Some Helpful Tips from Kristi Stangeland on Relaxation and Meditation

The coronavirus pandemic has profoundly changed so many aspects of our daily lives, including the way we work and play. Many of us are navigating a “new normal” that entails working from home while also balancing the responsibilities of childcare, eldercare, schooling, etc. Striking a healthy balance between work and home life has never been more challenging. And on top of that, it is also much more difficult to engage in our traditional strategies for dealing with stress, such as visits to the gym, church, the therapist, etc.

But there is something that everyone can do at home right now—and after the pandemic passes—to deal with life’s stresses: meditate. More than 20 years ago, I discovered the power of meditation and mindfulness to help me focus my thoughts, energies and insights. Without a doubt, meditation has helped me find more opportunities for peace, power and play in my life.

Regardless of where you are on life’s journey, it is never too late to take up meditation, especially since the benefits are so invaluable. Consider this:

• Meditation is a powerful tool that enables us to push away distractions and excuses so we can focus on what we really want to achieve and create the attitude for success that will get us there.
• Meditation boosts our resiliency so we can live with less fear of what might (or might not) happen.
• By allowing the mind to tune out distractions, we can train our minds to let go of the easy stuff so we have more energy to concentrate on bigger challenges with greater focus, creativity and productivity.
• When we meditate, we create the opportunity to focus on values that matter most to us. We can “clear the clutter” so we can find compassion and understanding for those in our families, our workplaces and our communities.
• • A Dutch study cited by the University of California- Berkeley’s Greater Good magazine found that even a 10-minute meditation practice for just two weeks led to enhanced quality and duration of sleep.
• Meditation leads to more inner peace and fosters forgiveness, the benefits of which are well-documented: less stress, anxiety and depression. But studies also show that forgiveness reaps physical benefits as well: lower blood pressure, improved heart rate and strengthened immune function.
• • When we focus on the meaningful things that have shaped our lives during meditation, we literally do ourselves good. Studies have shown that gratitude and appreciation can reduce the risk of death from cardiac disease.

Like so many things in life, the best way to enjoy the benefits of meditation is through a regular practice. As noted above, just a few minutes daily of dedicated mindfulness and meditation can significantly improve our physical and emotional well-being.

Through my business, My ParaVita, I provide my clients with additional techniques and insights on how to enhance their meditation so they can bring their practice to a higher level and reap even greater benefits from it. Through guided meditations, retreats and other wellness programs, my goal is to help people tune out distractions and negativity in their lives so they are better equipped to face life’s challenges with less stress and more serenity.

Kristi Stangeland is the founder of My ParaVita. She holds several advanced certificates and diplomas from some of the most renowned Chinese philosophers of our time. Learn more about her and her meditation business at www.MyParaVita.com.