Stress is a universal experience affecting everyone from time to time. It’s a natural reaction to what’s going on around you. Some stress triggers may be one-time occurrences while others cause chronic stress issues. All kinds of stress carry mental and physical risks, however, so stress management is crucial. One of the health benefits of a zero gravity meditation chair is reducing daily stress through improved relaxation in zero gravity position. Practicing zero gravity meditation, however, is one of the best ways to reduce stress further and can drastically improve your mental and physical health. 

Negative Effects of Stress

While short-term stress may actually help you deal with serious situations, chronic daily stress elevations can have serious repercussions. At elevated stress levels, your body produces hormones that change the way your body functions.

Physical effects of stress can include high blood pressure, headaches, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, insomnia, and reproductive issues. For women who are pregnant, stress can also be a major contributor to preeclampsia. Chronic stress also affects your mental health and can lead to issues like irritability, depression, and loss of libido. 

Zero Gravity Meditation for Reducing Stress

Creating a zero gravity meditation chair is an effective way to reduce stress in your daily life. It’s a very grounded method of stress relief that centers around focusing the mind, improving self-awareness, and achieving calm.

There is no one way to properly meditate nor is there a required time commitment. If you’re just starting out, try to commit to zero gravity meditation at least 5-10 minutes each day. You’ll find meditating in your zero gravity recliner works in tandem with the zero gravity position to reduce stress and also improve sleep quality.

If you’re new to meditation, there are lots of types to try! Don’t be overwhelmed. Find what works best for you and see how easily it fits into your daily self-care routine. Here are 5 great methods to practice zero gravity meditation:

• Mindfulness Meditation
• Guided Meditation
• Spiritual Meditation
• Focused Meditation
• Visualization Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation stems from Buddhist teachings and has become extremely popular in recent years. Through mindfulness we can learn more about how our minds work and increase self-awareness. The idea behind mindfulness is quiet observation of your body and thoughts without judgement or manipulation. It combines concentration with awareness.

While relaxing in your zero gravity chair, close your eyes and focus on your breath. Focusing on breathing helps many people while they observe their thoughts and feelings during mindfulness meditation.

Guided Meditation

Another method of meditation as a way to reduce stress with zero gravity chairs is guided meditation. In guided meditation, you enter a state of relaxation led by an external source. This could be a session on your favorite guided meditation app, calming music, or another person. Sitting in your zero gravity chair, close your eyes and focus on the imagery and visualizations your source leads you through. Guided meditation can be as short as a few minutes or hours long but really works perfectly in tandem with the zero gravity position to reduce stress levels and improve physical and mental health. 

Spiritual Meditation

Spiritual zero gravity meditation doesn’t necessarily mean religious. Though many Eastern and Western religions use meditation as a way to deeply connect with their spirituality, non-theistic spiritual meditation can be practiced to increase awareness and self-actualization. Practicing spiritual meditation to reduce stress and anxiety may be an excellent option for those looking to set aside time to self-reflect. 

Focused Meditation

Using focused zero gravity meditation to reduce stress is great for those who have a hard time slowing down and not multitasking. The objective of focused meditation is to fixate exclusively on a singular action you’re doing in the present. A popular method perfect to do while relaxing in a zero gravity recliner is drinking a cup of tea or coffee. Center your thoughts solely on the experience of drinking your beverage. How does it smell? How does it feel? What sensations do you experience lifting it to your mouth as you drink? If your thoughts start to wander to anything else, simply refocus on your cup and the action at hand. This daily self-care ritual reduces stress and replaces it with calm.

Visualization Meditation

Last on our list is visualization meditation. Similar to guided meditation, the practice of visualization meditation in zero gravity chairs involves closing your eyes and picturing an image that evokes a positive emotion from your mind. This may be a calm lake,  clear blue sky, or any personal image you think of that calms your mind. There is a well-known mindfulness technique often associated with visualization meditation in which you picture your thoughts and emotions as leaves being carried down a stream.

No one can escape stress permanently. It comes around to everyone here and there. How you deal with daily stress, however, has a major influence on your physical and mental health. Using meditation to reduce stress with zero gravity chairs that fit your lifestyle will help you manage stress levels and enhance the health benefits of zero gravity position.

Looking for other activities to enhance zero gravity chair benefits? Check out these ways to integrate zero gravity recliners into your fitness routine!