5 Ways To Practice Meditation + Mindfulness
Stressed, sleep-deprived, time-poor and suffering anxiety? No surprise really. Society is moving at an extraordinary rate.
There’s no doubt stress is having damaging effects on our health and well-being. The vicious cycle of stress clouds our minds, diminishes our productivity, our ability to make decisions, and even our self-confidence. Not to mention it's setting yourself up for countless health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, insomnia, headaches, fatigue, digestive problems, poor memory, anxiety, depression, and the list goes on.
Studies have shown that meditation triggers in the body a relaxation response that is the polar opposite of the physiological stress response (fight or flight). It’s non-invasive, requires almost no effort, and need only take a few minutes time each day or even each week to reap its rewards.
Even many of the world’s most successful people are meditators. From Sir Richard Branson and Oprah Winfrey to multi-national corporations like Google and professional sportspeople all over the world, this ancient practice is becoming increasingly embedded into modern society.
With so many types of meditation on the go, it’s really a matter of personal preference and what feels natural and effortless for you to fit into your day.
Here are 5 ways to get started:
At work
Many yoga studio’s these days offer meditation as well, but there’s one meditation studio in Sydney’s CBD, that offers 30-minute drop-in meditation classes, morning, lunchtime and after work. Centred Meditation is literally an urban sanctuary right in the heart of the city giving urban professionals a greater sense of calm, clarity and confidence. Co-founders, Nikki and Kevin have a mission to make it easily accessible to everyone with their effortless approach that makes meditation easy, enjoyable, and effective. Their corporate arm offers meditation and mindfulness sessions and workshops on-site offerings as well as leadership and culture change programs.
At home
Heard of Vedic Meditation or Transcendental Meditation? They are householder techniques suitable for people who have families, busy social lives, or people that go to work or study. Practiced for just 20 minutes, morning and evening, you can easily integrate this style of meditation into a regular day of your life. According to independent teacher of Vedic Meditation, Judy Wilson, "20 minutes of practicing this meditation technique is equivalent to relaxing anywhere between 2-5 times deeper than you do during sleep at night. When you return to daily activity after meditating you will feel clearer and energised with a sense of calm and stillness gained in the practice." Yes please!
www.sunshinevedicmeditation.co...
On your phone
Thanks to technology we can access meditation apps anywhere and anytime. Our favs? Headspace, Calm, Smiling Mind and 1 Giant Mind. Give it a go and let us know your feedback!
On the go
Next time you’re walking somewhere, tune into all your senses. What are you seeing, what are you smelling, what can you hear and taste? Most importantly, how do you feel? There’s no need to judge any of these feelings or sensations as good or bad, just notice them.
While you eat
How mindful are you of what you’re eating? In our culture and with our busy lifestyles, we often eat on the go, eat our lunch at our work desk, or dinner in front of the computer or television. Try to view meal time as a sacred experience, show some gratitude, eat slowly and feel the food transforming inside of you, as this is what is going to nourish you with energy and vitality.
