Modern day meditation is commonly

referred to as Mindfulness. Simply

put, it is becoming more aware of one's

breath, physical surroundings, heart

beat, and bodily sensations..sounds

tricky? It's not.

There are practical reasons for learning

about meditation.

*anti-aging. Stress releases an aging stress hormone called Cortisol. De-stressing (relaxing, deep breathing)  keeps us  younger!

*clearer thinking. When we are calm, more oxygen gets to our brain, enabling better decision-making and less reactivity.

*more present. Being in the present time and location keeps those anxious thoughts and worries at bay. 

*it's free and always available. Once you learn the basic techniques of focusing on your breath and slowing down your heart rate, meditation can be realized anywhere, anytime. Practitioners report meditating in the strangest places (doctor's waiting room, in a large concert hall,  bustling markets, or just sitting in the car).

Famous people who meditate include: Gary Shandling, Phil Jackson, Rick Rubin, Richard Gere, David Lynch, Gisele Bundchen, Russell Simmons, Henry Rollins, Leonard Cohen, Orlando Bloom, Tina Turner, Steven Segal, Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Russell Brand, Herbie Hancock, Moby, Dr. Oz, Susan Sarandon, and Elizabeth Gilbert. 

New York Times, March 20, 2011

Types of Meditation:

Sitting, Guided, Silent,

Walking, Eating, Driving

Book Recommendation:

Full Catastrophe Living, by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Empirical research has demonstrated that meditation alleviates symptoms related to chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, and depression, among many other physical diseases and psychological disturbances.

How do I begin? It may be as simple as grabbing a book or two from your local library, or, downloading one of the several hundred meditations on itunes. Visit your local yoga studio or adult community ed schools. 

Here are a few terrific articles:

Meditation Battles Breast Cancer

Guided Meditation for Children

Mayo Clinic Stress Reduction

Nursing News and Meditation

Lower Blood Pressure

Meditation is a brain-boosting, stress-busting activity embraced by everyone from the U.S. military to corporate executives. And if you're living a busy, hectic life - and can't fathom finding time to sit cross-legged in a quiet room - you're an ideal candidate too.

"The people who race through their life are usually the ones who could use some focus and serenity," said Tamara Gerlach, a San Francisco-based meditation teacher.

Every day thousands of thoughts zip through our heads, something Gerlach likens to a jar of dirty water: Keep shaking up the jar and it will remain clouded. But "if we set the jar down, letting the dirt particles settle to the bottom, it leaves clarity at the top."

by Belinda Siew Luan Khong

• Mindfulness meditation helps people with multiple sclerosis cope with the depression, fatigue, and anxiety associated with the disease, reports a Swiss study in the September 2010 issue of Neurology.

• Working with clinically depressed patients in remission, a study at Oxford University found that only 36 per cent of patients in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy eventually relapsed, compared 62 per cent of patients in traditional cognitive therapy.

• A study from the Cleveland Clinic reported that mindfulness practice decreased negative emotions and increased well-being in people with risk-factors for coronary artery disease.

 "meditation is the midwife to the unthought"

Don't just do something, sit there!

common questions: how long should I meditate? 15 minutes a day is a great beginning. This can be broken up into three five-minute stretches.
when should I meditate? Mid-day or morning are ideal. The evening is not ideal because we are naturally more tired and more likely to fall asleep. But, meditating before sleep can be a great way to unwind and stave off insomnia. what am I supposed to be thinking about? Not much! Just say something simple like, "I am aware of my in breath. I am now aware of my out breathe." Or, maybe a short word, such as "BREATH" will aid you in focusing on your breathing and settling into a nice see-saw rhythm of breath flow.

Still have questions? Please contact us anytime! We look forward to hearing from you.