By Ms. Katie Johnson

With the hustle and bustle of the holiday season near, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself.  A simple way we can all Calm our body and mind is to meditate.  When we meditate we put our mind in an alpha wave state.  That means our thoughts slow down and the mind becomes more focused.  When this happens we can think more clearly.  When the mind is calm the body follows.  A relaxed body and mind is rejuvenating and energizing.  

There are many different types of Meditation techniques, but their end results are the same - to calm the mind.  When you meditate you are ‘recharging’ your brain.  You can meditate for a few breaths or a few minutes.  It’s usually best to start off with a small amount of time (3 breathes or 3 minutes) and work your way up to more time.  A simple technique is to close your eyes and slowly, but naturally, inhale and exhale.  Focus on your breath.  The reason you focus your attention on your breathing is because that helps calm the mind from the 70,000 other thoughts it has.  

Meditation increases your neural mass in parts of the brain associated with short and long term memory.  Practicing meditation improves overall health.  You’ll find that the more you can concentrate in meditation, the more you can concentrate in school.  And an even better side effect of meditation is that it feels good and is good for you!  Try it on the couch, in your chair, or on the floor.  It might take some practice but this self-care technique is worth it!