Meditation – Page 3

5 More Meditation Books to Deal With Real Life Issues

Meditation comes in different shapes and sizes, but the goal is the same: to find stillness and peace, balance and center, and have an overall feeling of wellness.

Meditation is second nature to some people, but for others, a clear introduction to the practice and guidance in execution is necessary, hence the article I wrote some time ago: 5 Meditation Books for Beginners.

Related: Meditation for Pain

If you’ve gone through those books, or you feel that you need more information, here are more meditation books that can take your practice to the next level. [Read more…] about 5 More Meditation Books to Deal With Real Life Issues

Originally posted on April 26, 2016 @ 10:30 am

7 Secrets to Traversing a Spiritual Path

Spirit, Spirituality

What is spirituality for you?

For most, it’s the essence of happiness and success; it’s the path which needs to be travelled, when one wants to be one with the universe and the higher being. Does that mean you too, like some of our well-renowned predecessors, have to seek divinity in order to transcend onto the path of spirituality? While the answer might seem very straightforward and simple, the mantra behind the progress is governed by the experiences of your life. [Read more…] about 7 Secrets to Traversing a Spiritual Path

Originally posted on April 12, 2016 @ 8:00 am

5 Best Meditation Books for Beginners

Meditation, Mind

A while back, we talked about guided meditation and how it can help you, especially if you don’t find it easy to control your mind – which is normal when you start practicing. We also shared some apps designed to ease you into regular meditation.

Today, let’s look at some books that you can read to help you on your meditation journey. [Read more…] about 5 Best Meditation Books for Beginners

Originally posted on October 28, 2015 @ 8:30 am

15 Quotes About Meditation

Meditation, Mind

We all know that meditation is good for the health – physical and mental. This sweeping statement is backed by both anecdotal and scientific evidence.

Sometimes, though, we just need some simple words of wisdom to help encourage meditation. Here are some of the best meditation quotes that will not only urge you to meditate but also help you understand the concept more clearly. More so, these quotes will make you think and perhaps see meditation in a more practical way instead of an esoteric practice.

Best meditation quotes

1. As gold purified in a furnace loses its impurities and achieves its own true nature, the mind gets rid of the impurities of the attributes of delusion, attachment and purity through meditation and attains Reality. – Adi Shankara

2. If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath. – Amit Ray

3. Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor. – Thich Nhat Hanh

4. Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better, it’s about befriending who we are. – Ani Pema Chodron

5. Meditation is not a means to an end. It is both the means and the end. – Jiddu Krishnamurti

6. Meditation brings wisdom; lack of mediation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom. – Buddha

7. The soul always knows what to do to heal itself. The challenge is to silence the mind. – Caroline Myss

8. The things that trouble our spirits are within us already. In meditation, we must face them, accept them, and set them aside one by one. – Cristopher L Bennett

9. Mental problems feed on the attention that you give them. The more you worry about them, the stronger they become. If you ignore them, they lose their power and finally vanish. – Annamalai Swami

10. Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It is a way of entering into the quiet that is already there – buried under the 50,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day. – Deepak Chopra

11. We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for meditation and true friendship. – C.S. Lewis

12. Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man. – Benjamin Franklin

13. The whole of meditation practice can be essentialized into these 3 crucial points: Bring your mind home. Release. And relax! – Sogyal Rinpoche

14. All of man’s difficulties are caused by his inability to sit, quietly, in a room by himself. – Blaise Pascal

15. Work is not always required. There is such a thing as sacred idleness. – George MacDonald

Don’t miss: Feel the Meditation Space

Originally posted on September 15, 2015 @ 8:00 am

Does Yoga Make You Lose Weight?

Body, Movement & Fitness, Yoga

The founders of the ancient practice of yoga probably didn’t think just how far its reach would become. Today, yoga is practiced all over the world, although its popularity in the U.S. has skyrocketed only recently, with 21 million Americans saying they’ve tried yoga in the past year.

Yoga has become an industry – and a huge one at that. With yoga centers charging fees, clothing companies creating special lines for yoga, books, apps – you name it, you can find it.

That may be distasteful if you think about it, but it’s the reality, and it helps people who turn to yoga for their own reasons.

