Renowned Saudi Life Coach Dr. Sumaya Alnasser walks you through a successful meditation at homeIn the bustle of our busy schedules, we often find it a challenge to calm the mind and focus on what is really important in the actual moment. And despite this, some people complain that they “can’t” meditate and fail to understand the importance of the practice. Explaining the practice and its process a little more, Saudi Life Coach and industry expert, Dr. Sumaya Alnasser tells us her secrets to meditation.

A specialist in self-development, relationships and career coaching, Dr. Sumaya recently launched the first ever Arabic-guided Meditation Album, The Back Door. It is focused on helping listeners relax and surround themselves with feelings of positivity. Explaining meditation, she says, “The practice of meditation is often understood as sitting in a secluded room for hours of undisturbed silence. But that isn’t it. Meditation is different for every person – it is meant to be catered to your needs and what it is that you look to accomplish by setting aside time for yourself.”

Meditation is a great mystery to many, but in reality, there is nothing simpler than it. She theorizes that the ritual of meditation begins when you become silent and your thoughts cease. It is a unique process of training your brain to slow down, become quieter and more aware. Your mind feels spacious and the stressing matters melt away, and eventually it feels simply blissful. Indulging further in meditation, Dr. Sumaya says, “Helps in confronting the repressed emotions that are lurking just below the surface in your subconscious. These incognito desires and feelings manifest in your daily life and create patterns of thought and action that dictate your destiny. Through meditation you bypass the mind completely and dive deeper into yourself.”

Before you can begin to meditate, it is important to be able to concentrate and to focus the mind to sit still without getting distracted. Dr. Sumaya shares her 5 steps to meditation:

Begin by finding a quiet place with soft lighting, where you can sit comfortably. Unclasp your hands and feet and get rid of any accessories or items that you might find distracting.
Close your eyes, take a very deep breath, and try to imagine that you fill your stomach with air and not your lungs.
Pause after every intake of breath and focus your consciousness on the center of your body – in your heart.
Exhale slowly, and with every exhale you must feel that you have emptied your entire stomach of the air and all the negative emotions along with it.
Continue to do this several times and then stop for a moment. Exhale until you reach a state of complete relaxation and calmer thoughts.
Practicing meditation takes a tremendous amount of courage, as it is a difficult but necessary process of self-introspection. She continues, “You can repeat these steps to reflection any time that you feel an emotional or intellectual chaos during the day.” Meditation helps you clear away accumulated vibes, anxieties and insecurities. Almost like a spring-cleaning of the mind, meditation aids in curing depression and anxiety disorders as well.

Offering guided meditation in Arabic, Dr. Sumaya’s The Back Door focuses on different topics that might cause every day stress and helps improve self-development. The album is available to buy on Amazon and Apple Music.