open your heart

Research is continually showing that meditation is beneficial to our life and our health. Meditation helps us to take a distance from what is going on in our mind and our life rather than constantly being immersed and controlled by it. It helps us to be more focused and reduces stress. Opening your heart is a simple step you can take towards accepting things as they are and being more open to others and the blessings of life. This is a meditation that can be used each morning to center yourself and to open your awareness in a positive way.

Start by quietly sitting and focusing on your breathing. Relax and allow your breath to come naturally in and out. Begin by focusing your breathing toward the area of the heart. This means that your mental focus as well as your breathing focus is in the area of your heart behind your breast bone. Take ten minutes to sit and focus your heart breathing while you let your mind experience the feelings that arise when you allow your heart to be open and activated by your breath.

You may experience a variety of feelings as you practice this breathing meditation. Because you are breathing, this meditation is active and the awareness of your feelings may wash over you in waves. You may feel relaxed, or you may get excited and ready to meet the world. If you start to feel sad or have melancholy feelings, this is ok too. Allow yourself to feel them and then let your breath cleanse your heart of those feelings and allow them to be blown away. As you release those feelings your heart will be left feeling open, warm, and energized.

The more you practice this meditation on a daily basis, the more you will find that you feel lighter, happier and more open to the universe. Your meditative practice will continue to deepen as you experience feelings of elation and joy throughout your day. As your heart becomes purified and free, your spirit will soar. Focusing on your heart through meditation allows the tightness with which the body holds the emotions to relax, and your mind and body become freer.

Meditation can sometimes be a difficult concept for people to grasp. It is sometimes nearly impossible to free your mind from everyday thoughts. This Heart Meditation is an excellent tool to practice focus and relaxation with a particular goal in mind. By breathing into and freeing your heart, your mind, body and soul will follow. Then you will have found a path to greater health and well being through the release of your heart and spirit.