Good-day beautiful friends, yogi’s, yogini’s!
This week I would like to write about Meditation.
You may initially think meditation is a technique or approach used to cultivate the mind and awake the internal relationship with one’s Self. However, meditation is, and will become a way of life for you. Many different authors and voices have discussed meditation, each with their own
opinion and ideas as to how one can be meditative. Cultures, religions, spiritual paths, personal beliefs, lifestyle choices and behavioural traits are all influential to this. In other words, there is no ‘one size fits all’. How do you know what to do then? Like in most things, it takes some exploration and experimentation to find your own pathway.
Before you open a new web browser or tab and Google ‘meditation techniques’, find a piece of paper and write down and clarify why you want to meditate. What are you hoping to get from meditation? You may want to find a quiet, relaxing moment in your day, work through a phobia, build self confidence, decrease muscle tension, alleviate stress or anxiety, or improve concentration. How much time are you willing to dedicate to meditation each day, or week? What approaches have you tried before? Would you initially like to meditate in a group setting, or would you prefer to be by yourself? If you understand why you want to meditate, and commence with intention, it is easier to stay committed and hopeful to achieving a meditative state.
One method of simple meditation I enjoy doing is sitting comfortably, cross-legged, for a minimum of 20 minutes, with a relaxed smile on my face. This Balinese method of meditation came from a spiritual leader in the area, Ketut Kiyer. He says, “To meditate, you only must smile, it’s that easy. Smile with face, smile with mind and good energy will come to you and clean away dirty energy. Even smile in your liver. You can call the good energy with a smile”. It is simple, but it can be difficult, and initially a bit uncomfortable to smile for 20 minutes. However, just keep reminding yourself to smile if you realise you have stopped. Allow thoughts to pass through your mind, but do not attach to them. Just keep smiling! Being in a peaceful area, such as against a tree in the park, or on a sand dune at the beach listening to the ocean, is a nice environment to mediate this way in. It is also good to do this style of meditation just before you go to sleep, lying down, in the comfort of your bed. Imagine drifting peacefully off to sleep, via meditation, with a smile on your face.
Initially you may only have a clear mind for one minute, then three minutes, then 15 minutes. However, as your gain control of, and clear, your mind, you will be able to sustain a meditative state for a prolonged period of time.
Mental control, strength and discipline is just one of many attributes resulting from meditation. When one is in a meditative state, their body feels light and they have an internal sensation of joy and delight. Life is like a carefree, spring day. Meditation also helps to decrease respiratory rate, increases blood flow and circulation, reduces anxiety and stress, decreases muscle tension, enhances the immune system, improves relationships, develops intuition and perspective, and helps you to stay present, in the moment.
There are many books, websites and articles solely dedicated to different methods of meditation. Enjoy finding an approach that works for you! I will recommend however, you never start meditating feeling anxious, rushed or uncommitted. This will surely affect your ability to go into a meditative state. Do some light stretching and take a couple of long, slow breaths before you start. Make sure your body and mind are comfortable to begin with.
