TIPS to relax/destress

[Reesha]

I don't carry much stress, but there have been situations in my life that have really loaded it on and I was lucky enough to have a sivananda yoga instructor who lived/worked at the same boarding school that I did. Her classes focused on stretching and breathing. I felt like a new person after each session.

On a regular basis, though, throwing myself into the midst of nature really does it for me. Being swallowed up in forest, on top of a mountain, on the ocean, somewhere solitary. Doesn't matter the time of year. I got that feeling yesterday on my century ride when the madison county trails of IL took me deep into the forest. It was heavenly.

[Jiffer]

Riding my bike!!!

[Kiwi Stoker]

Any ideas for if you simply cannot meditate?

I mean I did a martial art for 7 years with meditation as a significant part of it and I am one of these people who cannot switch off! I would be counting my breathing in one part of my brain and the other half is racing around thinking! It doesn't work for me!

And it's totally annoying when you read books and magazines and they all say "do yoga, do meditation".

The only two things I have found that take total concentration for me are cycling and drawing. However if you cannot cycle (due to injury, illness or at the office) and you don't have paper and pencils to draw, what do you do????

[Dogmama]

Any ideas for if you simply cannot meditate?

A few things that helped me:

Start with one breath. Try to do three breaths in a row.

Get a guided meditation. Check out Jon Kabat-Zinn's stuff.

Do it everyday, even if only for a few minutes. That is the important part.

I tell my mind that it gets to run wild all day. This time is for me.

My mind used to scurry all over & sometimes it still does. Each time it leaps around, I gently bring it back to the breath with no animosity or judgement. I've heard that it's like housebreaking a puppy. You wouldn't chase after the puppy & spank it. You would gently put it outside or on its papers.

[Crankin]

It's very normal to say "I can't meditate." I had a terrible attitude toward it when I did the mindfulness class. Dogmama had some very good suggestions. Almost everyone's mind wanders and doesn't shut down at first, which is fine. You have to train your mind, the same as training your body. And, I agree, guided meditation, with a teacher or tape is best. There is even a walking meditation in the Mindfulness class, as well as others you can download.

[malkin]

Play piano.

Don't get me wrong--it is not something I do well or even competently---on my best days, I barely qualify as 'advanced beginner.'
It requires my complete focus; I use my mind and my body.
Best of all, the 'chatter' stops.

It is useful for my work too. Reflecting, I came up with 3 things.
1. Some skills are very difficult to learn and these are not the same skills for every person.
2. It is ok to demonstrate/practice new skills even at a level of incomplete mastery. (i.e. Everything does not have to be perfect)
3. Satisfaction or enjoyment is not dependent on a high level of skill.

Pulling weeds is good too.