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Meditation

What Is Meditation?

There are a lot of misconceptions about what meditation is. At its most basic meditation simply allows the mind to slow down and the body to become calm. It is relaxing but it also provides another incredibly important tool that other relaxation techniques do not. Meditation allows you to access heightened states of awareness.
You are much more than the sum of your thoughts.
Meditation can teach us ‘mindfulness’. The practice of this is letting go of our need to control (or believe!) our thoughts and simply learn to observe them. This effectively takes us off the mind’s hamster wheel and allows us to see and experience a greater reality.

Why Meditate?

Meditation has a cumulative effect. Its benefits are innumerable. With practice you can learn to detach from the pressures of life and not buy into the everyday drama that enfolds and can engulfs. The health benefits are so great that some health insurers offer discounts to those who practice!
As well as health benefits research has shown that concentration, memory and creativity can be improved by regular practise.
Energetically meditation reigns supreme as a tool to boost energy and rebalance.

How Do You Meditate?

If you feel you need help find a teacher. Be aware that there are many forms of meditation (including some linked to specific religions) so check whether that form may be suitable for you.
Paul Roland’s book “How to Meditate” is an easy to read over view into the field with practical advice.

Tobias Blake’s “The Power of Stillness” is a 30 day programme that allows you to experience a variety of types of meditation

By following simple guidelines you can easily learn to meditate.
Meditation requires the mind to be gently lulled into a relaxed state. Observing the breath, listening to nature sounds or gentle music, or repeating a mantra all work. There will be one technique that works best for you. Most of my clients prefer observing their breath whilst listening to gentle background music.

Two things happen when you meditate. Firstly the body begins to relax and secondly the mind starts to clear. It’s the second stage that is the most important. Most proponents of the benefits of meditation suggest doing so for 20 minutes every day.
I usually ask clients to start with 5 minutes a day and slowly built up to 20 minutes. Meditating at the same time in the same place every day will help make it part of your daily routine.
Once you are experienced and confident you can meditate anytime, anyplace.
The single best thing about meditation is that afterwards you feel great!

Exercise:
Play some gentle music in the background. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Try to have your spine straight. Shut your eyes and begin to observe your breath. You don’t need to do anything with it, just experience it flowing in and flowing out. Cocentrate on your breath.
You will be become aware of your thoughts. Try to not follow them. For example if you hear your voice asking “What will I have for lunch?”
Let that thought go without answering it and re-focus on your breath. At times you will start thinking your thoughts. As this happens bring your attention back to the breath or the music you can hear. Stay like this initially for 5 minutes gradually building up to 20 minutes a day. How do you feel?

Some people can also enter ‘the zone’ when exercising. This is when the body and mind unite to create an altered state of consciousness. This is a form of meditation but not everyone experiences this. If you do then know you are using three of the health tools at once.