Benefits of Mountain Meditation

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Imagine this: you’re sitting at the top of a mountain, overlooking all of the incredible scenery below you. You feel the grass beneath your feet, the wind in your hair, the sun on your face. Take a second to really breathe in the fresh mountain air. You look down and see a family of ants carrying away the last crumbs of your lunch. You close your eyes, and everything seems perfect in that moment.

Spending time in nature does wonderful things for our overall wellbeing. Simply taking ourselves out of the busy city life – even for a moment – can help reduce stress levels and add a sense of peace to a hectic day. More and more people are realizing that a simple 10 minute daily “mountain” meditation can help them better deal with the stressors of everyday life. While this can be done in the comfort of your own home, the benefits are enhanced when mediation is practiced in nature.

A simple meditation practice can be as short as ten minutes. It is a wonderful way to begin your day and promote a positive outlook for the tasks ahead. This can be done in the comfort of your own home, but it is especially beneficial while walking through a natural area.

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Find a place that speaks to you – somewhere that is devoid of any other human presence. Sit or lay in a comfortable position; bringing a small cushion with you can help. Breathe in slowly and deeply, and then exhale slowly. Really try to focus on your breath, and try to let thoughts pass through your mind without focusing on any of them. The trick is learning to view these thoughts from afar without letting them affect you. If you are distracted, try to bring yourself back to the present by focusing on your breath.

This can also be accomplished by counting to a certain number, repeating a mantra, listening to meditative music, or focusing on a particular point. Choose whatever works for you, and try to do this for ten minutes. It may be difficult at first, but with practice, you will find that you can easily slip into this meditative state for even longer.

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