Meditation and Relaxation
Everyone
seeks peace of mind though the path adopted to achieve it may differ. Some use
soft soothing music to ease that tensions of the day, some read quietly and
still others find solace in prayer. The purpose of all these activities is to
focus attention on any one point of concentration and still the mind, shutting
away all other thoughts till the incessant internal chattering stops. As the
mind calms down, and the worries get forgotten, there arises a feeling of
contentment. With continued practice of meditation, you can discover a greater
sense of purpose and strength of will. Your thinking becomes clearer and more
concentrated, affecting all that you do.
Pregnancy is wonderful but it
can be a period of strain and stress; striking a harmonious balance between the
mind and the body under these circumstances can be rather difficult.
The meditation and relaxation
techniques taught during the yoga class help you to cope well with the various
mood swings that one suffers during pregnancy. These mood swings are due to the
hormonal changes that take place during your first trimester. Hormone
fluctuations are greatest in this period due to the changes in the levels of
estrogen and progesterone. This causes emotional disturbances, nausea and a
feeling of lethargy.
After the there-to-six month
period, your placenta replaces the ovaries, which produce the
harmones-oestrogen and progesterone. As these hormonal levels reach a balance,
your energy levels return and your emotional swings diminish.
In the last trimester, another
major change takes place in your body as it prepares itself for labor and
lactation. After your baby is born, the oestrogen and progesterone and progesterone
levels fall once more, causing extreme depression and fatigue.
Mediation and relaxation
techniques help your cope with all these hormonal imbalances and emotional ups
and downs. They also keep the mind calm, focused and well balanced, besides
creating a positive state of mind. Now you are at the stage to willingly accept
the changes taking place in your body and in your life.
Meditation is only a path to
increasing your self-awareness and connecting to your unborn baby. It is a
proven fact that mothers who practice yoga during their pregnancy give birth to
babies who are of happy disposition, calm, healthy an flexible. Your nine-month
journey through pregnancy will be a lot easier with meditation as you focus
your energies on creating another life within you.
In order to get the maximum out
of meditation, it is essential to make it a regular habit in your life. If you
follow these simple instructions, you will be able to gradually train your mind
to respond without delay.
a.
Identify a special place for meditation, where
you can be left undisturbed for a period of time.
b. Ideally
the best time to meditate is early dawn or dusk, when the atmosphere is charged
with spiritual energy. If neither of these times is suitable, then choose a time when you can concentrate wholly on
meditation.
c. Use
the same time and place each day, as this will train your mind to slow down
more quickly.
d. Sit
with your back, neck and head held in a straight line, facing the north or
east, to benefit from the subtle effects of the earth’s magnetic field.
e. Try
to keep your mind calm during the meditation sessions, by forgetting the past,
the present and the future.
f.
Regulate your breathing by first slowing it down
and then establishing a rhythmic pattern. This will control the flow of prana
and help you to still your mind.
g.
Practice meditation daily, staring with twenty
minutes and gradually increasing to an hour.
