On Meditation.
By: Priya Friday-Pabros
There's a lot of talk about meditation these days. Corporate giants are providing meditation pods for their employees as a way to maximize productivity through greater brain power. Apps are being created to help people start and maintain a meditation practice to bring peace of mind in our crazy times. There are guided meditations being offered online allowing people to take stress breaks whenever they need them. In some ways meditation is “trending". Meditation is a powerful tool and when we learn to do it properly it can change our lives dramatically.
An important thing to know is that meditation won't fix us - because we're not broken. A distracted, unfocused mind is an unfortunate side effect of this age of information overload and digital preoccupation in which we live. We can feel confused, distressed, and exhausted. But that can change. We can change.
Meditation practice consists of a natural and effective set techniques used to master the mind. It has been used with great benefit by millions of people for centuries. It has been proven to increase peace of mind, promote positive neuroplasticity (the ability of the brain to modify its connections or re-wire itself), and reduce all forms of stress. An additional bonus is enhanced awareness of our inner dialogue, the self-talk that shapes our view of ourselves, of others, and the world around us. This awareness blossoms into self-empowerment. Meditation in general improves the quality of our lives and awakens the best in us.
An optimal meditation session has four core stages.
Foster: Establish a conducive environment, both externally and internally. This includes posture, breath awareness, and internalization of attention.
Focus: Use a concentration technique to focus attention on a single point.
Flow: Let go into the peak experiences of meditation and Oneness.
Finish: Consciously bring your attention back to mind and body with a sense of appreciation, renewal, and empowerment.
(Excerpted from my teacher's blog post on the Four Stages of Meditation Practice by Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian)
Meditation comes out of the larger philosophy and practice of yoga which is rich with tools for living our best lives. Many are familiar with yoga postures which are only one part of the vast system of Yoga. The asanas or postures bring us into alignment with our body vehicle. The meditation component of yoga purifies and clarifies the mental field, resulting in the transformation of habitual, conditioned reactions into purposeful, soul-inspired responses. A third component of yoga is purposeful living which lies at the heart of yoga and sets us up for success and fulfillment in all things. This trifecta of practices supports us in being authentically available to the experience of this precious human life.
Learn to meditate at our monthly Meditation Basics Class.
Meditate with others during one of our Online Group Sessions.