Breath Meditation a Stress Reliever With Physiological and Psychological Benefits

Work. Children. Bills. Junk email. Appointments. The list could go on and one, but it all boils down to the same thing: stress. I never thought I would have to deal with stress. When I was younger, I assumed that stress was something that happened to stockbrokers, lawyers and other professional people. No one ever told me that I would experience stress just being an average Jane. I mean, I knew I would have some frustrations, but actual stress? (Like there is a difference between the two.) I have discovered an old technique to manage my stress: meditation. 

I know that meditation is not a new concept, but it is to me. I have read several articles and books that tout the physiological and psychological benefits of meditation in its many forms. When I first began to explore this art form, I had images of monks sitting in lotus position with their eyes closed, oblivious to their surroundings while they reached nirvana (not the rock band, mind you). The grace and discipline the displayed is astounding. While I am not trying to reach nirvana, I am, however, trying to reduce my stress. 

I have discovered that like the many flavors of ice cream, there are many flavors of meditation from which to choose. Considering the fact that I am a working single mother of a rambunctious 5 year old and a curious 1 year old, I searched for a flavor that would be the easiest for me to incorporate into my life. I needed a flavor that was smooth (easy), rich (a program which I could build upon), comforting (effective in reducing stress), fun (interesting enough to continue) and would not take a lot of time out of my hectic daily life.