Newton's law of inertia tells us that an object in motion stays in
motion and that an object at rest tends to stay at rest. This very
accurately describes the mind. In our 24/7 world, we are constantly
processing.
So many things vying for our attention. So many choices to be made. So
many appointments to keep. So many tools to use. It stands to reason
then that even when we aren't being bombarded with information, our mind
is still spinning at a dizzying pace. But if we embrace the other
aspect of this truth, we can find a way to rest the mind and maybe even
carry that stillness with us throughout our day. This is where
meditation comes in.
Meditation is a somewhat loaded word. For some it conjures '60s era
hippies all sitting lotus-style in a patchouli filed room. For others,
it seems nearly impossible with statements ringing through the head
like: "There's no way I can meditate," "I could never sit still that
long," "My mind moves too much to be able to meditate," "I don't have
time." The beauty of meditation is that there are many flavors. A
little bit of education could be all that's needed to move past some of
these hurdles to experience all that mediation has to offer.
So, first let's talk about what meditation is.
At the most basic level, meditation is a practice in mindfulness.
The goal is not necessarily to erase all thoughts from the mind, but
instead to quiet or still the mind. The mind thinks, there is no
getting away from that. The idea is to take the mind's eye from the
blurring thoughts of the day or a project that needs to be done and turn
it on something else. What else, you ask? Well this largely depends
on what kind of meditation you practice. In some cases it may be a
visual stimulus like a candle flame. In others it may be more of a
thought form like a silently floating mantra. Or perhaps it's auditory,
with either a guided experience or just the sounds of nature happening
around you. In yet still other forms, movement is the central focus. And
of course, there are other sensory practices that may use the senses of
smell or taste to help elevate you from the daily grind.
Perhaps this now becomes even more complicated...what kind of
meditation should I practice? Well, that's the easy part. You can try
all of them to see what fits you best. While there are some types of
meditation that encourage things to be done in a certain way, ultimately
there is no hard and fast rule. You could do a different practice
everyday if that what feels good. The best practice is one that you
will do regularly. So, my advice would be to figure out what will keep
you coming back. After all, there are many benefits to meditating.
However, you only experience the full extent of those benefits if you
practice it regularly. Simply knowing how to meditate is not enough to
reap the rewards. Some of the cited benefits of meditation include:
less overall stress and quicker recovery from stress, more energy,
clarity and better performance; less reactive behavior; better sleep;
lower blood pressure; enhanced creativity, memory and IQ; increased
intuition; overall better health and feelings of peace and wellbeing.
The second most common question is in regard to some of the how of
meditation such as position and length of time. Again, in some cases,
this will be somewhat driven by the type of meditation you do.
For example, in a movement form of meditation such as walking, yoga or
tai qi
your position is dictated by what you will be doing. Another example
in say a guided meditation is that the length of the meditation will be
as long as the guided experience you select. However, if you are doing a
visual, mantra or self-directed meditation, you are the boss.
Regarding length, a few minutes may do the trick or after doing
meditation for a period of time a few hours may be in order. (Reminder:
working in your garden or walking through the woods can be a form of
meditation with the intention of mindfulness.) My own practice consists
mainly of a mantra or breath-based meditation of 20-30 minutes once or
twice a day.
However, if I take my practice on the road and let nature be my muse,
the time varies greatly depending on how I feel. The point is that
this practice is for you, so make it your own. Some days you may be
rushed for time or tempted to skip it; perhaps try just a few minutes to
de-excite your body and mind. On other days, you will crave that
stillness and will have to set a little timer to make sure you can get
the rest of your day done.
Meditation is a gift. It is easy to learn, inexpensive and provides
so many returns for time invested. In today's society, this is no
longer practiced by the new-age societal fringe, but a practice that is
recommended and practiced by even the most traditional medical doctors.
After doing a little investigation, you'll see that all types of
people practice meditation and many more would benefit from it. Just
remember, this is not about running from the problems and issues of the
day or spending all hours of the day in a deep meditative bliss. It is
about being able to function and thrive in today's fast paced society.
What you learn in your meditations will begin to work its way in to
all aspects of your day. You will find in a short time that you're able
to perform at higher level, less effected by the inevitable stress that
life brings and do it all with a little more joy and happiness in your
heart.
Acupuncture Today
February, 2011, Vol. 12, Issue 02
mind-3
