A meditation practice can help you reduce stress, develop inner calm, and contribute towards better mental health and improved relationships. It’s easier to cope with the difficulties of daily life when you’re feeling happier or more positive. But what is meditation and what are the recommended practices?
About Meditation
Meditation has been around for thousands of years, with the first documented evidence of meditation practices on wall art in India between 5,000 – 3,500 BC. Its focus was on spiritual enlightenment. Today, scientific evidence highlights the important benefits of closing our eyes and relinquishing our thoughts, in particular, as a way to de-stress and relax.
Depending on the class or type of meditation, the practices will often involve guided meditation focusing on a mantra, image or your breath (or being aware of an attribute that resembles inner peace, love, or both). It is a mind-body technique that involves focused attention.
The idea is to quiet the monkey mind. A Buddhist concept that explains how our mind is always active; jumping from one thought to the next. Therefore, the aim is to reduce our random, racing thoughts and calm the mind (finding a sense of peacefulness), and be in the present moment, which is mindfulness – an important component of meditation.
Some Recommended Meditation Practices
Buddhism
Meditation is a unique journey for each individual. So finding what resonates with you is important. Buddha (which means ‘to awaken’ in Sanskrit) taught the way to lasting happiness; his teachings are called ‘the Dharma,’ which can be applied to daily life. And it is believed that through meditation if our mind is free from worries and mental discomfort, we will experience true happiness. For a Buddhist teaching by Venerable Nick Keomahavong visit here. And for a 10-minute guided meditation video for beginners, visit here.
Sahaja Yoga Meditation
If you’re looking for something where perhaps you can explore your chakra system and connect to the Divine energy, Sahaja Yoga might be a good option. As with Buddhism, ancient scriptures ground this practice. Being a powerful meditation ritual it’s worth sticking to the traditions and well-known sources. An obvious plus here is, Sahaja Yoga classes are free and are offered worldwide. Visit the Sahaja Yoga Meditation website
Calm App
Or you might like to head to Calm, one of the most popular apps for meditation, some of which can be accessed on YouTube. Their website states, “Calm is the # 1 mental health app designed to help you manage stress, sleep better, and live a happier, healthier life. Our research-based tools help you build life-changing habits to support your mental health.” Try out one of Calm’s 10-minute videos here
It’s Your Journey Towards Happiness
From Buddhist classes to Sahaja Yoga, meditation apps, temples, churches, monasteries and ashrams, you can create your own little sanctuary at home (or develop inner peace anywhere), however you choose to cultivate stillness and connect to yourself, the journey is uniquely yours. Even dedicating 5 minutes a day can help you to feel relaxed and composed (or meditating between 15 – 20 minutes a day is also recommended). But practice makes a difference, which can create a calmer way to live, especially amidst the busyness of life that can sometimes overwhelm us, ultimately, making it easier to find inner peace, love and happiness.
What research has to say:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4895748/
Rumi’s heartfelt journey on stillness:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkHypImEY84
CBN say: This is the perfect time to meditate: says mindfulness expert
