing.

Continuing Your Journey

As you walk, notice the colors, the flowers, the smells, the quiet and the general atmosphere. Your breathing should have calmed down, and while still deep, it will have helped you to circulate fresh energy around your being. Keep walking as you note the surroundings. Feel your stress empty from your body. Monitor as it swirls through your neck and shoulders, down through your back and arms, further down through to your hips and thighs, and then down your legs. It keeps swirling as it reaches your ankles and you feel all the stress pour out through your feet as they step on the grassy pathway. Your body feels calm, relaxed and refreshed. When you are ready, walk back along the pathway and open the door back in your world.