Welcome to my first blog of 2023.
You would think being February, my first blog would be all about the smoochy love stuff. Instead, I decided to spread the word about the amazing benefits of meditation.
I first discovered meditation while doing yoga, about 8 years ago. At the end of the class, we would lie on our mats in complete stillness, for about 15 minutes. My yoga teacher would always say “this is when the magic happens”, and it did. It let my body recover from the yoga, but it also enabled my mind to just be still. I cannot tell you how relaxing it is when your mind is still. Now meditation is very much part of my morning routine.
When talking about meditation, we often talk about practising it. And it does take practice. Some mornings the thoughts are coming thick and fast. The whole idea with meditation is not to stop the thoughts, but just notice them, and then send them on their way.
Meditation is not a new thing and is said to date back to 1500 BC. The practice of meditation involves intentionally bringing your focus to the present moment, something that can be difficult to do in this crazy, busy world.
There are many different types of meditation, each with its own unique techniques and benefits. Some of the most common forms of meditation include:
Mindfulness meditation which focuses on bringing your full attention to the present moment and accepting each experience as it arises, without judgment.
Loving-kindness meditation (also known as Metta meditation) which involves focusing on feelings of love and compassion for yourself and others.
Transcendental meditation which involves the repetition of a mantra or sound in order to quiet the mind and achieve a state of deep relaxation.
Zen meditation: This type of meditation involves sitting in a specific posture, focusing on the breath, and allowing thoughts to pass by without engaging with them.
What if you are looking to bring some meditation into your life, but not sure where to start? The above might seem a little overwhelming so why not start with your morning coffee. Take it outside, focus on what you can see, feel, hear or even how your coffee is tasting. If a thought arises, send it on its way and go back to your coffee. Do that for five minutes, and you’ve just meditated. Singing is also a form of meditation so if you’re in your car, turn that music up and sing along! Have you noticed that when you sing, you actually can’t think of anything else apart from the lyrics?
As with starting anything new, don’t try and go too big all at once. Start with setting aside 5 minutes a day where you just take time to sit (and won’t be interrupted). Once you’re comfortable with the 5 minutes, try increasing it to 10 minutes and before you know it, it will become a habit.
There are also some amazing apps available with literally thousands of meditations available. They range from 3 minutes right through to an hour. Also some people meditate sitting, some prefer lying down, some meditate in the morning, some at night. At the end of the day it’s all about what is going to work for you.
The benefits of meditation are many and varied. Some of the most well-known benefits of a regular meditation practice include:
1. Reduced stress and anxiety.
2. Promotes emotional wellbeing.
3. Improves focus and attention.
4. Better sleep.
5. Enhanced self-awareness.
So why not make this year the year you try meditation. With its amazing benefits and with so many different forms of meditation to choose from, there is sure to be a type of meditation that is right for you. So why not give it a try and see what benefits meditation can bring to your life.
Much love,
Carmen
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