| In 2003, Psychology today published a study that found | | | | really isn't a "normal" sleep. Instead it's a deep |
| people who meditate shift their brain wave to different | | | | meditation. This deep meditation, when it's over, leaves |
| areas of the brain which causes a reduction of stress | | | | you feeling like you fell into a dark hole because you |
| and fear. In 2008, Dr. James Anderson of the | | | | cannot remember anything maybe your eye lids are |
| University of Kentucky found that meditation lowers | | | | heavy - you may even be groggy. All this is good - |
| blood pressure without the side effects that can come | | | | very good. Whatever your result of meditation is - that |
| from medication. In 2009, the Diabetes Research and | | | | is perfectly okay. Don't compare yourself to Anita or |
| Clinical Practice, found that Yoga postures and | | | | John. Being analytical gears up the mind. Accepting the |
| meditation improve blood pressure, blood sugar and | | | | results of your effort keeps you more focused in your |
| triglyceride levels and reduced waist circumference. | | | | heart. |
| And, there are many more studies available for me to | | | | What's more important to observe is the need to |
| tell you about. | | | | explain meditation or define it so that you can |
| Meditation can be used in a variety of settings. I taught | | | | determine "how well" you did it. That is not the point of |
| meditation programs in prisons for over five years in | | | | meditation. What you want in meditation is to relax and |
| the Prison Project provided by Siddha Yoga | | | | - quiet honestly - you aren't used to that so you are |
| meditation. Children programs are flexible and can | | | | bond to have results you're "not used to" having, |
| conform to their shorter attention spans. Of course, | | | | seeing or feeling. Why? Because the life you lead is so |
| many adults do meditation in the privacy of their | | | | filled with stress and over stimulation that you don't |
| homes or as part of a class. For example, a yoga | | | | even recognize how over stimulated and stressed you |
| class or exercise class. Performing meditation is an | | | | are. |
| active effort that successfully promotes building inner | | | | The most common response to "what happened" in |
| peace. | | | | mediation is "nothing." Again, that is a good description. |
| Mediation is about creating an inner dialogue with | | | | If we all had a lot more "nothing" going on in our brains |
| yourself. This isn't a verbal exchange and many times | | | | and bodies we would be less stressed and less sick. |
| takes the form of "sleep." The important part is making | | | | Third Step |
| the effort to meditate which, in a traditional setting, has | | | | Completion - bring your awareness back to the |
| three distinct steps. You have to take a comfortable | | | | present moment. |
| position in a quiet place. Then you do your meditation. | | | | You are making an effort to be back into the situation |
| The last step is bringing your awareness back from | | | | and location of your mediation. Very slowly and gently, |
| meditation. | | | | bring your awareness back. Take time to open your |
| First Step | | | | eyes. Take more time to sit up or stand up. This |
| Posture: take a comfortable position on the floor in a | | | | "completion" of meditation is very, very important. |
| chair or lying down. | | | | Rushing back and then rushing off "to do" this or that |
| Take into consideration that you'll be here for a | | | | can destroy the calm and peace your meditation |
| minimum of 15-20 minutes. Make sure that there is | | | | restored. |
| nothing to disturb you - cell phones are off, you don't | | | | The Goal |
| have something in the oven, the dogs won't be barking, | | | | In all of these steps you are connecting to your |
| and no unexpected visitors will appear. If you have | | | | awareness of your inner world. Yep, everyone has an |
| music playing it needs to be soft or subtle. The genre | | | | inner awareness and everyone has an inner world. |
| that works well is instrumental. You want the music to | | | | This IS NOT the voice in your head that has a |
| support you relaxing and not distract your attention. | | | | comment about everything and everyone. No, it's your |
| Second Step | | | | divine essence. The communication or sensations you |
| Practice: close your eyes and relax. | | | | receive will be at different levels about a myriad of |
| In this stage your eyes are closed and you are | | | | subjects. In fact, you may not even be aware you had |
| focusing your attention within you. You are not placing | | | | anything go on due to the dimensional shifts of your |
| your attention on the environment (noises outside of | | | | divine presence. |
| you) or situation you are in. If you are noticing your | | | | This divine essence emanates from your heart. If you |
| attention to this thing or that thing then you know | | | | feel negative or bad energy then you are focusing on |
| you're attention is in your senses. Gently shift - place | | | | the wrong area. Your heart is full of love and inner |
| your attention on watching and listening to you | | | | peace. All stress and fear in your life reside in your |
| breathing and your heart. Take one deep breath and | | | | brain. As your meditation effort progresses so will your |
| listen. Take another. And another. Place all your | | | | connection with your divinity. Keep in mind, this isn't a |
| attention on your breath. | | | | race or competition, if you turn it into that then the |
| We take breathing for granted because this machine - | | | | sensations and communication will decrease or |
| called our body - is a grace filled mechanism. In | | | | disappear all together. |
| meditation, by paying attention to this breathing or | | | | Medication is an exquisite time to get to know yourself |
| beating you are getting back to basics. Keep your | | | | in the comfort of your privacy. Enjoy it! |
| attention on your breathing and the pulse of your heart. | | | | May your meditations be full of Grace. |
| During this time many people fall into "sleep" which | | | | May your medications unravel the joys in your Soul. |