Is Meditation for Me?

As beautiful and joyous as life can be, it can also be stressful. Whether it’s hefty mortgage payments, killer commutes, or bosses who don’t give us the credit we deserve, stress can come at us from every direction.

Surveys have uncovered disturbing statistics about stress ....

• 33% of people feel they live with extreme stress
• 48% believe the stress in their lives has increased over the past five years. 
• And 77%  reported physical symptoms caused by stress!

Physical symptoms linked to chronic stress:

Sleep problems | Autoimmune diseases | Digestive problems Skin conditions, such as eczema | Heart disease| Weight problems | Reproductive issues | Thinking & memory issues | Pain

How Meditation Can Help

Scientific evidence shows that meditation is effective against physical symptoms of stress such as:

 IBS | High blood pressure | Ulcerative colitis | Immune system response | Pain sensitivity and more

And emotional symptoms such as:

Anxiety | Depression | Post Traumatic Stress

Further, research has shown that meditation may physically alter the brain and how we cope with chronic stress.

But what exactly is meditation? When some people hear that word, they visualize people sitting in lotus position chanting “Ohmmm.”

Mindful meditation is simply the practice of harnessing our attention to allow our chattering minds to become still. 

Instead of letting our brains run rampant like energetic puppies chasing after one thought and another and another and another, mindfulness focuses our attention in the now.

Because meditation is deceptively simple, many people either feel it "isn't working," or believe they won’t benefit from it. 

And because we live in a society that promotes instant gratification, sometimes people are disappointed that they don't experience a blissful, or at least a relaxed state, during their practice sessions.

But meditation is called a “practice” for a reason. Like anything else that's beneficial to your mind and body (good nutrition, exercise), it takes commitment to reap those benefits.

Tips for Beginner Meditators

If you're interested in trying meditation for yourself, here are a few key tips:

• Sit comfortably – you don’t have to sit crosslegged. You can sit in a chair or even lie down. It's important to be comfortable enough that your body sensations don’t distract you, but not so comfortable that you fall asleep.  If possible, your let your spine be straight and your muscles relaxed. 

• Don’t try and control your breath, just breathe naturally, simply staying aware of your breath.

 • Start with just a few minutes and build from there. Listening to guided meditations can help. 

• Don’t try to be perfect. There is no perfection in meditation or in any aspect of life so just keep practicing every day.

If you find after you’ve been meditating for a little while that you could use some extra help dealing with the stress in your life, you're welcome to get in touch with me. I’d be happy to explore treatment options with you and discuss how I may be able to help.