Meditation is no longer a buzzword on the street. Medical experts and practitioners can now vouch to the fact that meditation helps in the physical and mental well-being of an individual far beyond the few minutes that they take out for themselves. In the US alone, during the decade of 2002-2012, the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health estimates around 18 million adults have been engaged in meditation. The more reason for parents to consider it as a wellness solution.
While parenting is rewarding it is exhausting to the mind and body as well. This is why meditation is a good consideration for cultivating wellness for the benefit of your family.
Meditation and Wellness
According to the MedicineNet, meditation can be defined as, “A typically self-directed practice for relaxing the body and calming the mind… During the past several decades, meditation has been further explored as a way of reducing stress on both the mind and body.”~ MedicineNet
Now isn’t that exactly what parents need? A father juggling work schedules, client meetings and dropping kids off to school. A mother trying to breastfeed a young child while trying to exercise to stay fit. With meal times, school schedules, work, home cleaning, screaming kids, parents sometimes find themselves lost in body and thoughts.
There is a great need to find that body and mind balance, and bring stability back into your life. Meditation can help you achieve that. Mindful meditation not only helps you to recover your calm but also to de-stress, dispel anxiety, and let you focus on what you really want to do. It is the best way to cultivate wellness in parenting so you can concentrate on bringing up healthier kids and family.
All you have to do is select a method, find a few minutes off your schedule and a quite secluded place where you won’t get disturbed. Pretty doable isn’t it?
Types of Meditation
So now that you’re convinced, hopefully, which type of meditation is suitable for you? Depending on your comfort level, schedule and lifestyle, and health, there are various types of meditation to choose from.
- Concentration meditation is the foundation of all other forms of mediation, and it’s the best method to start with. Just breathe and try to concentrate on a single thought.
- Tai chi and qigong involve concentrating on your body movements and breathing.
- Walking is another physical meditation that teaches you to focus on both body and mind to tune in with your footsteps.
- Mindfulness meditation teaches you to let your mind focus on negative thoughts objectively without reacting to them.
- Transcendental method involves repeating a mantra of your choosing, and focus on being aware of your thoughts.
Regardless of the method, the most important thing is not which method will work for you. It’s your determination and willingness to stick to meditation that matters. Think of it as a goal. When you have the goal of cultivating wellness for your family, it will help boost your motivation to achieve it.
Cultivate Wellness in Your Family
Parenting is a lifelong commitment that doesn’t get over in a couple of years. Meditation helps bring about awareness of your parenting status and thereby adjust to it. This is an important first step.
The faster you adopt meditation, the quicker you will get the opportunity to experience wellness in yourself, and your family. Look at it this way – when you feel well, active and healthy to take on any mental or physical challenge, you will become a better parent. Your kids will benefit from it as well as your spouse.
Moreover, as much as you try to teach your children how to be healthy, behave or calm down, they will always sense the parents’ anxiety and stress. Meditation will help you feel calm even when the kids are crying and you have a million things to do. Instead of reacting negatively, you will be able to resolve the stressful situation without a meltdown yourself.
Meditation is an investment, just like any medical insurance, in yourself, your spouse, your kids and overall your family. Time to get on with it.
Author Bio
Jean is owner and blogger at Yo Fit Mamas, a fitness blog for moms. She’s herself a mother of two, a girl and a boy. You can connect with her on Twitter and Facebook.