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Tis the season to seek meaning

With Christmas just around the corner, world renowned yogi, nutrition expert and meditation coach Adam Mahmoud reminds us how to take the very best from the season of goodwill

As we approach the end of 2016, life seems to be moving faster than ever. We are working longer and harder to meet the demands of the world, and at the weekend we live life to the full, making the most of our precious free time.

To keep up with life, we are using sugar and caffeine that masks the signs our bodies gives us. One of the most common consequences of this is an over stimulated nervous system, which can result in fatigue, anxiety, and lead to more serious illnesses.

The “work hard play harder” lifestyle catches up with all of us sooner or later, and it’s often then that we search for a deeper meaning and purpose in our lives.

Put simply, what’s needed is to slow down, calm the mind, and focus on the important things in life that brings real fulfilment and happiness. What makes you happy at Christmas? Family? Friends? You health? Possessions? Money?

True happiness does not come from external pleasures but from within. We can train ourselves to feel happier through the simple, yet powerful practices.

Firstly, the more grateful you are for what you already have, the more you will attract good things. The same goes the other way, if you are always focusing on what you don’t have in life you will attract more of the same. Gratitude increases spiritualism, self-esteem, and your energy level, improves sleep and even makes you more likely to exercise.

Yoga is another means of connecting with yourself, and as more and more people discover the benefits of practising this ancient art it has become a global phenomenon.

Harvard University has studied the science behind yoga and validated its positive effects. As we know, the western mind often needs to have scientific proof to believe anything.

If you’re one of the many people I meet who says they are too shy or not flexible enough to try yoga, I remind them that yoga is simply the practice of self-inquiry. It’s a chance to be still, to observe, look within, and ask; what is the purpose of your life? How can you be ‘the best you’ i?

We all store tension in our body and the sedentary lifestyle most of us are now living is detrimental to our health. Through the practice of yoga we cleanse our digestive system, release tension and strengthen the body. Through the awareness of breath, you also calm your busy mind in preparation for meditation.

Meditation is one of the most powerful practices you can introduce into your life. Our brain is like a computer, it records everything you see, say and do in your life. Meditation is similar to a software update, if you don’t update your software eventually your computer’s memory becomes too full of information, stops working as it should and slows or even breaks down.

Meditation is a mental cleaning so that you can reorganise the way your brain function. The brain is just like any other part of your body, you need to know how to exercise it, nourish it and clean it.

There are many different forms of meditation, they all promote relaxation, building internal energy, compassion, love, patience, generosity, and forgiveness; all qualities that will profoundly enhance your life and the lives of those around you.

Here is a basic technique to start meditation:

– Go to a place where you will not be interrupted, sit in a comfortable position with your spine straight, this can be sitting in a chair, make sure your feet are flat to the floor if sitting in chair, you can use pillows to make yourself as comfortable as possible and relaxing music can help.

– Start to focus on your breathing, make your breathing rhythmical and even, noticing the pauses between inhalation and exhalation. At first, thoughts will come and you will get distracted ever 4-5 seconds, this is normal. Just keep coming back to your breathing relaxing your body as you breathe out.

– Keep repeating this exercise and eventually your mind will start to slow down. Make it and enjoyable experience, easy and fun, a mental game you play with yourself to train your brain.

The idea that knowledge is power is not true. Knowledge is potential power but without action that knowledge is just information. If you want to see real change in your life then take action and start being the best you today.

For more information or to book an online course with Adam visit www.yogadam.com

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