Meditation & Mindfulness

What is meditation?

“Meditation refers to any of a family of practices in which the practitioner trains his or her mind or self-induces a mode of consciousness in order to realize some benefit”  Source – Wikipedia Feb 2011

Meditation is an ancient practice currently experienced in different forms by many diverse cultures, religions and groups across the globe.

Different forms of meditation can be characterized into a few general categories referring to methodology:

• Concentration
• Visualization
• Active
• Passive

Within those general categories is a myriad of meditation forms and practices.  Most people are familiar with passive meditation usually experienced sitting or laying down. Prayer is also a form of meditation.

Mindfulness meditation is a process of increasing awareness of the present moment and can be effortless or achieved through a concentrated experience. Mindfulness is consciousness based in an accepting awareness of, and focused attention to, the constant stream of human experience. The meditation practice increases the ability to experience mindfulness as a natural process or state of being throughout our daily life: It can be active or passive.

People searching for ways to develop both personally and professionally are often drawn to some form of meditation through different teachings.

Meditation in nature is a beautiful experience

Over the course of the last 15 years I have practiced and taught many forms of meditation and observed various results both personally and in other meditators. Within that experience I observed that mindfulness is a great foundation for any type of meditative practice. Developing the intrinsic nature of awareness through mindfulness practice is the key to the many benefits experienced through meditation.  Awareness is always present we are not always awake enough in the present moment to know and experience this.

Mindfulness allows us to pay attention to life!

There have been many hundreds – maybe even into thousands – of extensive research studies into the practice of meditation by esteemed and highly qualified scientists and research organisations. The results of these studies is a resounding success in proving beyond doubt there are many benefits, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, to those who practice meditation even for a short time.

Some of the benefits discovered are listed here:

• Increased calmness
• Reduced anxiety
• Decreased depression
• Improved behaviour among adolescents
• Reduced substance abuse
• Increased happiness
• Increased intelligence
• Improved academic performance
• Increased self-development
• Improvement in children and adults “diagnosed” with behavioural disorders e.g. ADHD, ODD etc
• Chronic Pain Management
• Increased empathy
• Enhanced relationships
• Improved communication
• Decreased aggression
• Improved sleep habits
• Reduced blood pressure
• Specific benefits to various physical ailments and health issues e.g. Psoriasis

There are many more benefits that can be explored and the experience is a very personal one. General opinion from regular meditators who have integrated meditation as daily practice is that it is as natural and as important to them as breathing eating and sleeping. To reach this level of integration usually takes time – even years – although benefits from a daily practice are often felt immediately.

In Weekly Meditation Groups I encourage and teach the practice of mindfulness through an effortless awareness of breath as a foundation for meditation practice. This is such a powerful practice and the simplest form to achieve  instant and beneficial results.

The inquisitive nature of the human mind is such that exploration into other forms of meditation is usual and to that end a second meditation process is usually explored and facilitated as well in the group.  This could be an active meditation, or creative visualisation as examples.

There are definite benefits to creative visualisations; for example they have been used very successfully in creating new neural pathways in helping people  who are experiencing repercussions of trauma, depression, anger or even difficulty breaking old habits.

Our thought processes create neural pathways in our brain and when we continually rehash memories either good or bad we reinforce the neural pathways until a flimsy foot bridge becomes a gigantic concrete structure. If that giant structure is a reinforced memory of a “bad” event, many of the actions or reactions in current experience are not based in reality but instead are based in fear of a past event happening again or guilt of an event that happened in the past. This is also true of “positive” memories that are relived insofar as neither is grounded in present reality and can create habitual behaviour that is not necessarily empowering or proactive.

Creative visualisation techniques can also be very powerful in helping over come phobias, setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, reducing stress in an emergency and also have great practical applications for simple things like finding lost objects through clearer memory recall, exercise memory and enhance memory recall, study techniques and so much more.

An extremely important aspect of some meditation techniques when taught without appropriate instruction, is they can cause anxiety and frustration especially when used in goal setting environments and “fake it til you make it” mentalities. Preliminary coaching is recommended and useful in looking at personal values, lifestyle and other issues to help determine the most appropriate method, best outcome and success for the meditator.

As part of KISS Principle - Success Coaching & Holistic Life Dynamics, when exploring alternative forms of meditation in consultation, there is a coaching process to help clients develop a greater self-awareness of their true values, purpose and subsequent goals, dreams or aspirations. As a consequence of this process the client designs with the help of the coach, the best possible outcome and a meditation process specifically for their individual needs is constructed and then facilitated.

Read what Renee had to say (from the Praise Page) about her experience with this specialised process.

“Jen,
You have changed my life by scaffolding me, guiding me and supporting me. When I first came to you I was ‘lost’. I didn’t know who I was or why I was here on this earth. I had lost passion, zest, care, direction and love. Thanks to you being the amazing coach that you are; together we worked through my purpose and my goals and achieved gratitude, happiness, fulfillment, direction and a new passion to get out there and be me and love me. I truly believe that without your openness, care and non judgmental ear I would not be the confident, happy and PREGNANT person I am today.

Thank you
Renee”

So often we are busy “doing” life that we don’t stop to just be, or are so busy doing, that we don’t notice what is right under our busy noses. We are sleep walking! 

• How often have you driven your car and after arriving at your destination you don’t recall the journey?
• How often are you busy preparing a meal not noticing the fabulous food, and only half listening to your partner or children’s conversation about their day?
• How often do we engage in conversation and instead of listening to others we are busy thinking of how we will respond and miss half of the conversation?
• How often have you been given important instructions only to walk away unclear on what you need to accomplish?
• How often have you been reading a book and have to read a page over and over again?

These are very simple day to day examples of NOT being in the present moment! Learning mindfulness meditation helps to bring our awareness back to that which is right under our noses and back to the important “stuff” we often overlook and don’t make time for.

Nobody goes to their grave wishing they’d spent more time at the office!!!!!

What are you missing through not paying attention? You may have missed:

• The beautiful rainbow or somebody needing assistance on your journey.
• The sparkle in your child’s eye when they are telling you about something important to them.
• The gentle touch of your partners lips when they brushed past with a kiss hello.
• The sharing of a friendship and perhaps created a misunderstanding by not listening attentively.
• A promotion.
• The pleasure of relaxed reading and enjoying the moment of a story well told.
• Any experience in it’s totality because you are somewhere else!

These things can seem trivial when taken as a single moment and you forget that life is made up of all these small moments. While you’re reading this, how often have you drifted away. Where did you go?

Mindfulness meditation is a powerful way to practice a way of life that brings you up to date with who, where, what  and how you are right NOW!

You’ll be amazed at how life really is when you cultivate this practice under the guidance of a professional coach. The coach sets you up on your training wheels and helps support you until you feel confident about your process.

Usually after 10 sessions you’re feeling the benefits and confidence to maintain a daily practice.

If you’d like to ask Jen more about this powerful and simple practice click here to contact her today!

If you’d like your School, Business or Workplace to experience this powerful process, Jen would love to hear from you. Click here for more information.

Special programs are available for schools . Watch this space for a list of reseach studies of meditation in Education. COMING SOON or Contact Jen today to find out more.