Meditation

Meditation is a practice that’s been used in the Eastern world for thousands of years. The earliest records going back to India in 1500 BC. The definition of meditation is to think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. When people say there is no wrong way to meditate they are correct. There is literally no wrong way to meditate.

Meditation is an incredibly powerful tool as it forces you to stop, go inward and check in with yourself. The simple act of checking in with yourself can change an entire day or mood. It's a realization of how YOU feel and what YOU need rather than allowing external factors to influence us. It is our opinion that starting a regular meditation practice can be the single most beneficial addition to your day to make the most impact in your journey. 

There are several different forms of meditation and at different points in life you may be drawn to different forms of meditation. We will discuss a few different types briefly:  

Mindfulness meditation- Mindfulness meditation is a form of meditation that can literally be done every second of the day. It’s the task of being mindful or present in every action and moment. While most struggle with this concept and doing it for the entire day is a challenge set for monks opposed to beginners, try focusing solely on the task at hand when you’re doing it. Washing the dishes? Notice the water temperature on your hands and how it runs off your fingers. What do the dishes feel like in your hand? Can you smell anything? How is the light illuminating the plates or cups? Notice the small things and appreciate that moment. Another way to practice mindful meditation is to sit and focus on your breath. Allow any thoughts that come in your head to enter then leave and focus back on your breath. Hear a sound? Let it pass and go back to your breath. Let your breath be your focus point and enjoy the moment. If you struggle to stay on your breath try counting them at each exhale. Make sure you keep your breath even and slow. 

Focused meditation- Focused meditation is an excellent form of meditation to help lower stress. Instead of clearing the mind and focusing on your breath you focus on an object (also called a drishti) or sound. By focusing all your attention on this one item you turn off all thoughts in your head and focus all your energy in one direction. 

How to do it: 

 1. Choose your target

2. Get into a comfortable position 

3. Focus on your target. Pay attention to all your senses and what you’re picking up on. 

4. Turn your internal voice down. Quiet your thoughts as you think and focus on your object 

Do this for however long you feel you can or have time for. Don’t be discouraged if you struggle to stay focused. Not every practice is successful. A 5 minute attempt is better then no meditation at all. 

Movement meditation- Movement meditation is just that. Move your body in a way that you enjoy and focus in on the movement and breath. Movement meditation can involve walking, running, yoga (a personal favorite here), dancing or even just cleaning! Move your body, focus your mind on how your body feels and reacts to each move. Listen to your breath, does it speed up, slow down, feel deeper. Can you feel it pulsing through your arms and legs then back up through your lungs. Get creative but stick with something you are comfortable with. Its much easier to relax and focus when you aren’t doing something for the first time. 

Mantra meditation- Mantra meditation is similar to focused meditation except instead of focusing on an object you focus on a mantra. A mantra can be a word or phrase. When repeated over and over the vibration is thought to encourage positivity and align energy. This type of meditation can be incredibly helpful when working with Chakras. There are mantras associated with each Chakra which help you to focus and shift your energy. 

Qigong meditation- Qigong meditation (pronounced chee-gong) is a form of moving meditation. Qigong focuses on slow movement and breath to move the bodies Qi or energy. The movements help open energy pathways called meridians to allow the energy to flow more freely. We can move energy inward to help heal ourselves or outward to other people.  Youtube has some great beginner practices. 

Sound bath mediation- Sound bath meditation uses bowls, gongs and other instruments to create a vibration within the body. The vibrations help focus your mind and enter a more relaxed state. As we are all literally just balls of energy, learning to work with our natural flow and direct our energy as we’d like is a huge tool we should all take advantage of. Not only does it allow us to make healthy changes to the way we think and feel, it will also allows us  to get to know ourselves on a deeper energetic level.

Spiritual meditation- Spiritual meditation is a deeper practice where one focuses on a deeper connection to a higher power. Whether that be God, Spirit, the Universe or whoever you feel is above, working towards a deeper connection to that power. This is through prayer or focused energy. It is a deep meditation and one that does not happen overnight. It takes significant time and dedication.

With so many types of meditation there is always one to fit how you feel. Its recommended that you try different types and change your routine if you start struggling with motivation to stay with your practice. Meditation does more for the body then just relax the mind. There are studies showing short term benefits such as lower blood pressure, improved blood circulation, lower heart rate, less anxiety, lower cortisol levels and less stress which all benefit our nervous system.