I too have the same problem, I either fall asleep or can't quiet my mind (there is way too much going on up there!) What I do at night when trying to fall asleep (another good time for my mind to go into high gear) is to breath deep. I concentrate on thoughts of relaxation while breathing in (things like the words relax, rest, calm, quite) and then when I breath out I tell myself things like "release tension", "let go of the stress". And then after a few minutes of that I count while I breath. I count to eight as I breath in and to eight as I breath out. I do that eight times and am usually completely relaxed and not thinking of my laundry list any longer. Give it a try it might work for you.

Indeed breathing helps a lot. One thing that really helps me is to tense all my muscles one by one and then realising them. It soothes me and I'm mainly just concentrating on tensing my muscles so my mind is pretty blank enough to medidate or do yoga, whatever. :)

Thanks for the tips.  I have a meditation tape and it says to breathe slowly as well.  It also says to focus on one part of my body at a time and to really feel it.  Have either of you tried that?  I also feel guilty about just meditating and taking the time when I could be doing something like laundry or food shopping.

When I was a single parent, and the push was always on I saw and ad on TV. Calgon take me away. With the troops always entrenched and you are working your battle plan to keep everything going sometimes you have to do a little retreat. I found after everyone had gone to bed I would fill the tub with hot water and bath salts and soak, then I added candles. "It dose work for men too!" I would put a warm cloth over my eyes and just let go. I would soak till the water got cool. Then I would go to bed. I still do it twenty years later. I do my Yoga mediation as well. P.S. "A glass of wine helps!"

 

I love that commercial and refer to it often.  But more than relaxing at home, I find it hard to relax when  go to a yoga class and the whole point is to let go.  I can't go to class loaded, though I may want to at times.  Is there a type of yoga that anyone knows that might be a better match for me?

what I find helpful is to listen to meditational type cd's like crashing surf or falling rain. slow breathing,in through the nose out through the mouth.

Maybe you can try Iyengar yoga. It really is a different experience, at least that's what I found. It tends to use props and is pretty strenuous, which always makes me relaxed after class! But the thing about it is that you are really into when you are doing it so you can't really think about other things. Not only do you concentrate on the poses but it focuses on breath control as well. 

Can't hurt to try it.....  

That sounds great.  Maybe you are right, I need to be doing more than stretching and thinking.  A more strenuous yoga may be better for me.  Is that a common yoga and would a gym usually have it?  I see a lot of Vinyasa yoga classes at my gym.

... and it really was a good work out. We have a couple here in San Diego so I imagine they have studios in most major cities. B.K.S Iyengar is from India but his philosophy is taught all over the world. Jump on line and see if there isn't a studio in your area.

I am going to do it.  thanks for all the help!

Great thread. Realizing I've been doing a form of "meditation" in the bath like Cowboydavey all along (YES, wine does help ;) However, I'm interested in trying some meditative audio podcasts or tapes. Does anyone have any specific name suggestions...there's a million to choose from.

Thanks!

The Divas

 www.TheDivaCast.com