What is Meditation?
Meditation is a term with many meanings. In Sanskrit, meditation means ‘becoming familiar with oneself’. Meditation originated in Eastern Cultures many centuries ago. In the West, meditation has only been popular in the last 70 years. Some people see meditation as a means to mentally visualize or concentrate on something. Others regard meditation as a method of transforming the mind and the heart. Despite its various definitions and methods (i.e. guided meditation, mindfulness meditation, chakras meditation etc), meditation has been proven to reduce stress and visits to the doctor as it improves quality of life and brings about mental peace and tranquility. It is a method that a layperson of any age can use without having to undergo specific training. Meditation leads to ‘thoughtless awareness’, a state the mind can reach when stressful thoughts are neutralized. The important thing to remember is that in order to achieve ‘thoughtless awareness’, meditation should be effortless.
My Experience with Meditation
In my late twenties, I used to sit on the floor with my legs crossed and my eyes closed for twenty minutes a day. No one had instructed me to do so, and I had no knowledge that simply ‘being’ for twenty minutes could qualify as meditation. I guess my body needed relaxation, and I instinctively ‘listened’ to my body and complied to this need. Looking back, I remember that after the twenty minutes were over, I always felt re-energized and happier. For reasons I cannot explain, I stopped this habit of relaxing for twenty minutes a day only to pick it up again twenty years later. In my forties, I began to meditate with a group of women once a week. We would pray for peace and harmony and do a guided meditation together. In addition to the group meditation, I also began to meditate alone at home on a daily basis, using various guided meditations from youtube. To this date, meditation is a part of my life daily. Without a doubt, I can attest that my emotional, mental and physical health has greatly improved due to my daily meditation practice.
During our meditation sessions, you will have the opportunity to learn more about meditation and choose the practice that suits you best.
