Hi everyone! How are you doing? Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you the main character in your story?
This week’s topic is meditation.
Most people are familiar with Vedic meditation, a method of meditation that involves the silent repetition of a mantra for up to 20 minutes. Often referred to as an “automatic self-transcending technique”, Vedic meditation allows the mind to settle. This practice results in a drop in metabolic rate and a change in brain and stress chemistry. Cortisol is lowered and serotonin and dopamine levels rise. Vedic meditation also leads to an increase in oxygen and blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain that controls clear decision-making, and a rise in alpha brain waves, which are brain waves characteristic of relaxation and reduced mental activity. These conformations result in the transcendental state that characterizes meditation: a fine balance between alertness and deep rest.
Now, I am not going to lie and tell you that I have been meditating for years and that the practice has completely transformed my life. To be honest, I’ve tried traditional meditation a few times over the past couple of years and it hasn’t clicked for me because I have difficulty slowing down and staying still for an extended period of time. However, the definition of meditation is as follows: “to engage in contemplation or reflection”. So despite my inability to sit and deep breathe, there are other activities that I enjoy that fall under the umbrella of “meditation”.
Meditation, for me, comes in the form of cleaning, doing yoga, and taking long showers. While these activities may not align with the traditional perception of meditation, they offer me a moment of peace where I can reflect and engage in thoughtful self-dialogue.
Andy Puddicombe, the co-founder of Headspace, an app that specializes in meditation, is a former Buddhist monk. According to Puddicombe, “When I went into training in the Tibetan tradition, I learnt a whole new philosophy–about how you approach life and meditation, how you integrate the practice into your everyday life. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting; meditate when you’re doing the dishes, when you’re looking after your children, when you’re working—anybody and everyone can do this”.
According to the Headspace website, “Meditation isn’t about becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. It’s about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective. You’re not trying to turn off your thoughts or feelings. You’re learning to observe them without judgment. And eventually, you may start to better understand them as well”.
There is not a right or wrong way to meditate. Integrating meditation into your daily routine means finding a way that works for you. For some people, like me, a more active approach to meditation works. On the contrary, Katie Miller, one of MFPA’s co-Presidents, has engaged in more traditional types of meditation…
After a long day of studying, sometimes I feel as though the only thing running through my mind is how many more hours I need to be studying, when my next exams are, or preparing for my next lecture. By the end of the day, my mind often feels cluttered. I have found that for me, meditation and breathing exercises often help to de-clutter my mind, so I can re-gain a sense of self-awareness. I started using Headspace a few years ago because I saw it as an easy way to get a few minutes of breathing into my day to help get out of study-mode and into self-awareness mode! Taking even just five minutes out of my day to do a guided meditation has always helped to take some of the stress and weight off my shoulders, so I can continue to grow and be the best person I can be.
If you want to try meditation, and I highly suggest you do, here are some resources to get you started…
Meditation Apps:
Aura
Waking Up
Beeja
Headspace
Smiling Mind
10% Happier
Inscape
Sattva
Freedom Guru
Apps to Mitigate Stress and Anxiety:
Calm
Pacifica
Happify
Talkspace
Happy Not Perfect
What’s Up?
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