90 Days to a Healthier, Happier, Hotter YOU - Day Six: Meditation

Stress is often referred to as a silent killer since it can't be seen or touched. Stress increases your heart rate and raises your blood pressure. We all deal with stress on a daily basis but few of us do what is necessary to lower the health risks of stress in our daily lives. Chronic stress can lead to headaches, depression, anxiety, heart disease and even death. 

The beauty of meditation is that you don't need any special tools and you can do it anywhere. You remember that quiet space we set aside during the organization phase? Well now is the time to start! Your meditation spot should feel like home by adding candles, flowers, incense, and any other objects that bring you peace. 

You can sit on the floor or in a chair. Close your eyes or focus your gaze on one of the objects that brings you peace. Now you will just breath in very slow and deep. Keep the mind focused inward or on your object. Every time you breathe out, imagine a huge tide coming in, and that tide carrying all your troubles and thoughts away with it. You can also chant aloud to drown out thoughts. 

Here are a few chants to try:

1. “Aum” or “Om”
2. “Ham-Sah”
3. “Aham Prema”
4. “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti”
5. “Om Tat Sat”
6. “Namo Amitabha”

Do this every day for ten minutes. In a week or two, you should have a noticeable change in your mood and stress levels. You can also try free meditation apps to guide you through the process as you become more experienced in the art of meditation.