While times are uncertain and a bit scary right now, there’s plenty we can do from the comfort of our home to combat anxiety. Here, Javier Priori, Architect of Experiences at newly opened wellness retreat Palmaïa – The House of AÏA, is sharing his tips for meditating and maintaining good mental health from home.
Do you have any meditation tips for beginners?
- Set your meditation up for success and try to avoid being tired or uncomfortable.
- Before starting your practice, make sure you find a comfortable place to sit with good support that allows you to maintain your posture for a long time. If necessary, continue your practice lying down.
- Look for a suitable place and merge your body and mind with the environment around you. Let the sounds that are not under your control be the ones that relax you and lead you into your meditation.
- Soften the body by relaxing your breath. Start with the muscles of the face, especially your tongue, letting it fall inside your mouth without touching any of the teeth or palate. Continue relaxing each muscle until you reach the feet.
- Focus on the internal movements of the body and once you have completed the steps above, start to feel the flow of your blood and the beat of your pulse. Follow the air path from the nostrils to the lungs and back, and finally pay attention until you can clearly feel every heartbeat. At this point you will be ready to enter meditation.
What tips do you have for someone who has a really hard time shutting off their mind?
Intense physical work is the key to a calm mind.
What are a few easy ways to maintain mental health during a time like this?
- Stay creative. Set yourself (and your mind) goals to accomplish that give you new tools and make you grow as a person. Also exercise to keep your body oxygenated. This will help maintain healthy thoughts and emotions.
- What causes anguish is uncertainty, so we should practice accepting things as they are, stop yearning for what should be, and avoid filling the future with negative ideas. Let’s keep an open mind to the infinite possibilities of life, enjoying the here and now.
Do you have a great wellness resource recommendation?
Rich Roll podcast, It has some very interesting themes and speakers. I also like to watch the videos of Sad Gurú, and I enjoy books related to yoga and Indian traditions. But, what some find interesting to others may seem like a fantasy. What I can recommend to all of you, is to learn about codependency, because being responsible for yourself in all levels represents the key to inner peace.
What are some great foods for helping calm and relax the mind and body?
I recommend the following foods to keep your mind calm and in good spirits! Of course, check your dietary restriction before eating some of the following foods:
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Blueberries
- Almond
- Kale or arugula
- Banana
- Cacao
- Grapes
For more information on Palmaïa – The House of AÏA, visit thehouseofaia.com.
Photo: Jared Rice on Unsplash