Best Self Help

Free Meditation Download – Daily Mojo

Brian Johnson (founder of Philosopher’s Notes), together with his wife Alexandra, have launched a little something called Blissitations.

The couple has been meditating every single day for nearly 3 years. And they say their daily meditation “blissipline” has been one of the most transformative things they’ve done in a life that’s all about discovering and learning about new transformative disciplines.

As you probably know, meditating for as little as 12 to 15 minutes each day has been proven to boost your health, memory and overall well being. And a key aspect of this meditation is moving out of the active “Beta” brain state into a more relaxed “alpha” brain state – and then on into a “theta brain state”

Brian and Alexandra are now developing a few products that they will help you meditate more consistently.

First, they have a daily-practice product called “Daily Mojo” that combines Soothing Sounds (such as Rainfall/Ocean Waves/Flowing Water) with Subliminal Affirmations and Binaural Beats (which is a kind of technology that helps your brain get out of Beta and into Alpha/Theta).

You can learn more here.

Try it Free!
Get a little Daily Mojo for free here. Your freebie is a 15-minute “Daily Mojo – Light” sample track with Rainfall. You can also download ( 3 Free PhilosophersNotes on Meditation) here.

Then, if you wish, you can sign up to get your own Daily Mojo Tracks – each in both 15-minute and 30-minute tracks so you can choose the one that’s just right for your day’s practice.

Learn more -
Get the Free Sample
Buy the full set of Daily Mojo Tracks

Meditate for Better Sleep. Here’s how

The body needs sleep, but sometimes its hard to come by. The natural answer for your occasional bouts of insomia may be found in meditation.

Meditation is a state of mind where the body and mind are working together to bring peace and well-being to the body. Meditation is not just taking a minute for a breather, but rather learning to allow your mind to slow down and, in turn, to cause your body to do the same.

Meditation has been prescribed for years for a variety of conditions. It has been called upon to help with stress relief, depression, physical fitness and behavioral modification for anxiety and other mental conditions. There is also a meditative process to the exercise of yoga.

Meditation and Sleep

Have you ever noticed that when you sleep, you don’t fall asleep right away? The mind tries to download and catalog the events of your day, much like a computer hard drive. Many of us go over the mistakes, the happy moments and all the things you want to do and to remember for the next day. Your mind has to “de-stress” for a while.

Meditation can help you to focus your thoughts so that you can fall asleep faster, and it can also help you to stay asleep. While the mind downloads at night, that process can take a little longer if you are under stress. It can also lead to insomnia.

There are medications that can be prescribed by your doctor for sleeplessness. One issue that you will want to discuss with your doctor is the potential side effects of said medications. Many people worry about the addictive properties of some sleep aids. Over-the-counter meds can be taken too frequently and lead to problems.

How to Meditate for Better Sleep

Meditation doesn’t require anything but you and a quiet place to perform your techniques. Anyone can perform simple meditation to help get a good night’s sleep.

Begin with a quiet place. It can be your bedroom, living room or someplace that you have set aside for meditation. Sit on the floor or in a chair but make sure that you are comfortable.

Meditation can start with a mantra, like the traditional “om” that most people recite. This is your focal point. Now, the mind is easily distracted by noises or even your own thoughts. When you notice a rogue thought coming into your head, refocus again on the object of your focus.

You can also use guided meditation. By using a CD or a script, you can learn to focus your mind and body. Concentrate on your breathing and also feeling your body losing all of its tension. A body that is free of tension is better able to sleep.

Meditation is one way to help when you are having trouble sleeping. It promotes relaxation and the connection between the body and the mind.

You might enjoy:
Guided Meditation for Restful Sleep
Sleep Easy: Guided Meditation for Deep Rest

Interested in Transcendental Meditation? Here are the basics

Transcendental meditation was introduced in 1955 in India. It is a form of mantra meditation where the person practicing it repeats words, syllables, sounds or groups of words. The goal is to “create transformation” in the person’s life.

Started by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, transcendental meditation is considered to be the most easily recognizable and widely practiced method of meditation. The technique can be completed in as little as 20 minutes, twice a day. During the 1960s and 1970s this method of meditation became very popular with as many as a million people learning to practice it.

