Meditation is an incredible tool in our wellness arsenal, but it's not always easy, and it's not always clear what we should
be doing.
Mediation has many benefits, and it's a practice we are very fond of at Yevee HQ. Some of the benefits include
Increased self-awareness
Reduce Stress
Calm Anxiety
Reduce Brain chatter
Understand your emotions and emotional triggers
Connect better
Improve your focus and concentration
There are many books, apps, gurus, and videos teaching or helping us meditate, yet the overall message of meditation and what it does to help us is lost. At Yevee, we know that there is no one fits all mediation technique and that sometimes the most challenging part of mediation is just getting started.
So we developed a simple little ritual to help you to get into the habit and reap the benefits from the get-go; no gimmicks, no apps, no need to be guided through a journey or told what to think about, just a simple calming practice to take you from stressed out to bliss.
Optional Step One - Get the scent perfect.
At Yevee, we believe in the power of aromatherapy and how it can work in unison with wellness techniques to make you feel great. So if you have an aromatherapy candle you love, or maybe you'd like to try one of ours, which has been expertly crafted to complement each pillar of your well-being journey. Then we urge you to light the candle and leave it to burn in the room your will meditate in for at least 10-15 minutes before you start.
Step One - Get comfortable.
The most important thing when meditating is to be comfortable. You can lie down, lean against a wall, have your legs up, sit on a chair or even be in the bath. Make sure you are comfortable and can stay as you are for at least five minutes.
Step Two - Set a time limit.
If you are new to meditation, it can be helpful to set a gentle alarm (please don't pick something jarring and aggressive) so that you have a time limit to your meditation; five or ten minutes is perfect for beginners.
Step Three - Notice your body.
When you are comfy and the time limit is set... or not set if you prefer to fly unlimited, it's time to notice your body. Close your eyes or focus on the candle flame and begin to do a body scan. Start with your feet and work your way to your head, scanning each part of your body and making a conscious effort to relax it.
Step Four - Breathwork.
Now comes the easy part. Breathing. Amazingly, the very thing that keeps us alive and our blood and brain fed is a neglected part of our human routine, but breathwork is transformative. At Yevee, we use the box breathing technique to soothe our anxiety and calm our minds. It's very simple, and you can find a guided version on the app very soon, but in essence, you breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds and hold for 4 seconds. Do this for about 5 minutes or until your timer goes off, and you will feel amazing afterwards.
Step Five - Kindness is king.
If thoughts come into your mind, it's ok; notice them as you would a passing cloud and let them gently float away; you can use visualisation to help you with this practice. The point of mediation is not to silence our brain and have no thoughts at all but to detach ourselves from these thoughts and observe them rather than live them. If you like to count your breathing as you meditate, that is fine; if you prefer to observe your thoughts, that's fine too. The key here is kindness to yourself and your mind.
Step Six - Close with an affirmation.
You've reached the end of your meditation practice, the alarm has gone off, or you feel enough is enough, and you want to get on with your day. We recommend closing with a positive affirmation to lock in the fantastic self-work you have just done by taking a moment for yourself. If you struggle with affirmations, we've four below for each pillar of well-being at Yevee.
Tranquillity - I cherish my relationship with sleep, and rest / I am safe and relaxed.
Sensuality - I am loving and kind to my body and mind / I attract respectful and playful love into my life.
Balance - I am worthy / I am grateful for all that I have
Energy - I am brave, bold and beautiful / My thoughts become my reality.