If you’re neck deep in the parenting journey (like we are) odds are high you rarely get some “me” time. That’s where some sort of meditation can help you when you’re feeling frazzled.

Marlise Karlin has some tricks she’d like to share with you. It only takes about five minutes a day at most and she promises you’ll emerge feeling far more centered. According to Karlin, ”3 Breath Awareness” technique can help you “access the well of limitless knowledge within you in moments. It is something that can be utilized many times a day and will always deepen your connection to your true essence, and to live in balance throughout your day.”

So how does this work?

At first practice first with your eyes closed (either standing or sitting.) Listen to peaceful music or sit quietly in silence (if its possible to do so). Then, allow any tension in your body to be released with each breath you take. Breathe in so deep you can feel as if the air is flowing within every cell in your body. With each breath relax even more.

Place your awareness within yourself. After the 3rd DEEP breath, sit in the awareness. Continue breathing and looking within. Maintain this inner focus for at least one minute but as long as you can. Depending upon your stress level, you may need more time to feel this shift in consciousness. With eyes still closed, notice if you can feel what has changed.

“Often, people say that even the air surrounding them has a different quality. Many feel the enlivened energy stream as it moves within them, often in the form of a tingling sensation in their hands or the top of the head and throughout their body,” according to Marlise.

Then, open your eyes while holding onto the stillness of mind that you’ve just moved into. When you take action from this state of ‘being’, says, the fellow parent, it will enhance all the outcomes you are looking for, as well as greatly improve your state of mind in the moment.

I’m currently reading ”The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle. Karlin’s technique and thinking remind me much of  what I’m reading within the book.  I think the main similiarity is that there is power in stilling the mind, in being aware of your body and in being mindful of the energy that flows through your body. And if you haven’t checked out The Secret, (which is about using the positive and negative energies within the body to attract what you want and don’t want) you might want to look into that book as well.

Speaking of books, Marlise is working on a book now as we speak. For more information on Marlise Karlin visit www.marlisekarlin.com.

Photo from Melanie Weidner of www.Listenforjoy.com