We Tried It: Chillin out over break

Need to kick back and relax after all the hubbub of the holidays? GL intern Jessica tried out a cool way to de-stress. Here’s what she had to say…

 

Now that it’s winter break, take some time to get your mind off everything. That’s why I tried out a form of meditation called “anapanasati.” It’s from a Buddhist technique that involves breathing to calm down. Bonus: it’s totally free.

 

Start by sitting cross-legged on the floor, with your eyes closed. Start counting to 10, breathing in or out with each number. Continue up to 10, visualizing each number in your head as you count it. But here’s the catch: Every time you become distracted from the number pictured in your head, start over If you hear a car horn or think of something else, you must go back to the number 1 and breathe in.

 

I tried this for 5 minutes each day for a week. In order to keep myself from looking at the clock, I had to set a timer for 5 minutes before the exercise. When the beeper chimed, I was able to stop counting. It’s def a tough process to not be distracted. It gets easier as you go along.

 

The meditative exercise can be a little frustrating at first, but it does take your mind off of the activity that comes from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and helps release anxiety. Start off with just a couple minutes if five is too long. You’ll be feelin’ more relaxed in no time.

 

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by Jessica Wunsch | 2/1/2016
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