MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS
The physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of meditation have been well documented for thousands of years. Scientists, philosophers, spiritualists, and religious leaders have heralded the power of witnessing awareness. They may refer to it as deep reflection, being present, mindfulness, contemplation, prayer, meditation, or simply relaxing, but it’s all the same thing—disconnecting from the activity and drifting to the space between our thoughts.
Practiced regularly, meditation can increase immune function, decrease pain and inflammation, increase positive emotion and decrease depression, anxiety and stress, increase focus and attention span, improve memory, broaden your perspective, deepen emotional intelligence and increase overall well-being.
"Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better, it’s about befriending who we are."
Ani Pema Chodron
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IS MEDITATION ABOUT EMPTYING MY MIND?
No. In fact, when you start meditating, you'll discover just how full your mind can be. Meditation is about learning not to become attached to the workings of the mind but rather to bear witness to and observe it and all other aspects of being present.
HOW LONG DO I NEED TO MEDITATE FOR?
Meditation is a process of exploration to see what unfolds for you. If you’re just beginning a meditation practice, you might choose to meditate for just five minutes once or twice a day, and increase the time by five minutes a day until you reach a length of time that you can commit to on a daily basis. For many, a good time frame is between 15-45 minutes. If you sit each day, you’ll gradually experience noticeable benefits and be more inclined to increase your sitting time.
WHICH POSTURE SHOULD I USE?
I'm a firm believer that there's no one way to meditate, but rather as many ways as there are individuals. It can be done sitting, standing, walking, or lying down and I'd encourage you to experiment with different postures, knowing that one posture is not better than another. The important thing is to respect your body and to do your meditation in a way that balances relaxation and alertness.
DO I NEED TO BE RELIGIOUS TO MEDITATE?
Meditation has a rich heritage, deeply rooted in spiritual teachings and tradition, yet you need not be spiritual or religious to benefit from it. It can be practised as a secular activity or as a spiritual one.