Breathing Meditation

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Breath meditation can be a gateway to a broader practice of "mindfulness," in which you learn to accept and appreciate what comes in life and stop fighting your own thoughts and feelings. Simple breathing meditation requires only that you find a comfortable position in a place with minimal distractions. You may sit, stand, or walking whichever you prefer. Many people find it helpful to start by focusing on their breath, and silently count inhalations and exhalations: In (one), out (two), in (three), and so on. This gives you something to focus on besides intrusive thoughts. It also helps to create a Meditation Practice by doing it at the same time every day. To start, try for 10 minutes in the morning and evening; then gradually increase to 20 or 30 minutes. Of course, you are also free to initiate a session of breath meditation any time you feel stressed out. There are many types of breathing techniques, viz: Equal Breathing, Count for Four, Abdominal Breathing, Stimulating Breath, Alternate Nostril Breathing (Anulom Vilom), Skull Shining Breath (Kapalbhati), Mala Bead Breathing, etc.