Meditation
After years of teaching meditation, I have come to realize that meditation, in the myriad of ways one can experience this ancient practice, can be an extremely reliable and effective tool for true well-being.
So what is meditation?
Meditation can be understood as the ability to enter a period of stillness and reflection which enables the individual to connect to a higher sense of self. The benefits are too great to number, but include improved health, a greater sense of deep peace, guidance for life’s challenges and ideals, as well as a period to disconnect from the challenges of a sensory-rich world.
One of the greatest lessons my students have taught me over the years is the need to understand both the physical body as a tool and the overall intention, when beginning a practice of meditation. Moreover, a proper understanding of technique is critical in order to reap the benefits of meditation but also to keep it up! How many of us have started with a positive spirit towards meditation but also become discouraged when it “doesn’t work”?
To understand meditation fully, it is important to first recognize the body as a tool for reaching higher levels of consciousness.
Through the use of our chakras, or energy centers, located within our body, we can physically calm and center our energy sources. Every meditation should begin with feeling and connecting to these energy sources.
In addition to connecting to our chakras, a dedication to focused breathing before the meditation begins, can still the body and mind for an enriching meditation experience. Breathing enhances our ability to calm our nervous system and focus our intention. A self-directed flow of breath throughout our lower body as well as through the upper portion of our body, releases tension and stills the mind.
Setting an articulated intention before the meditation session begins, helps to focus the mind and allows one to disengage, momentarily, from the challenges of our outer world. By setting the intention to connect for meaningful reflection of the highest good, we allow our inner, reflective world to unfold in a safe and enriching manner.
The use of creative imagery in meditation is critical to maintaining a connection as well as reflective sense of stillness. More often that not I have heard from my students that their past experiences with meditation have faltered due to a lack of awareness as to how one should engage the mind while meditating. While there are many helpful techniques for gaining a deep reflection, the use of imagery such as color, sound, images, and the like, allows one to use the mind as a tool.
While meditation is a time for quiet reflection, meditation is not an empty space of silence. Indeed, meditation should seek to actively engage the mind.
Meditation is deeply connected to the individual person, but certain practicalities apply to anyone seeking to begin or deepen their meditation practice. This includes understanding that meditation is like learning a new skill, and can only become effective when practiced. By creating a healthy habit of setting aside time for meditation daily, this skill has both the time and space to develop. The popular adage seems fitting here--it truly is like riding a bike and while you may fall off, getting right back up ensures that your practice continues to develop and that you will never forget what you learned. This cycle requires patience but should also be seen as one that develops incrementally, with greater confidence achieved at each step.
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