Self-care is a form of self-love, a time to set aside to ensure awareness of your overall wellbeing and to enjoy ourselves. There are many tools to practice self-care and we become a better version of ourselves if we invest time to take care of ourselves physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Because we are too busy in our day to day, we sometimes need time to pause, regenerate, and make the time to do things that have the opposite effect of feeling like you are burning out. In my opinion, meditation is the perfect tool to add to your daily routine to slow down and take time for yourself to regenerate. Just by meditating five minutes a day can improve your overall health which leads to healthy body, healthy skin, healthy mind, and happy soul 😊.

Here are 4 reasons why meditation is good for self care!

1. Meditation can make you feel happier. In our daily lives we may experience negative physical, emotional, and mental symptoms. When we meditate, we experience harmony, happiness, and a healthy flow of energy throughout our bodies. Oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin are the happy feeling chemicals in the brain that increase after meditation and levels out the stress level chemical known as cortisol.

2. Meditation can help ground you and to stay centered. By focusing on the present moment, you feel more whole and aware, redirecting energy to the center of your body. As you relax, you turn away from all outside distractions, negative thoughts, or emotions, bringing a sense of stability and inner peace. Being in this positive state has proven to help refocus on your goals, objectives, and higher self. Ultimately, it facilitates the healing of your 7 chakras which in turn allows a positive connection with the environment.

3. Brings a sense of awareness and helps your brain and nervous system. Practicing meditation is one of the best ways to find that body and mind connection, bringing more awareness to transform your relationship with your body and mind. Meditation can calm down your sympathetic nervous system turning on your parasympathetic nervous system which allows you to be calm, rest, and focus positively on the present. It can strengthen areas of your brain that are responsible for conducting your memory, attention, and self-awareness.

4. Meditation can heal you inside out, including the most common physical and mental illnesses. Practicing meditation nourishes your body, mind and soul and can speed up the healing process of many health conditions, such as Asma, reduces anxiety, reduces acne or breakouts, can prevent depression, lowers high blood pressure, and improves your overall quality of sleep and circulation. By being in a mindful state, you are enabling a sense of calmness and relaxation in the brain and body. Your heart and respiratory rates drop, decreasing oxygen and carbon dioxide consumption which in turn gives a chance for your body to heal itself in all matters.

7 Variations of meditation:

1. Mindfulness Meditation. Also known the process of being mindful and fully present now including all your sensations and feelings. This practice allows you to slow down any racing thoughts and let go of anything that does not serve you, giving you a calming sensation in the body and mind. It can involve many types of breathing methods, guided

images, and other relaxing techniques. I highly recommend sitting and doing this outside in nature, in a quiet place with your eyes closed.

2. Transcendental Meditation. Amazing. You get to be creative and choose your own mantra whether is a word, sound or phase and repeat is for a chosen amount od minutes during the day. Again, I recommend sitting and doing this outside in nature, either in a quiet place with your eyes closed.

3. Guided Meditation: One of the greatest forms and easiest for beginners! Led by a teacher throughout the process. The method involves forming mental pictures or situations that are relaxing and is usually practiced in a quiet space.

4. Vipassana Meditation. A type of mind and body connection meditation originated from India that involves observing your emotions and thoughts as is, without judgement. The intention of this practice is self-observation, refocusing on all emotional and physical sensations in your body. It helps you balance your mind, accept yourself and promotes self-love and compassion.

5. Loving Kindness Meditation (Metta Meditation). Practiced by Buddhists for cultivating compassion for ourselves and others by directing love and light to humanity. It involves breathing exercises, long exhalations and letting go of what no longer serves you including forgiving others.

6. Chakra Meditation. Originated in India, this practice refers to our energy centers and spiritual powers in our bodies. We have seven main chakras known as energetic centers that run from the top of your head down to the tailbone. Each chakra is responsible for a system in our bodies and plays a major role in our physical, emotional, and mental health. The practice is made up of relaxation techniques focused on bringing balance and power to the chakras.

7. Yoga meditation: Originated in India, this practice involves a performing series of postures and controlled breathing exercises to calm the mind and body. Let go and release!

Now that you know more about the importance of meditation for a self-care routine, its benefits, and the different variations, I highly encourage you to try it. Meditation is a positive choice for us and is something that everyone can benefit from.

I suggest starting your daily routine with 5 minutes of meditation a day. You can always work up to more time and are free to try all the different forms of meditation. Choose a quiet space. I highly recommend doing this outside in nature. I usually do it before surfing at sunrise. Make sure to take deep breaths and enjoy yourself while you heal in peace.

Namaste 😊