Meditations

Saturday, August 14, 2021

"Nothing in the universe ever grew from the outside in." *

Meditating every day has probably kept me more sane than I know. I have noticed that when I skip meditation the day just doesn't flow the same. Or more likely the day flows as it should, but I don't.

There are thousands of research studies that have documented the benefits of meditation including: decreasing blood pressure; helping to balance blood sugar levels; helping to alleviate pain; reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety; and generally alleviating stress. In fact, Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (who won a Nobel prize in medicine for her research on telomeres - the end part of a chromosome) has been investigating the effect of stress on telomeres with a particular emphasis on mindfulness meditation. *

Dr. Blackburn has found that stress will shorten the telomeres, which can increase signs of aging at a cellular level. Mindful meditation has been shown to lengthen the telomeres and this can positively affect health and longevity. Fascinating, yes?

I discovered meditation years ago when I was experiencing an acute episode of chronic pain. Sleep was just a fantasy, and having nothing to do except sit or lie on a wood floor I decided to finally try a short meditation. This was my eureka moment when, during that first meditation, I experienced a few moments without pain. Just that small amount of relief made a huge impression on my state of anxiety and mental stress and I have been hooked on meditating ever since.

Many people balk at the thought of trying meditation. What I like to point out is that there are many meditation options available and different ways of integrating it into our lives. Some of my clients have responded positively to sound meditation, some to a more zen focus on the breath, some to walking meditations and some to meditating in nature.

A story I heard recently was about a mother and housewife who told a Bhuddist monk that she literally had no time to meditate. He offered to come and see what a typical day was like for her, and at the end of the day he agreed that indeed she had no time for a formal meditation practice. So he suggested that every time she walked through a doorway she could pause for a moment to take a deep breath.

At the end of the day all these moments of pause can help to decrease stress and feel more connected to the self. Often it is this type of small change in habit that can help the most.

So I urge you to try it out. Find a meditation style that speaks to you, and feel free to integrate it in a way that works best for you.

* Wagamese, Richard  EMBERS One Ojibway's Meditations, p 23,Douglas & McIntyre, 2016

* Blackburn, Elizabeth The Telomere Affect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living Younger, Healthier, Longer,  Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Book Group, 2017

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