In an old post of ours, “What to Remember About Yoga“, we highlighted yoga’s focus on holistic health. It’s all about the mind and body.

People do have their own reasons for doing yoga, and its health benefits are numerous.

Better blood circulation, which can lead to lower blood pressure
Lower pulse rate, which means a stronger heart
Gastrointestinal functions are improved (especially with those who already have issues in this area)
Pain tolerance is increased and yoga has been known to help ease chronic pain
Balanced metabolism

But what about losing weight? Is yoga weight loss real? Or is it just a myth?

Different poses have their own purposes. Some help you to relax and meditate. Others strengthen your core and target other areas of your body. So if you think about it, you do burn calories while practicing yoga.

But how much can yoga contribute to weight loss?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t straightforward. Studies have shown that yoga in itself does not burn as many calories as cardiovascular activities such as walking or jogging.

However, it does have the potential to burn a huge chunk of calories, depending on factors such as your weight, the length of the session, and the type of yoga you practice. Based on a Livestrong article, “Hatha yoga…burns about 298 calories in one hour for a 155 pound person reports Harvard Health…while Ashtanga facilitates a higher calorie burn — as much as 362 calories in an hour.”

With those numbers, we can say that yoga weight loss is not a myth.

However, I think that if you decide to practice yoga, weight loss shouldn’t be the main reason. Its other benefits such as peace and centering yourself is just as important – maybe more.

Beginner I may be, but I already am experiencing all the benefits of yoga – plus some weight loss.

Back to you: are you practicing yoga or plan to? Why are you doing it?

Also read: Why Yoga Is Good for the Mind and Body

Originally posted on July 21, 2015 @ 8:00 am

What Guided Meditation Is and Its Benefits

Meditation

Meditation is a popular practice in many parts of the world today, but its origins date back to approximately 5,000 to 3,500 BCE when archeologists discovered signs of meditation in wall art.

Indian scriptures, as early as 3,000 years ago, highlight meditation techniques, and as time passed, other religions and sects developed their versions of meditation.

Today, from the east to the west, people practice meditation for various reasons, one of which is to attain spiritual development.

Guided meditation

Guided meditation is no different from regular meditation except that there is someone else leading the session. This is particularly useful for beginners who may have difficulty meditating. As the name says, guided meditation needs a guide to help an individual or group to reach a deeper level of consciousness and reap the benefits of the practice.

One of the most common ways you can practice guided meditation is to go to a yoga center or a similar place. They offer sessions or classes for guided meditation. If you’re fortunate enough, you can even find a personal guide for your meditation session.

Source

During a guided meditation session, the narrator will start with asking you to find a comfortable position – sitting or lying down. He or she will then verbally help you go through visualization processes with the aim of relaxing your body and your mind. As you go along, you will get more and more relaxed, and your mind will become calmer.

How can guided meditation help?

Guided meditation is not much different from meditating on your own. It’s the presence of a guide that helps you focus, with the ultimate goal of you being able to – at some point – meditate on your own.

Guided meditation benefits are numerous, the main one being targeted at those who struggle with sitting still and quieting their mind. If you find it difficult just to sit there and find inner peace on your own, then guided meditation will make it much easier.

There are many variations of guided meditation, most of them with specific goals.

Here are several examples:

Guided meditation for relaxation
Guided meditation to relieve work stress
Guided meditation to quit smoking
Guided meditation to start the day
Guided meditation for “grounding” yourself
Guided meditation for self-healing
Guided meditation for coping with divorce or breakups
Guided meditation for forgiveness
Guided meditation for dealing with guilt.

And the list goes on and on.

Whether you are going through a rough patch in your life, or you simply want to improve your current state of mind, meditation is one of the most effective things to do. And, if you are not comfortable meditating on your own, or you are uninitiated in the practice, then guided meditation can help you achieve your goals in ways you may not imagine.

Are you ready to make a huge change in your life? Try guided meditation. In my next post, I’ll be sharing tools which you can use for guided meditation.

Get your meditation place ready: 9 Cheap Ways to Make Your Place Peaceful and Conducive to Meditation

Originally posted on June 3, 2015 @ 8:30 am