Inner Smile Meditation
Inner Smile Meditation is thought to have originated from the eastern religion Tao
The Taoists believe that regular smiling and then directing that smile towards ourselves and our internal organs keeps us healthy. Some healers are of the view that the positive energy in the smile calms our mind and thus minimises the physiological and mental ill-effects of stress.
How to practice Inner Smile Meditation
1. Sit comfortably on the chair or on the ground with a lotus posture. (In a lotus posture, one sits on the ground with crossed legs, a straight back and neck). Ensure your hands are relaxed and are kept on your thighs or on the arms of the chair.
2. Close your eyes. Take a few deep inhalations and exhalations. Notice how your abdomen expands with each inhalation. When you exhale, focus on how the outgoing breath relaxes your spine.
3. Smile gently. Let your whole face feel the smile. You should feel happy that you are smiling. Try to have an effortless smile.
4. Now, focus on the space between your eyebrows. This place is also known as the ‘third eye’. Continue smiling as you focus on the third eye for a while.
5. Allow the energy in the smiles to flow down your nose, cheeks and face. Visualise your face being bathed in the positive energies of the smile.
6. Then continue smiling and direct the smiles towards your internal organs. Smile at your hearts, liver, kidneys and other internal organs. Feel as if your entire body is being rejuvenated by your smile.
Some healers teach the Inner Smile Meditation technique along with a combination of sounds for each internal organ.
If you wish to learn the Inner Smile technique in a traditional way, you can search online or enquire in your neighbourhood for a teacher. But, ensure that you learn under an expert.