Fibromyalgia is a condition where there is muscle pain, fatigue, and tender spots on the body. While there is no cure for this condition meditation may help you to cope with the symptoms.
There are many benefits of meditation for Fibromyalgia including: decreased stress, feeling more at ease, decreased blood pressure and heart rate, decreased anxiety, increased energy and pain tolerance.
When starting to practice meditation find a comfortable space in your home. Find a room free of noise and other distractions. Turn off your cell phone, television and any other devices. You will need to devote this time strictly to meditation.
If you are new to meditation begin slowly and practice for 5 to 10 minutes each day. Some individuals set a timer to know how long to meditate. It is also important to have patience with yourself as most people do not experience changes right away. If practiced consistently you will notice changes over time.
A Couple Types of Meditation for Fibromyalgia
Concentration Meditation is a simple form of meditation. You want to sit upright with your legs crossed in front of you. Make sure your shoulders are level over your hips and let your arms lay at your sides. Next, choose an object to place in front of you. The object can be a candle, plant, or anything that is relaxing to you.
As you focus on the object you will notice that other thoughts come to mind. When this happens try to shift your focus back to the object you are meditating on. This may not be easy at first but it will become easier with time.
Mindfulness Meditation is practiced by using your mind to take in your surroundings. You have an awareness of your surroundings in the present moment without judging yourself. Guided meditation is a good example of this technique. One way of practicing this technique is to lie on your back and to get comfortable. A person or download can guide you through what you should be thinking at any moment.
As you begin to practice meditation remember that there is no right or wrong way. Each individual has their own unique journey for themselves. We do encourage trying different forms of meditation as not every technique works the same for each individual.
Robyn Caruso is the Founder of The Stress Management Institute for Health and Fitness Professionals. She has 15 years of experience in medical based fitness.
