Description
- In today’s world there is a restless search for the ‘Spiritual.’
- It is something which affects all of us at different points in our lives.
- These two retreat meditations can be enjoyed either singly or together, however, it would be much better to enjoy each alone initially.
- First of all sit down at a time when you are not expected to be disturbed, and just sit breathing evenly and deliberately noticing your breath in and out. Your eyes can be open or closed, but the entire idea is to create a period of stillness. Sit this way for several minutes and when you are ready look at the retreat.
- Read it over slowly and deliberately. Then take a break and remain still. And read it once again. You now see how it would be impossible to read the two together, for that is simply reading and not meditative in any way.
- You will grasp so much more by taking your time and chewing over passages, and letting them sit with you in silence.
- The suggested contribution for this retreat is £7 a reduction of £3 on the original cost.
- This entire retreat offers the opportunity for well deserved relaxation.
The response to relaxation is multi-tiered and almost miraculous in its ability to effect change in the human person. It all begins to have an effect when we allow ourselves time for ourselves, what some might call ‘me-time.’ It is something we all require, whether you might feel it at the conscious or sub-conscious level, daily stressors exist and can have a debilitating effect leading to much more serious effects on the individual. We should not conceive of stressors in the usual way, it is not always high-pressure things that can cause stress. Sometimes it can come from sheer uncertainty much like the period we have been going through over the last year with the (COVID-19) Global Pandemic, and potentially with a degree of certainty over a good part of this year also. The pandemic has caused many an inordinate degree of stress. It can be about financial matters, about, employment issues, or the loss of employment, it can centre around an uncertain future, about worries around self-protection and wellbeing, about the care and susceptibility of aging relatives, about the short and longer term sustainability of putting nutritious and adequate food on the table, clothing family members, mental health issues and myriad more elements including not simply sustaining and growing a faith life when you have so many questions swooping in on you throughout the day and night.
When you are relaxed and feel safe, you unwind and loosen up; you reduce stressors affecting mental and physical health. Relaxation lets your body know it is now not only fulfilling to conserve energy, but it is highly rewarding and sustaining, and in doing so your parasympathetic system takes over and circulates the hormone acetylcholine which decelerates heart rate. Blood pressure relaxes also, and if you have a higher than regular blood pressure, relaxation methods like meditation may well benefit you in managing your stress and lowering the likelihood of heart disease. In a calm and comfortable condition your digestion recuperates, and any inflammation is also decreased, inflammation can impair gut health.
Stressful situations play a sizeable role in many digestive problems, such as, for example (IBS) irritable bowel syndrome, and the calming techniques involved in such elements as meditation, reading meditation, music meditation, prayer, lectio, breathing correctly etc., can assist in lowering symptoms. It is amazing the number of individuals who never breathe properly, which has health consequences. In taking deep breaths and improving your breath control and stamina in general, can likewise help you relax, through slow controlled breathing.
In threatening situations your body tenses, in can be through the stresses of the day, upcoming deadlines for things that must be completed, stress at work or in the home or in relationships, etc. If this is incessant and unbroken through time, you will most likely be affected by tense muscles nearly all the time. Relaxation will never liberate you of aches and pains, but it will dial-down it’s intensity, so relaxing and comforting the muscles and you will begin to initiate the sensation of less pain. Your brain will release endorphins, chemicals which act as natural painkillers. Stress hormones can cause and increase in blood pressure however relaxation offers a better handle on normalising blood sugar. Indeed, your entire immune system can work better, and you can fight off minor infections with ease. Your natural immune system will however diminish as you age, so it is important to reduce anxiety and not let an accumulation of things overtake your ability to cope. As you age you require a suite of coping and calming strategies to keep your little ship (you) afloat and in good condition with the ability to always reach a safe and restful harbour. In a state of relaxation you are likely to sleep much better also.
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