Meditating
- Pauline Hall
- Nov 18, 2023
- 3 min read
Meditating can be very daunting and confusing the first time you try it, it took me awhile to be able to completely free my mind and relax, you will hold tension in your body you don't even notice! by reading this information we hope to help you release that tension, release those worries and take you on your beautiful journey of meditation.
Meditation is an ancient practice found in cultures and religions all over the world. It’s described as “an exercise of consciousness that results in the expansion of consciousness beyond the day-to-day experience of duality." It is a technique designed to train the mind to concentrate differently. It is a conscious attempt to focus while limiting irrational, negative or perpetual thoughts. It can be a spiritual or therapeutic practice, and learning to regulate your mind, body and breath can have long-lasting advantages for your mental health and daily life. Meditating can even help you access a deeper state of self-awareness, calm and positivity.
Types of Meditation:
The types of meditation vary depending upon your end goal, the object of focus, even if you stay silent or use your voice. Meditation can be a scheduled, dedicated practice built into your day or more casually woven into experiences of daily life, such as walking or washing the dishes.
Consistency is key when it comes to meditation. It is important to try to add these practices into your routine, as benefits can be found even within a few minutes each day.
Self-awareness is a huge part of the process. It’s important to check in with yourself before, and especially after, meditation. You can ask questions like, “How do I feel?” “Am I sleeping better?” “Am I less reactive?” “Do I have fewer negative thoughts?” Often, after practicing meditation, people will feel a bit more calm and aware.
Breath Meditation. This is often seen as the most basic form of meditation. It focuses on breathing and can be practiced alone, in conjunction with other techniques, and done while sitting still, laying down or moving.
Mindfulness Meditation. This technique is not about thought suppression, but awareness of thoughts, and sensation of thinking and being.
Sound Meditation. Often the use of music, gongs or crystal bowls are utilized to help focus the mind. Attention is brought to the sounds and breath.
Walking/Movement Meditation. Focus is brought into the act of walking and awareness of movement. This method can extend to dancing or yoga, and breath meditation can be combined with it.
Mantra/Chanting Meditation. This is a practice in which a single word, sound or phrase is repeated to help focus the mind.
Focused Meditation: Undivided attention is cultivated on a particular object, such as a candle flame.
Metta/Loving-Kindness Meditation: Focus is placed on cultivation of self-love and compassion for ourselves and others.
Vipassana/Insight meditation: Originating from the Buddhist religion, focus is placed on sensations as they arise within the body, without trying to change or fix things—just observing
My mind wanders during meditation, what do I do?
First, don’t worry. Thinking and wandering are natural states of the mind. Meditation revolves around the idea of continually, and with compassion to yourself, bringing your mind back to the object of focus. It is natural for the mind to wander even if it is to do with what you have to do that day, when you start work and many other things! Here are some tips to help when this happens:
Take deep breaths
Imagine yourself in your happy place
Listen to soothing meditation music
Remove as much distractions around you as you can
Put your phone on silent
Have a relaxing bath before doing meditation
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