Many people still practice transcendental meditation on a daily basis because they enjoy the benefits. They claim the mind and body learn to relax and rest. People practicing it also find stress and fatigue being released naturally rather than depending upon medicines to help them relax. They also say they have more energy, clarity of thought, and enjoy life more than before they began practicing it.

If you’re interested in learning transcendental meditation, you may be concerned about how long it will take you. There are organizations which still teach it claiming the process is easily learned. Classes are offered and generally take four days, lasting a couple of hours each day. After you learn the basics you don’t have to join the organization; you can continue to practice this method of meditation on your own or with others. Check out the official Transcendental Meditation Website here.

What does transcendental meditation look like? Basically you’ll sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed. You may have seen people sitting in the yoga pose known as the lotus with legs crossed, hands pointing up, and fingers touching. While you may use this position to meditate, it is by no means required.

The important thing about this meditation method is for you to be comfortable and silent. It’s something you can do anywhere you have time and can close out the noises surrounding you. Some people have actually used their commute time on a train to meditate to help them be more prepared for the day ahead.

What are the benefits of transcendental meditation? Studies have been conducted for years concerning the claims of transcendental meditation. So far the studies have shown that there is a real, positive link between this technique and improved health. Some of the benefits include improved lung capacity among asthmatics, reduced high blood pressure, the ability to reduce or give up smoking and alcohol use, and less problems with insomnia.

Unlike some methods of meditation, this form does not require a particular belief system or any belief system at all. It is a natural way to relax and rejuvenate. If you do have a strong belief system, you can incorporate it with transcendental meditation without any problems.

Who doesn’t want to feel better, sleep more restfully, have more energy, and have improved health? After reading of these and other benefits, you can see why transcendental meditation is still popular.

A Natural Remedy for Anxiety

If you listen to the drug companies, you might think that chemicals are the only real answer for anxiety sufferers.  But for those of us who prefer a more natural approach to good health, prescription drugs may be a last resort.  Some may be allergic to these drugs, as well as herbs used to treat anxiety.  A safer option, and one that has been proven successful, is meditation.

Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, mostly for religious and spiritual purposes.  It has only recently been studied as a treatment for health problems, but the results of those studies have been promising.  Meditation has been proven to positively affect metabolism, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and brain chemistry.  To put it simply, it causes what is referred to as the “relaxation response.”

As you might imagine, the relaxation response is greatly beneficial to those suffering from anxiety.  It reverses the adverse effects of distress and puts us in a more peaceful state of mind.  This provides immediate relief from panic and anxiety.

Short-term relief is good, but meditation offers more than that.  It helps us become more aware of the thought patterns that cause anxiety.  It also helps us gain greater control over our thoughts, putting us in a better position to fight the mental processes that cause us anxiety.  For these reasons, meditation is useful as a long-term treatment as well.

Types of Meditation for Anxiety Control

There are many different types of meditation.  All types fit into one of the following two categories:

* Concentrative meditation - In this type of meditation, one focuses on something that does not require conscious thought.  The meditator may chant, concentrate on a tangible object, or practice certain breathing patterns.  The purpose of concentrative meditation is to clear the mind.

* Mindful meditation – Mindful meditation involves focusing on one’s thoughts and feelings without being overcome by them.  Its purpose is to make the mind more stable and calm.  This type of meditation is particularly effective in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Both concentrative and mindful meditation can be beneficial to those with anxiety.  Many find that alternating between the two, either in the same session or different sessions, produces the best results.

Learning to Meditate

Some who are new to meditation seek instruction from experienced practitioners.  This is good for those who have trouble focusing or need motivation, but it’s not entirely necessary for most of us.  There are audio and video recordings available that can teach us to meditate in the comfort of our own homes.

Meditation carries no health risks, making it a good treatment option for anyone with anxiety.  It can be used on its own for mild anxiety, or in conjunction with other treatments in more serious cases.  Whether you’re just occasionally stressed out or have chronic anxiety, meditation can help.

Helpful Meditation Resources to Help with Anxiety:

A Time for Relaxation, Vol. 1: Guided Relaxation Techniques for Wellness

Simple Meditations for Complex Times

The FAST Technique for Stress Relief

Hypnosis for Anxiety Relief