Daily Archives: March 10, 2010

Life in this fine country of ours has been difficult for many people over the last few years. Even if you have not been affected by the Great Recession, or do not have a loved one fighting overseas, these events take their toll on our psyche and general sense of well-being. And just trying to keep up with the fast pace of life these days can be overwhelming. So it is very important to find time every day – even if it is just for a few minutes – to regroup and re-focus your energy. Meditation is a wonderful tool for doing this…

…Meditation, however, can be hard. Trying to sit comfortably while concentrating only on your breath can be a little challenging. Those chattering monkeys tend to take over. So, try adjusting your focus. Imagine the air around you and therefore the breath you are inhaling to be a certain hue or color. This is called Chromotherapy and dates back to Egyptian times when solariums were used with different colored glass to achieve and maintain good health and well-being. The art of color breathing, which is what we are talking about here, can be done anywhere – at home, lying on the floor, in the car driving to and from work, sitting in the garden or while waiting in the doctor’s office. Start off with a few deep breaths to get calm and then continue breathing deeply through your nose while imagining your selected color saturating your body and mind. Some people find it easier to do with the eyes closed but it isn’t necessary and certainly not advisable behind the wheel of a car. Here is a color chart to guide you…

BLUE – to treat insomnia, gain confidence, improve high blood pressure and lessen tension.

YELLOW – to imbue a sense of freedom, gratitude, joy and optimism.

RED – to increase energy and love life.

GREEN – to treat depression, eating disorders, respiratory problems and infertility.

ORANGE – to overcome procrastination.

TURQUOISE – to strengthen the immune system.

PURPLE – to boost self-worth and gain wisdom and finally,

PINK – to let go of negativity and anger.

Essential oils can be a great accessory to focusing the mind on the moment – Sandalwood, Bergamot, Cedarwood and Patchouli are especially effective for this purpose. Use them in a diffuser or simply sprinkle a few drops on a Kleenex and inhale. Finally, there is a set of wonderful CD’s which you may want to invest in that can also help your meditation practice. The four CD set is called Guided Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn and can be ordered from www.mindfulnesstapes.com.

As well as helping to cure what ails you, color breathing combined with meditation can make a big difference to how each and every day unfolds for you. Om…