A Colour therapist may well use meditation and breathing exercises as part of the treatment at the time of the consultation or give advice for the patient's use at home. The therapist may well also have meditation tapes that he/she will recommend.
Meditation
There are many ways of meditating and meditation means different things to different people. Indeed, meditation is part of normal daily practice for a great number of people within some religions.
Whatever the word 'meditation' means to you - 'exercising the mind in contemplation' perhaps - the practice can be enormously helpful as a way of calming the mind and finding your own inner peace. This place of inner peace is where we can open up to our higher self - without the 'interference' of the ego or intellect. Where we can find our higher intelligence and knowing.
Meditation can be achieved by focusing the mind on a particular object, for example a flower, or on a simple shape, on a sound, on an image (visualization - see visualization in self help), or by focusing on the breathing. (See also colour breathing colour breathing exercises can be done lying down or sitting and can be a very helpful form of meditation.)
There are many very helpful tapes and CD's around to help with meditation as they will talk the listener through the stages of relaxation and some will help to build a 'picture' in the minds eye of tranquility. Meditation classes are also available either in a group or one to one. However, there is nothing to stop you trying at home. With practice, you will find it becomes easier and easier to meditate and to be able to 'switch off' any time, anywhere, when you are feeling the need for some peace.
Breathing
Breathing is very important - that sounds rather obvious, but it is surprising how few of us actually do breath 'properly'.
Breathing is something we all take for granted and are inclined to forget about. However, shallow breathing can often be a symptom of stress. Similarly, shallow breathing can result in fatigue and stress due to the intake of insufficient oxygen.
Shallow breathing can also result in dizzy turns as insufficient oxygen is getting to the brain. Since approximately 90% of our energy is created by oxygen and nearly all the body's actions regulated by it - it is rather important that we get enough of it!!
Go somewhere quiet and lie down or sit in a chair with good back support so that your body is straight, allowing you to breath deeply and comfortably. Make sure you are not wearing any tight clothing. Tell yourself to relax. Work on every part of your body from the top of your head to your toes, consciously relaxing each part. Concentrate on your breathing, taking deep in-breaths, through the nose, letting the breath fill your body, relaxing and calming. Then breath out through your mouth , exhaling all negativity and stress and ridding your body of the toxins which build up there.
Repeat this a number of times - if you can only manage 10 minutes that would help a lot. Eventually you will be able to practice this anywhere, any time, when you are feeling stressed. Try not to hunch your shoulders as you breath in - try to consciously relax the shoulders and neck and breath from the abdomen - watch your tummy expand as you breath in. There are a number of breathing techniques which are taught by practitioners of different disciplines, either on a one to one basis or in a group, such as a workshop perhaps. If you have a particular medical problem, then a good place to start is with your doctor, who will be able to advise you.