yoga Cloud

One of my goals for this year is to add daily meditation to my schedule.  Meditation has been used for thousands of years, in many cultures.  Those who practice meditation on a regular basis, find numerous positive results.  The benefits go beyond simply getting in touch with your inner self.  In fact, it has actually been show to change the way the brain and body function.

I have dabbled with meditation, and had great success with guided imagery for relaxation.  The beauty of meditation is that the benefits:

•  can be attained in very short sessions,
• can be achieved at anytime,
• can be attained anywhere, and
• are free.

What is Meditation?

There are different opinions about what constitutes meditation.  Some believe that meditation is not an activity at all. Osho, “an enlightened mystic from India” said, “Don’t do anything – no repetition of mantra, no repetition of the name of god – just watch whatever the mind is doing. Don’t disturb it, don’t prevent it, don’t repress it; don’t do anything at all on your part. You just be a watcher, and the miracle of watching is meditation.”  This is easier said than done for many of us in western cultures.  We are rewarded for constant action and production.  We spend very little time witnessing anything.

Others practice meditation by focusing on the sounds of their own breath, or by repeating a word or words.  Some practices even include movement.  What seems most important about meditation, is not how you achieve a meditative state, but that you get there.   Some types of meditation are:

• guided meditation
• mantra meditation
• mindfulness meditation
• qigong. (CHEE-gung)
• tai chi
• transcendental meditation
• yoga

For more information on the types of meditation listed above please visit the following link: .

I do better with a guided process.  Without guidance, I find it very difficult to quiet my mental chatter.  I start making chore lists, weekend plans, or doing financial budgeting in my head.  With a guide, I have something to focus on.  I can focus on the guide’s words, and/or music instead of my own internal ramblings.

Mental Health Benefits

Meditation is becoming increasingly mainstream and is an incredibly powerful way to manage stress.  I’ve found that since I have taken on a caregiving role, I have a much stronger stress response than I did prior to my husband’s accident.  The slightest stress seems greatly magnified.

The good news is that meditation can counteract some of these strong stress responses.  In fact, “tests using the most sophisticated imaging techniques suggest that it can actually reset the brain, changing the point at which a traffic jam, for instance, sets the blood boiling.”  This research suggests that my brain can be reset to have a more normal response, rather than my body reacting to every stressor as if it were a catastrophe.  This seems worth a small investment of time.

Physical Benefits

In addition to counteracting stress and improving mental health, meditation has a number of physical benefits.  One of my great fears since becoming a caregiver has been having a heart attack.  It may be entirely unfounded, but prolonged stress can cause all kinds of problems in the body.   “Studies have shown that, among other benefits, meditation can help reverse heart disease…  It can reduce pain and enhance the body’s immune system, enabling it to better fight disease.”

I have found that within the first minute or two of trying to meditate, the muscles in my body start to relax, and I am able to breath more easily.  I’ve also found that during guided meditation I may actually fall asleep.  This has been a wonderful “side-effect” during the times that I’m struggling with insomnia.  Some experts suggest a seated position to avoid falling asleep.  Personally, I will take my rest and relaxation however it comes.

How to Meditate

I have purchased a few DVD’s to guide me through this process.  Products from the company Gaiam tend to be very straight-forward and easy to follow.  There are also some nice free resources online.  The following link provides simple, clear, and easy to follow information for beginners: .  There are also some nice hints and tips included in the linked article.

Meditation for Children

After I have established my own practice, I hope to include my daughter.  At four years old, she is already a veteran of the cargiving scene.  I think it’s important for her to have a way to process information in a constructive way.

Due to her age and inherent high energy level, we may find that she does better if there is movement involved.  Qigong. (CHEE-gung) is one method that maybe more appropriate for children and adults who struggle to sit still.  She has already really enjoyed her children’s yoga video.

It’s important to keep in mind that children should not be expected to meditate for anywhere near as long as an adult.  A child may only participate for a couple of minutes.

The following link provides a nice article on starting meditation with children: .

Meditation is a tool that can get you closer to the goal of optimal health.  So take some time to connect with yourself!

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