This morning after I finished my meditation, I thought about how much it always helps me to clear my mind and reenergize my body when I feel down or tired.
Interestingly, I came across an article in the LA Times titled Mindfulness therapy is no fad, experts say.
The article stated that there’s solid evidence that mindfulness therapy is effective for relieving anxiety and improving mood, based on the results of 39 studies involving 1,140 patients.
According to Zindel Segal, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto who is one of the pioneers in this field, mindfulness therapy could help patients avoid rumination – the process of endlessly chewing on incidents from the past – a driving force for depression.
By encouraging patients to focus on their current thoughts, mindfulness practice discourages anxiety and worry.
Even though this article didn’t mention the use of mindfulness therapy in treating PMS, I believe it would have a similar effect.
From my personal experience, daily meditation and regular yoga practice has helped me regenerate energy, improve mood, and regain clarity and focus. It is such an important part of my life now that I can’t imagine living without it.
I highly encourage you to start your own practice – to begin and end your day with a 10-minute meditation. It’s very simple. Just pay attention to your breathing – breathing in and breathing out. Observe any thoughts that come to your mind without interference. Become an observer of your breaths, thoughts and bodily sensations.
It may not be easy to sit, even for 10 minutes initially. But it gets easier with time. Just sit and observe your breathing, and that’s enough. You may also find it beneficial to join a meditation/mindfulness group to practice together. The group energy will support you in your own practice.
With consistency and time, the practice will become so natural that you don’t need any discipline and effort to do it.
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