Meditation and Relaxation - Beyond Peak Oil

If you find this page interesting, why not buy the whole book?

Peak Oil Prep is an expanded, paperback version of this Beyond Peak website. You can order it right now and have your own copy in just a few days.

Order Now!

There is nothing more rejuvenating—and relaxing—than spending some time meditating. It can bring a feeling of energetic peace and contentment that can keep you going the entire day. It needn't take a lot of time. One of the most popular techniques—Transcendental Meditation—suggests two twenty-minute sessions a day. Even if you can initially only fit in ten minutes a day with whichever technique you use, you'll find it rewarding. And with time easier to fit in longer stretches.

All religions use forms of meditation, whether they call it that or not, and no matter where you live you can find low-cost or even free instruction in a variety of meditation techniques. People meditate sitting down, lying down, standing up, or even walking. It can be as simple as focusing on your breath, or as complicated as combining visualization, breathing, chanting and movements all at the same time. We suggest you start with the simple.

While there are lots of things we can do for "relaxation", whether it might be watch TV, play golf, or knit, the best relaxation most of us can do is to simply stop and do nothing. True relaxation removes the tension from every part of the body. We offer two such relaxation techniques here.

Meditation

Hatha Yoga meditation techniques

includes downloadable guided meditation audio

Holistic Online

Extensive information on meditation and its physical, psychological and spiritual benefits. Also includes instructions for a number of meditations from a variety of disciplines.

Learning Meditation

More than 15 guided meditations that you can listen to on your computer.

Meditation

Information from Wikipedia

Meditation Center

Directions of a variety of meditation techniques

Meditation Station

Website of the Meditation Society of America. Many different techniques.

Qigong Meditation

Includes the Small Universe and Rainbow meditations

Transcendental Meditation

Official website of the worldwide TM movement

Relaxation

Here's one of the most popular relaxation exercises. A full-body relaxation while lying down. It's particularly useful if you're having a hard time trying to get to sleep at night.

Progressive Relaxation

This exercise is most effective when you tape record the instructions in advance, preferably in your own voice. This way you don't have to concentrate on remembering the instructions.

We'll give you the instructions here. You tape record them, with a short pause after each sentence to allow yourself time to actually do the sensing and relaxing.

Lie on your back, wiggle around until you're as comfortable as you can get, close your eyes, and begin to listen to the tape.

Feel your feet. Feel the weight of your feet. Feel your feet relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your lower legs. Feel the weight of your lower legs. Feel your lower legs relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your knees. Feel the weight of your knees. Feel your knees relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your upper legs. Feel the weight of your upper legs. Feel your upper legs relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your hands. Feel the weight of your hands. Feel your hands relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your lower arms. Feel the weight of your lower arms. Feel your lower arms relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your elbows. Feel the weight of your elbows. Feel your elbows relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your upper arms. Feel the weight of your upper arms. Feel your upper arms relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your buttocks. Feel the weight of your buttocks. Feel your buttocks relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your back. Feel the weight of your back. Feel your back relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your pelvic and belly area. Feel the weight of your pelvic and belly area. Feel your pelvic and belly area relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your chest. Feel the weight of your chest. Feel your chest relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your shoulders. Feel the weight of your shoulders. Feel your shoulders relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your neck, both front and back. Feel the weight of your neck. Feel your neck relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your skull. Feel the weight of your skull. Feel your skull relax and sink into the bed.
Feel your mouth. Feel any tension in your mouth. Feel your mouth relax and any tension slide off into the bed.
Feel your eyes. Feel any tension in your eyes. Feel your eyes relax and any tension slide off into the bed.
Feel your entire face. Feel any tension in your face. Feel your face relax and let any tension slide off into the bed.
Mentally scan your body. If you find any place that's still tense, relax it and let it sink into the bed.

Deep Breathing

One of the main reasons many of us are tense is our breathing. Most people breathe very shallowly, using only the top part of their lungs. Deep Breathing allows us to use our entire lungs, providing more oxygen to our bodies, and energizing and rejuvenating every organ and cell in our bodies. It is probably the most effective and beneficial method of relaxation we've seen.

Lie on your back.
Slowly relax your body, starting with your feet and moving through every part of your body until you have reached—and relaxed—your face and scalp.
Do a quick check to see if you've missed any place. If so, relax it.
Slowly begin to inhale, first filling your lower belly, then your stomach area, and then your chest and the top of your lungs almost up to your shoulders. Hold for a second or two, then begin to exhale. Empty the very bottom of your lungs first, then the middle, then finally the top.
Continue this breathing for four or five minutes. Don't force your breathing; it's not a contest to see how much air you can take in. Just do it in a relaxed, peaceful manner.
After a while, imagine that you are resting on a warm, gentle ocean. The sun is shining peacefully on your body. Imagine that you rise on the gentle swells of the water as you inhale, and that you slowly descend as you exhale.
Continue this relaxing breathing as long as you wish.

Note: This is particularly effective when you do it after Progressive Relaxation.