“The part can never be well unless the whole is well.” ~ Plato.
To be healthy, is to be whole. Meditation is a practical way for the entire self; mind, body and spirit, to achieve health, skin care included.
Meditation is good for you, but did you know how good it is for your skin? A little known side effect from the practice of meditation is an acceleration of the healing process in skin cells.
Many beginning meditators have noticed remarkable changes for the better in the quality of their facial skin. Naturally, wrinkles are less, due to the relaxation of facial muscles, but the noticeable rapid healing of blemishes and burns is also a regular occurrence.
There is an extensive amount of research documenting the body’s ability to self-repair. Dr.Lissa Rankin states in her comprehensively researched book, “Mind Over Medicine”, “…the body is a self-healing organism, constantly striving to return to homeostasis.”
Applying a few mental training techniques while in a state of deep meditation would support that system and give it the right environment in which to work.
It is possible to achieve a healthy glow from the inside out with meditation. This 4 Step process combines the power of a meditation practice with other techniques that link the mind to the body in a powerful way.
Step One: Relax and Meditate
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein
An experienced meditator can quickly enter what is known as an altered or “flow” state of calm and energized alertness.
For beginners, start by closing your eyes, taking a deep breath and repeat the word “Relax.” Move your awareness down through the different parts of your body. A guided meditation with body scan is a great tool. The voice will lead you to also calm your emotions and still your thoughts. That is total relaxation. It is like the shivasanya at the end of your yoga class, only longer. Deep and fully aware relaxation is key for optimal results.
Step Two: Imagine
“Imagination is more important than knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein
“As the mind conceives, the body must achieve” is one of the laws of the mind. The body can’t tell the difference between an image in the mind and what we call reality. Test this yourself, and imagine biting into a lemon without salivating. Mind/body pioneers Bellaruth Naparstek and Shakti Gawain accept this as a simple, profound fact. They recommend deliberately adding healthful images to “the gullible body.” Introducing positive images while in this deeply relaxed state can be extremely effective. Using your mind’s eye, see the problem once, fix it and then only see the positive outcome any time you think about it. You want to move past the problem, only reinforcing a perfect end result.
The way the cells work in the body is magical. We have 80 million white blood cells produced per minute, as our first line of defense from a burn or injury. Focusing on these ‘soldier’ cells can be effective on that cellular level.
Showering skin cells in white light, or mentally applying a ‘special’ lotion, would focus your repair response. Be creative. Mentally experience your new, fabulous self and skin in a multi-sensory way, engaging all 5 inner senses. Your imagination will come up with a visual remedy that suits you best.
Step Three: Listen to Your Intuition
“I believe in intuition and inspiration. I sometimes FEEL that I am right. I do not KNOW that I am.” ~ Albert Einstein
You may have a repair and healing plan ready before you start, but once in a meditative state, you may find that a feeling prompts you to imagine another way of achieving the healthy result. Go with what feels right. Don’t let your critical, skeptical ego get in the way. Go with the flow and listen to that wise, inner voice.
After regular practice of these techniques, you will also experience being drawn towards different choices in the outer world. Dr. Wayne Dwyer explains that once an intention is set with the universal mind, “it will germinate into reality in the physical world.”
Suddenly, new options, in many forms will show up in your life. You may be drawn toward a new skin care line, or vitamin, or hear of a doctor who specializes in your area of concern. You could suddenly start drinking more water and crave healthy fresh juices instead of coffee.
Step Four: Use Affirmations
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.” ~ Albert Einstein
Every thought we think is creating our future. A thought can be changed for the good, and life will follow that thought to flow towards a positive experience.
Since we have established that our subconscious mind accepts whatever we choose to believe , then using an affirmation as a tool to change from the inside out, just makes sense. An affirmation is a positive statement for what we want in our lives. Best selling author and number one world authority on affirmations, Louise Hay believes, “Always use the present tense such as “I am” or “I have,” since the subconscious mind is such an obedient servant. To say “I will” or “I want” will keep it just out of reach.” I also add the sentence, “for the highest good” to remain open to whatever the universe provides.
Consider the following examples:
“I have smooth, soft, youthful, radiant skin.”
“I have glowing, moist skin.”
“My skin reflects my inner peace.”
“I have clear, healthy skin.”
You get the idea. For remarkable results on the outside, try a little work from the inside. Just 4 things to remember: Relax, Imagine, Listen and Affirm.
Then let go, and let nature takes its course.
