All meditations have a parallel path through an experience of calm relaxation and peace. Guided Meditation is especially helpful for those new to meditation, as your guide leads the way through a heart-centered experience. The gains are numerous and substantial.
– Improve patience
– Broaden creativity
– Soothe negative emotions
– Reduce stress & anxiety better sleep
– Improved physical wellbeing
There are many different forms of Meditation and different interpretations and practices based on varied religions and groups that practice meditation. Here, we’ll focus specifically on Vipassana meditation through the process of mindfulness, the most popular meditation practiced in the west. The origins of Vipassana or Mindfulness are Buddhist. However, meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in different cultures all over the world. Some form of meditation is practiced in nearly every religion in the world but meditation can and is practiced by many people independent of religion or spirituality.
Unlike the popular misconception that it involves spacing out or going into a trance, Mindfulness is the practice of deliberate awareness. It’s the opposite of not experiencing. The result of that awareness and insight is freedom. Freedom of mind from things like hatred, jealousy, greed, anxiety, fear and so on. Mindfulness happens in the now, not before, not after. Mindfulness practice can be done anywhere, as long as the body is without tension.
Your meditation teacher will help you begin and teach you methods and exercises for growing your practice.
Initially, you’ll notice more superficial (but not unimportant) results like relaxation and reduction of stress and anxiety. As your practice deepens over time so will the results. Beginning and sustaining your meditation practice will take time, effort and commitment. The rewards are substantial and many. Meditation is a practice. Not only does it become easier over time, but the benefits become more substantial the longer one practices. You can trust that you will not be the same person once your practice takes hold. Meditation eases stress, creates relaxation and peace of mind. It helps lessen anxiety, improves sleep and provides an overall sense of safety and wellbeing.
A daily practice of mindfulness has been shown to improve nearly every aspect of a person’s life. Relationships become deeper and more meaningful, understanding and compassion are heightened. And all positive aspects of work and leadership are enhanced. There is an inherent sense of purpose that is difficult to quantify, but it’s the understanding that comes with non-judgment and peace of mind.
Welcome to the world of meditation! By developing your own meditation practice, you can unlock a multitude of benefits for your mind, body, and overall well-being. Whether you’re a beginner or have dabbled in meditation before, we can help you establish and nurture your personalized meditation routine.
Enjoy the Journey: Remember that meditation is a personal exploration and a continuous journey. Embrace the process, savor the moments of stillness and self-discovery, and celebrate the positive impacts it brings to your life.
Start your own meditation practice today, and unlock the transformative power of stillness and self-awareness. With dedication and an open heart, you can create a practice that nourishes your mind, body, and soul.
Many people enjoy the community and shared experience of group meditation. It offers many benefits and whether or not you’ll participate in group meditation is a personal preference and choice. Just like some people find it easier to stick to their exercise routine if they join a gym or walk with a friend, meditating with others can offer these same benefits. A shared belief and desire reinforced by group practice.
Meditation at its core is a deeply solo experience, but the practice itself can enhance a person’s experience both personally and socially. A great deal of research has been done in the past few decades about the effects of group meditation. In many circles its believed that the group experience harnesses an amplified energy that ultimately creates a more profound experience for each singular participant.
Group meditations can be done live, online, on apps and in large and small groups. Finding your group can be life altering.
Imagine giving your child the tools to self-soothe and reduce stress. Yes, children have stress and are often unable to make sense of the emotions they experience. Meditation and Breath Work is extremely beneficial to children. The earlier they begin, the more benefit they gain. Please contact me if you’re interested in beginning a meditation practice for your child.
It’s never too late to learn a new skill and re-ignite passions. Older adults are capable of contributing enormous societal benefits and experiencing transformation in exciting and meaningful ways. Many older people are discovering a new practice of meditation or continuing a life-long practice. As older adults juggle the life changes that are unique to them (both body and mind), mindfulness offers a life-altering trajectory shift. An understanding of one’s self that can be especially vibrant and powerful later in life. The experience of shedding judgment, and finding peace and understanding can be swift and striking. The transition from working careers to retirement can often leave older adults with feelings of lost relevance and lost purpose.
Research has shown that a mindfulness practice offers a wide range of benefits, emotionally, psychologically and physically. Meditation for older adults should be a given.
If we’re lucky, aging is an inevitable part of our life journey and if we’re mindful, it can be an exciting and wonderous experience.
The feeling a person gets when creating is unmatched. Even someone who considers themselves the most unartistic person might remember the sense of easy abandon that comes with doodling.
There’s a certain freedom of intention that’s hard to match in any other experience. There’s been research about the relationship between creation and our mental and emotional health. Somewhere between kindergarten and adult life, most people forget what it felt like to draw that crayon picture, smash your fingers in a clump of clay and stick magazine pictures on construction paper. Just watch any child presenting their parent with their masterpiece and you can see the magic behind it.
The idea of art as meditation draws heavily on this inherent human ability. There is an instinctual need for people to create on one level or another. Meditation Art is unique in that it requires no intellectual commitment. Although it is doing. The exercise is being. When a person allows their mind to be still while their hands work busily to paint, draw, sculpt or build, a special thing happens. The value or reward is in the process and it’s resulting life energy. It’s unimportant if your work of art is a messy, non-sensical hodge podge or even if it’s quite the masterpiece. Literally anyone can practice art meditation and benefit from its many rewards.
At Blue Leaf Coaching, our professional coaches are here to support your goals and guide you through an amazing journey of self-discovery. Whether you’re transitioning to a new role, a new home or a new you, our free discovery consultation helps you explore your options.
© 2023 Sharon Renee
