Josh Adamski
Trends come and go…that’s their charm. And while 2017 welcomed a new veggie, metallic lips, and funky patterns, these trends will also eventually face retirement. However, meditation has quickly picked up steam and it’s def not leaving anytime soon.
Meditation is a method used by many to help uplift their mind, body, and spirit. Curious to learn more? We chatted with meditation expert, Rebecca Rosen, to get the lowdown on the practice and how you can get started.
Why should you meditate?
For your mind. “It offers us the opportunity to become still and present, freeing ourselves from all the mind chatter and what I refer to as the party in our head. This in and of itself can reduce our anxiety, bring about clarity and awareness, improve concentration, and bring us an overall sense of peace of mind.”
For your body. “It’s been shown to slow the aging process, reduce stress, induce relaxation, improve our immunity, and increase happiness and positive emotions. This is all a result of accessing different parts of our brain.”
For your spirit. “When we meditate we check out of our limited thinking and open up to the vast multi-dimensional energies all around and within us. We move from the left brain that thinks in a linear, concrete fashion and shift into our right brain, the center of intuition and creativity. It’s easier for us to tap into our intuition and psychic abilities when we are operating from our right brain. And when we are in this space, we are bound to make choices from our higher selves versus from our egos.”
How should you meditate?
Always bring it back to your breath. “Every time you find your mind interjecting with thoughts, simply acknowledge them and let them go, bringing your attention back to your breath, or mantra (if using one). Some days will be easier than others.”
Don’t go into it with an agenda. “Keep in mind the whole point of meditation is to get out of your mind and slip into your heart, where the truth-of-all lies. Be willing to forego your control and simply go with the flow. Trust your higher self and your spirit will guide you.”
Find the best meditation fit for you. “For those who are more anxious and find it hard to sit still, an active form of meditation such as walking, yoga, tai chi, or chi gong works best. For others, finding a mantra or using a guided meditation is key in keeping the mind chatter at bay.”
Remember it’s quality over quantity. “Spirit has suggested meditating for a minimum of five minutes (which is effective if done intently and deeply) up to several hours. But if you’re like us and you have a full and busy life, the idea of checking out of this world for more than an hour at a time is unlikely. So the key here is not how long you practice, but how sincere you devote yourself on every level to the meditation.”
Don’t be so hard on yourself. “As with anything we do, the more we do it, the better we get at it, and the greater results we see.”
Stay present. “The whole point is to get out of our mind, and the way to do this is to get present. When we are present, we are not thinking about past regrets, failures or memories, nor are we imagining thoughts about our projected future, like worries, fears or anticipation of what might be. The present moment is where the magic lies and to simply bring our awareness back to our breath.”
xx, The FabFitFun Team
