Help with Meditation

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Permalink Reply by Triciabee on November 14, 2009 at 2:11pm

Great suggestions here and I'm sure Denise you'll be on your way in no time to a fulfilling meditation practice. I've been doing it on and off for years and I can tell you without a doubt that it's changed my life for the better in ways I ca't even being to explain. Stick with it and you'll see. A few things that have helped me immensely in this process:

Read the book Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat Zinn His focus is helping people in pain but his techniques for practicing mindfulness meditation are priceless.

Establish a time of day and commit to it, even if it's just for 10-15 minutes.

Create a space for you, shut the phones off and tell everyone you're not be disturbed.

Just do it! ;0

Tricia

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Permalink Reply by Mary Johnson on November 14, 2009 at 2:15pm

Tricia - I'm going to buy Zinn's book today. I'm always looking for ways to relieve FMS and nerve damage pain, especially since I'm highy allergic to most pain medications. Thank you so much for your post.

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Permalink Reply by Triciabee on November 14, 2009 at 2:25pm

No problem Mary. I think you'll get a out of Zinn's book. It's older and could use some editing but he really offers some profound insight. I suffer nerve damage too and the mindfulness stuff helped me a lot.

Good luck!

tricia

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Permalink Reply by Justin Miller on November 24, 2009 at 6:18pm

Hi, I think a great meditation practice would be to practice subtle action. Deepak Chopra wrote an article on Oprah.com, and basically you quiet yourself within, probably by focusing on each single breath, without straining yourself, trying to relax, and then you focus on compassion, peace, happyness, or love, and truly be convinced those things will come from within you, agian, without straining, and then they do. Then you can give it away! I find what is interesting is that when I meditated I naturally just gave to people. I think that many spiritual practices lead to the same source.
Love, Justin
:)

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Permalink Reply by Mary Johnson on November 24, 2009 at 7:37pm

Thank you for this, Justin. I have an issue with breathing and need to focus on it more. I will practice your recommendation, per Deepak Chopra.

I love you!

Mary

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Permalink Reply by Christa on November 15, 2009 at 2:44am

I've had the same issue with pain meds and meditation has been a huge gift to me. I find the bathtub to be a great place to practice! ( ;

And it is ok to fall asleep... still very helpful!

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Permalink Reply by Mary Johnson on November 24, 2009 at 7:38pm

We hae a jacuzzi tub upstairs and I rarely use it - is that crazy or what? Thanks for the reminder. Tomorrow, I will relax in the tub.

Mary

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Permalink Reply by Angel Stork - 29 Gifts Educator on November 30, 2009 at 8:47pm

I love all the wonderful responses you have received to your question. I can't resist adding my two cents.

A couple of simple ideas to try:
1. Find or make 5 to 15 minutes once or twice per day. With "three children and a partner" and all the rest of life going on, the idea of finding 30 minutes to one hour may be daunting at first. You may want to get up 15 minutes earlier and sit with your tea; and I definitely agree to waiting for the kids to go to bed before you try an evening meditation.
2. Focus on your breath. Breathe freely in and out; even out your breathing--no gulping or collapsing. Breathe slowly and deeply, with your attention on the breath only. This is a simple way to train your attention to leave the mind's busy-ness and attend to one thing.
3. When you feel yourself relaxing (deep diaphragmatic breathing will do that), attend to parts of your body that may be in a tense posture (raised shoulders, jutting or clenching jaw, neck out of alignment, low back holding, etc) by 'breathing into' the area, then releasing the tension with your breath and by shifting your position to one of greater ease.
4. As your body becomes even more relaxed, expand your awareness (when attention is at rest, awareness can expand) to your whole body, whole self, your life, silence, your family, the room, the earth, your work or whatever you want to 'be with'. I find it helpful to say "hello" to myself in my own head--it helps to center me and remind me of where I am. Saying hello to self can also allow you to be with your self while you notice these aforementioned aspects of self and life.

There are many styles of meditation, many traditions, beliefs and protocols. Some of my best meditation experiences are the ones outside the boxes of style and postural tradition. Practice make permanent; regular meditation practice begets tolerance for the quiet times. Inner quiet does not really depend upon quiet external environments, but it is helpful in the beginning to limit the distractions.

There are many techniques that can be applied during meditation. Grounding, centering, heart opening and so forth. Grounding will help you focus and be present with yourself. Sitting quietly and looking out the window, taking a stroll in nature, resting the eyes on a candle flame or beam of sunlight, watching the clouds--these are all forms of relaxed state of focus--meditation or contemplation. Keep it simple and find out what suits you best.

Many blessings,
Angel

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