I've been writing about my Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course, of which meditation was a significant practice, to address life's stresses, depression, anxiety, physical and emotional pain. Scientific studies have shown that our brains respond to meditation by building new neural pathways that calm the monkey mind of worry and stress. So, actually, just sitting quietly for some period of time each day, being aware of your breath moving in and out, watching your thoughts come and go like clouds floating across the sky, is actually the whole point of Yoga and a deeply healing practice.
Why don't more people do it?
Maybe because it's got a "blissed out", hippie-vibe reputation in the West that is easy to mock. And who wants to be laughed at? We are a busy, productive, striving culture that has no time and no patience for foolishly sitting still and not doing anything!
Also, at least initially, it's sorta hard. Everyone thinks the point is to "clear your mind", resulting in no thoughts whatsoever. Nope. That's not it. In fact, that's pretty impossible. As long as we have human brains, human brains will do what they are created to do...think! They will ruminate about the past, plan for the future, tell us stories, tell us lies, distract, and demand. They are unruly two-year-olds! The point of meditating is to "quiet" the mind...give it a "resting time" where all that activity at least slows down and whispers more softly.
We don't even have to listen; we can just acknowledge with a labeling technique what is going on. If I catch myself planning a party while meditating, I just say to myself, "Thinking...planning" and go back to my breathing. If I catch myself wondering what time it is and how much longer do I have to sit here, I say to myself, "Impatient" and go back to my breath. The trick is not to attach to what the brain is doing. There will always be thoughts...but you don't have to follow the story they are telling. Interrupt with acknowledging and moving back to the breath. It takes lots of practice. Some days I'm an expert. More often I am far, far from it. But I keep at it.
Meditation is becoming pretty popular these days, so some of the "hippie" stigma is abating since science has taken up the study of meditation and found some quantifiable benefits to practicing. Even the Seattle Seahawks incorporate meditation into their football program! Books, articles, classes, courses, lectures...you can find more information on meditation that you could imagine with just a quick Google Search.
There are literally no excuses for NOT giving it a try. Yoga Circle offers special workshops on meditation, in addition to meditation being incorporated into the physical asana practices we do. A fabulous app you can download is "Insight Timer" that has literally hundreds of types of meditations offered by various teachers. A beginner book I particularly like is "10% Happier" by Dan Harris, a TV journalist who found meditation after an on-air panic attack and struggle with substance abuse. It is the perfect book for skeptics and written with humor and insight and down-to-earth tips on just trying to get only "10% happier" through meditation.
Come to class a bit early, sit quietly on your mat and let your breath be your focus. See if that has any impact on your practice. Do the dance of breath with movement and stillness. Rest in savasana with a mind as at ease as your body. Give it a try. No excuses.
Namaste, donnajurene
Photo credit: pixabay.com
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