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Nov 2009  |  By Andrea Bartz and Liz Logan  |  Comments (0)

Rekindle Your Fire: A 20-Minute Meditation

TAGS: 20-minute timeout, December 2010 magazine, meditation

We all need extra light during this day-shortened time of year.

And lighting candles—for religious ceremonies, holiday parties or just cozy-atmosphere-setting—can actually be a refreshing, mind-awakening exercise, according to Corinne Peterson, a certified yoga therapist at the Heartwood Center for Body Mind Spirit in Evanston.

And this little trick from Peterson will take you from burned out to fired up.

What to do: Light a candle and quietly watch the flame for 10 minutes. Then close your eyes and visualize the same flame flickering with energy in your heart.

Why it works: Focusing on the flame helps center the mind and bringing the imagery inward funnels vigor inside, Peterson says.