by Stephanie Brail

The Catholic rosary is an extremely powerful form of prayer using a specific set of prayer beads. You do not have to be Catholic to pray the rosary or even Christian. The following "rosary release" process helps to release fears, worries, and anything else in your life that you do not want. Try this process daily and see how your life changes.

The rosary is designed with five sections of beads called "decades." These sets of beads are called "decades" because they consist of 10 beads each. The rosary also has a tail with additional beads used when beginning the prayer cycle.

In the traditional Catholic rosary, a "mystery" from the life of Jesus is meditated upon at each decade. There are four sets of mysteries, each prayed on different days of the week. In this rosary release process, you will focus on an issue you want released at each decade instead of the mystery.

by Ed and Deb Shapiro
Authors of Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World

What stops you from sleeping through the night? Is it when things are not going your way or they look topsy-turvy and you just want to scream; when your life appears chaotic and you are not sure if you are coming or going; or when it feels like everything is piled on your shoulders?

Life should be an exciting and outrageous adventure. Isn't it a wonder how a spider weaves a web or a bee makes a hive? Did you ever notice the small, everyday miracles, like the fact that you can breathe in and out? But how many of us get to experience this miracle? Sometimes life just feels too awful. We want to feel good, we want to be happy, in fact happiness is our birthright. But so often there are just too many difficulties to deal with. And although we may know that meditation chills us out, if we are feeling stressed or irritable then it just doesn't seem so appealing.

Kirtan Kriya is a favorite meditation of Kundalini Yoga fans. It's easy to do, and it has excellent benefits for the brain. Studies have shown this meditation improves short term memory, and it may help prevent or alleviate Alzheimer's (Read more about one study here, and check this article out for more about how this meditation positively affects neurotransmitters.).

Sit in a chair or in easy pose (legs crossed on the floor). Back straight. Hands on knees, palms up.

Mantra: Sa Ta Na Ma (a as in aahhhhhhh)
Sa means infinity; Ta means life; Na means death; and Ma means rebirth.

You will be changing finger positions as you chant. Press the thumb to the appropriate finger tip as follows (both hands):

Sa: Thumb and index finger.
Ta: Thumb and middle finger.
Na: Thumb and ring finger.

This meditation comes from Kundalini Yoga and was originally taught by Yogi Bhajan. It brings prosperity and also a sense of confidence and radiance for women.

Sit in easy pose (legs crossed) or spine straight in a chair with feet planted on the ground.

Close the eyes and focus on the chin area, or, you open the eyes 1/10th and look at the tip of the nose.

You can keep the palms open, facing up, on your knees, or use the Buddhi Mudra: thumbs pressed to the pinky fingers, with the rest of the fingers straight.

Inhale, hold the breath, and mentally recite:

I am bountiful. I am blissful. I am beautiful.

Exhale, hold the breath out, and mentally recite:

Excel, excel, fearless.

Three minutes is the suggested time for this meditation, but you can continue for as long as you wish. This is a good meditation to use throughout the day as a mini-break.

Variation for Anxiety