Understanding the Practice of Meditation

meditation mental health spiritual health

Understanding the Practice of Meditation 

 

While some might think of meditation as the newest buzzword or the newest wave in the health craze but the reality is that it’s not new at all.  It’s just new to us. Though the exact origin and dates continues to be debated, the earliest records date back to 1500 B.C. while it is believed that meditation was practiced as early as 3000 BC in India. It’s been the cornerstone for many religions across the globe. 

I was trained in Yoga from a Christian Perspective so my personal meditation and that which I teach and practice is centered around integrating the physical practice of yoga and meditation with the scriptures to build my personal relationship with Christ. For you, mediation might yield something different. Either way, there are benefits we ALL need so it’s worth it to you to learn this form of art and exercise so that you can live long and in peace, especially in a world where chaos seems inevitable and peace is the proverbial unicorn. 

First, it’s important to know what Meditation is. Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. While many meditation techniques exist. we are going to start with the basics. To do this we’ll answer 3 questions. 

One thing I want you to understand before diving in is that meditation is a journey, not a destination. The  goal of meditation is to simply be present. In this day in age where being present is lost in the over utilization of social media, I think it’s IMP to focus on being present in each moment because that’s one thing we can never get back once it passes.

Question 1: Who should meditate?

Everyone! Listen, if you’re stressed, overwhelmed, struggling with anger issues, desiring to live a peaceful life of love and harmony, etc., then meditate for you. 

Everyone who lives and breathes can benefit from some form of meditation. 

Question 2: Why should I meditate? 

A few years ago before it gained popularity, I would get the question, “Isn’t that for those hippie and tree hugging people?” or my  personal favorite, “Christians can’t meditate, I’m cheating on God. 🤦🏾‍♀️”  You should meditate because it’s exercise for your mind. It can assists in decluttering ALL of the things up there giving you more peace and clarity as well as offering the following benefits:

Some of the benefits of meditation include: 

  • Calming the mind
  • Slowing the respirations
  • Lowering the blood pressure
  • Decreases stress and anxiety
  • Inducing relaxation 

Question 3: How do I meditate?

There are a number of different types of meditation. 

If you are new, this is best done by listening to a guided meditation so that you can fully relax your mind and dive into the practice. If you are attempting to remember the steps of what you should do, this is counterproductive to your practice. 

This meditation exercise is an excellent introduction to meditation techniques.

  • Sit or lie comfortably. You may even want to invest in a meditation chair or cushion.
  • Close your eyes. We recommend using a cooling eye mask or restorative eye pillow, if lying down. 
  • Make no effort to control the breath; simply breathe naturally.
  • Focus your attention on the breath and on how the body moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Notice the movement of your body as you breathe. Observe your chest, shoulders, rib cage, and belly. Simply focus your attention on your breath without controlling its pace or intensity. If your mind wanders, return your focus back to your breath.

The ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from attachment to things it cannot control, such as external circumstances or strong internal emotions. The liberated or “enlightened” practitioner no longer needlessly follows desires or clings to experiences, but instead maintains a calm mind and sense of inner balance and harmony.

 

In order to know where you are going, you have to know where you currently are. If you’re ready to really make your health and life a priority to maximize your success to grow and G.L.O.W., there are 3 ways I can help: 

  1. Take your FREE Wellness Assessment (Quiz) and schedule your debrief. It’s an informative assessment that taps into your 4 primary pillars of wellness to gauge where you are and serve as a compass for maximizing your health and wellness journey. 
  2. Join our free GHealth call every 1st Tuesday at 7pm EST. It’s where you can come to learn and discuss various health topics to ensure that you are truly living whole, well, and free. Bring your questions and I’ll see you there!
  3. Schedule a Connection Call. Whether you’re looking for personal health or speaking and corporate training, let’s start with a conversation to see how I may serve you. Health is a journey both individually and collectively and it governs performance on both personal and professional levels. 

Looking forward to serving you. It’s WHOLE Health for your WHOLE self. 

Love & Blessings!

Dr. Nicole

Written by Dr. Nicole McCarty

Dr. Nicole McCarty is an Integrative Health Doctor, Wellness Coach, Author, Speaker, & Corporate Wellness Trainer. She is also a Meditation & Mindfulness Instructor seeking to engage more people in the benefits of living Free, Healthy, & WHOLE. 

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