Q: My boyfriend would like me to teach him a meditation exercise which is different to his normal practice. I have a few that I know of but am hoping you can offer some that I could try for reducing stress levels please. M. Evans – London

A: There are various kinds of meditation exercises as noted by you. It is difficult to choose any particular one for reducing stress as meditation is a tried and tested technology for doing so. Since you asked why not try yoga skin meditation. Regular practice of this will help reduce your stress levels.

In this exercise the skin of the body should be meditated upon.

Sit down into a comfortable position and close your eyes. Inhale and exhale five deep breaths. Now imagine that the inside of the body is completely empty and that the skin is merely a wall that separates you from the world.

Continue this visualisation for as long as possible. As you regularly practice this meditation, gradually increase the length of holding to at least between fifteen to twenty minutes.

You can breathe as normal or, alternatively, if you want deeper impact try breathing long and deep, from the stomach and nose, but not the mouth.