On & Beyond Meditation

Before you make the assumption that I’ve been an early riser all my life, let me stop you there, as this was definitely not the case. In fact, I had spent most of my late teen years and early 20’s “thriving” by constantly burning the midnight oil. I was convinced that sleep was overrated, “I can sleep as much as I want when I’m dead“, I thought to myself.  As a result, I was getting by with as little as 3 to 4 hours of sleep each night.

As with everything else, starting a meditation practice is easy, but maintaining it daily for years to come is when the challenge really begins. The many distractions and obstacles that we encounter can easily set our practice back.

Mindful meditation is far from a modern wellness trend of Western culture.

Sharing a flat with another person has tons of advantages. Saving a lot of money, leaving more for yourself, and having company most of the time is just the tip of the iceberg.

One of the strangest habits of human beings is to separate the physical from the psychological. We’ll focus on either one or the other, and fill our lives with stress and tension as we wonder why we always feel so tired and achy.

As a yoga teacher and a rookie meditator, I’ve tried to convince many others on the benefit of meditation and urged them to give it a try. Many are receptive to the idea, but many still want to see the cold, hard facts – the scientific proofs that meditation is actually good for you.

Millennials have joined the mad rush to compete with time. We’ve reached a point in society where the fast life is highly valued and being busy is praised, but being still and appreciating the present moment is just as important. 

What's the most lethal health condition that people suffer from these days?  Cancer or other "terminal" diseases are sure to be the first that spring to mind, but there is another silent killer that is rife among many people today. That's right, it is anxiety. People tend to get affected by these major culprits a lot. In fact, I'd say that these seemingly harmless disorders could be the reason people develop other diseases because anxiety develops depression and depression has the ability to eat at your nerves. A weak nervous system could lead to faulty functioning of the body on so many levels that you are prone to catching or developing diseases quite easily.

Personally, I don’t get why every working space doesn’t already have a meditation zone. To me, it makes perfect sense for offices to set up meditation spaces and encourage (if not demand) everybody to take advantage of them. The health and productivity benefits that they would get would more than make up for the space cost. Unfortunately, that’s not how things are right now.

The coming of spring is a great time for new beginnings and there is hardly a better way to kick off a fresh start than by cleansing your mind and spirit. But where do you even begin? Meditation is a great way to become in tune with yourself and rewire your brain for happiness and success.

Whether you’re new to meditation or are looking for some inspiration to help restart your practice, here are just a few good books to help inspire your journey to inner peace.

Meditation is a perfect time to focus on yourself, your needs and your wants, and you surely want to make it special. Meditating can be done almost everywhere, but whether you opt for a meditation travel experience or you prefer to do it at home, it’s important to have your own place to relax without being distracted; your own personal sanctuary where you can be completely honest with yourself.

Yoga is a gripping activity due to its various benefits, which we are able to experience in our day-to-day life. Yoga is also something that you can perform anywhere, be it your home or some remote open location, mainly because it needs no equipment.

Here I am, the perfect example of someone who is impatient. I stomp my feet if things don’t go my way. I fidget all the time. And when I must wait for something, I’m constantly checking my wristwatch. Being delayed when I travel is my worst nightmare. Unfortunately, my attempts at slowing down through breathing have only worked exactly two times when my trusty fitness band guided me. I was never even tempted to try again.

Unbeknownst to us, we put our bodies through the wringer every day. From working long hours at the office to exercising at the gym, and late nights partying, our bodies work hard each day. Recharging your body’s energy reserves is very important. However, this can only be done by eating energy boosting foods, which should also be healthy enough to keep your body in good shape. 

Meditation is synonymous to peace, self-reflection, and relaxation. It’s your time away from the daily turmoil created by worldly factors like work pressure, traffic, family issues, etc. In general, meditation has been illustrated as a practice commonly performed in vast, open spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the city – usually in a lush park or a beautiful beach. Though parks and beaches do make an ideal place for meditation, one doesn’t really have to ’give up’ should they fail to find such spots.

In the blink of an eye, we’re here again, at the very beginning of a brand new year. As we sit down and plan our resolutions for the year, think about what would most benefit us? What do we need in life?

For most people, meditation is a practice to help calm the busy mind. While this is true, we often overlook the other useful benefits that meditation has on our body. 

As we gather together with family and friends to enjoy our hearty dinners during this festive season, it is very easy to fall in the trap of over indulging, which can cause queasiness, unnecessary weight gain, and discomfort.

Silence is golden. Practicing silence is a powerful way to see ourselves more clearly and to observe the relationship between our inner and outer worlds with greater understanding. Time spent in intentional silence can go a long way toward revealing the architecture of our hearts and unfolding a life full of fulfillment and purpose.