Using Meditation to Achieve a Better Sex Life

In today’s stressful world, who couldn’t benefit from a few more hours in the day? Many of us spend a good portion of our time maneuvering through busy and demanding schedules full of responsibilities, deadlines, and obligations, which often take away from any time we might have to spend on ourselves. But, being human, we can only do so much before we begin to feel the cumulative effects of the daily wear and tear. It’s great to be productive, but sometimes the daily grind can be so exhausting. Everyone needs a little TLC, but who has the time?

There is one thing that has been shown to help people improve their outlook on life and restore the natural peace and calm they were born with — meditation. Meditating for ten minutes a day — yes, just ten minutes — can keep you grounded and relaxed and help you to better cope with whatever life throws your way.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reported that a 2007 nationwide government survey found that 9.4 percent of respondents (representing more than 20 million people) had used meditation in the past 12 months. People use meditation for a variety of health reasons. It is a way to balance the body, mind, and spirit, which can lead to mental clarity, better focus, and emotional well-being.

NCCAM points out that there are many different types of meditation, but they share some of these basic elements:

A quiet location. Typically you need a quiet place where you will be undisturbed.

A specific, comfortable posture. It may be suggested you sit up with a straight spine. Some practices suggest feet on the ground and arms open rather than crossed. Or you can take a yogic approach with legs folded in a lotus position. You might also lie down and listen to a meditation CD as you drift away.

A focused attention. Usually you will be tuning out the world and focusing instead on your inner world. Some practices include a mantra (a specially chosen word or set of words), and most include breathing fully from the diaphragm as part of the meditative experience.

An open attitude. Having an open mind and a desire to learn a new way to relax is key.

Here’s a ten-minute meditation you can try at home:

Find a place where you're comfortable sitting either on a carpet or a yoga mat. Make sure the room is quiet, so you can eliminate distractions and focus on yourself. You can even play some soft, soothing music or light a few candles if it helps you to relax.

Sit in a cross-legged position on the floor, or use a chair if you need it and place your feet on the floor. Begin to breathe deeply into your belly — your stomach should become rounded as you inhale, and collapse back toward your spine as you exhale. Release tension in your toes with your first breath, in your legs with your second, your torso with your third, and so on, visualizing your muscles relaxing more and more with each breath. Let the softness radiate out to your shoulders and arms, then up to your neck and head. Imagine your eyeballs gently floating underneath your lids, your tongue relaxed and soft inside your mouth. All the while, your mind remains light and unattached, observing your thoughts as they come and go.

Continue like this for five to ten minutes, allowing positive emotions to replace negative or stressful thoughts. Try practicing this exercise once a day, every day. The more often you do it, the more you'll modify your response to stress in your everyday life. You can't eliminate stress completely, but you can lessen its impact on you — just say "om."