Meditation stress relief
Meditation was one of the first stress relief techniques that I tried, once I was up to looking for solutions. It was recommended by a friend. There is a Buddhist centre near to where she works and they hold open meditation sessions on Friday lunchtimes. I had virtually no experience of meditation but I she found it very relaxing so I thought I would give it a go.
Non Religious
I should say that I have no religious affiliations. I believe that the original philosophy of all the great religions have something to offer, but it seems to have been lost in all the rules and dogma. I went along just to do the meditation class, with no thought of converting.
I found it to be a very pleasant experience. I met some very nice people there and took to staying for lunch after the class. That may have been as therapeutic as the classes themselves. I came to look forward to these sessions and the walk to the centre.
Short term benefits
As to the meditation itself, it is not at all what we are used to doing in our daily lives and requires some patience and the development of some skill. We are not used to taking time for ourselves or controlling our thoughts and not just letting our minds wander. And in my hyper state, I found it particularly difficult.
I did feel much calmer and more tranquil for several hours after the sessions, but the mind chatter would soon start up again. And the problem with traditional meditation is that it takes years to master and the results are not guaranteed. It doesn’t fit in easily with the modern lifestyle.
Technology to the rescue
Fortunately, by the time I was back at work and had to give up the Friday sessions, I had discovered that there are easier, technological solutions. There are a range of these, with different aims, benefits and price tags. It depends on whether you are looking for a quick de-stress after work or a more profound life change.
I have tried out some of these and become a daily user of one of them. More on these later.