I dont know why, but it seems like, I have been a man crying in the wilderness “TRY THE JESUS PRAYER!!!” to everyone I know and come across, but people do not take me seriously, or never try it. It’s to their own detriment, sadly. If I could point to one technique or practice that has kept me from going insane, it would be this one.

Each morning before I step into the crazy environment of my workplace, what I like to do is take a few moments to engage in hesychastic prayer to center myself in Christ. I sit in my car, close my eyes, and begin to focus on my breathing, allowing each inhale and exhale to draw me deeper into a state of stillness. Repeating the Jesus Prayer—"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"—I let the words calm me. I use a chokti (prayer beads) to create a rhythm that aligns my heart and mind with the divine presence. This sacred practice I learned over 20 years ago, not only calms my spirit but also fills me with a profound sense of peace and purpose, reminding me that Christ is with me. By the time I open my eyes, I feel grounded and ready to face the challenges ahead, carrying the tranquility and strength of my prayer into the workplace. I HIGHLY and repeatedly recommend this practice to every Christian professional and entrepreneur as a way to start the day, keep calm during the day, and perhaps even close out the day at night.

Below is a very helpful link to learn more about it. Also, I extracted some key points from the article, so that you can easily implement the Jesus Prayer into your own life, and see results.

Here’s a bullet-point summary of the techniques and concepts discussed regarding the role of the body in prayer, specifically within the context of the Byzantine Hesychasts and the Jesus Prayer:

Heart as Center: The heart is the convergence point of mind and body, essential in both physical and spiritual aspects of prayer.

Psychosomatic Unity: In the biblical view, humans are a unity of body and soul; the body plays a positive role in prayer, not just an obstacle to overcome.

Physical Technique in Prayer: The Hesychasts developed physical techniques to aid concentration during prayer, especially the Jesus Prayer, which involves the body in the spiritual process.

External Posture: Sitting on a low stool, head and shoulders bowed, eyes focused on the heart. Some recommend a more demanding posture, like Elijah’s, with the head between the knees.

Controlled Breathing: Slowing and synchronizing breathing with the Jesus Prayer.

Common method: Inhaling with the first part of the Prayer, exhaling with the second. Prayer may also be synchronized with the heartbeat.

Inward Exploration: Concentrating thought on the heart’s center while inhaling.The intellect ‘descends’ with the breath to ‘search’ for the heart’s location.

Discretion and Guidance: These physical techniques must be practiced with caution; misuse can harm health or mental equilibrium.

If no experienced guide is available, it is recommended to focus solely on reciting the Jesus Prayer without worrying about physical synchronization.

Not Essential: The physical techniques are auxiliary aids, not essential. The Jesus Prayer can be fully practiced without them.

St. Gregory Palamas viewed physical methods as secondary, especially for beginners.

Recent teachings place less emphasis on physical techniques. Focus is on the union of mind and heart during prayer, achieved through God’s grace.

Context of Faith: The Jesus Prayer is not just a concentration technique; it’s an invocation to Jesus Christ, requiring a context of faith and community. The Prayer presupposes belief in Jesus as the Son of God and Savior and is traditionally practiced within the Church’s sacramental life.