The Foundational Strength Meditation Management System: A Periodized Platform for the Self-Situational Application of Breathing Ratios

About this book

Meditation can generally be a confusing how to do it, how long for, and what type? These are legitimate questions that can certainly be addressed, and should be; because most individuals, understandably, really do not know where to start. I can relate and have felt that confusion myself. Compounded with those problems, there then comes the question, “How can I turn this into a life-long sustainable practice without becoming burnt out from it? How can I keep this thing going? How can I keep this exciting?”Well, I have good news for you. There are solutions to all those questions, so we don’t need to keep worrying about what to do, for how long, and so forth. As with all the Foundational Strength programs, periodization is at the heart of all these important issues. Let me explain…By periodizing how we meditate—just like how we exercise—we put boredom and redundancy on the back burner by consistently keeping our minds and egos guessing. Instead of becoming a chore, it becomes something we can look forward to. In other words, periodization “keeps things mixed up.”Now that we know how to keep things rolling long term, the next question that usually arises is, “What kind of meditation should I do?” The answer is not always that simple because there are many types with their own unique characteristics and benefits. That being said, I do have a clear-cut favorite.One of the most effective and widely used forms of this ancient mind medicine is using an active (as opposed to passive) inhalation/exhalation ratio. For breathe in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, and breathe out for four seconds. Simple, right?I mean, we could “hmmm” all day or stare at a mandala on the wall, but good luck keeping the mind from drifting off into la-la land. Transcendental meditation and the like have their place, don’t get me wrong, but not all of us are Buddha-Jesus masters of controlling the thoughts of the mind; not all of us are in a peaceful and quiet environment to attain such a mental state that these practices demand.By controlling the breath using simple and short counts, the active breathing form of meditation keeps us focused to prevent the mind from wandering in any environ—and at the same time directly engaging the autonomic nervous system into a state of self-hypnotic bliss while not even trying; all we have to do is count the breaths in our mind. I liken it to performing pre-planned reps while lifting weights or using on/off ratios during a cardio session.This particular kind of meditation coupled with the signature Foundational Strength FS12™ periodization charts puts the Meditation Management System in a class of its own. There are not only 31-day charts to guide you but also 12-month annual programming available in both linear and undulating patterns with twelve different breathing ratios.That’s right! Twelve different ways to meditate using active breathing techniques—all organized and categorized dependent on the time of day the individual chooses. There are also blank templates for self-customization for those who want to program their own charts.Having a go-to guide for our minds helps us live less stressed, more organized, and, most importantly—makes our lives more time efficient so we can be our best. This program does just that and more. I know because I use it and created it to help others, as it helps me. Thank you, and please enjoy. –Kevin Roberts