Meditation and Mindfulness

 

How many times have you said or heard ‘I’m feeling stressed’? And how many times has someone

you know or even your doctor advised you to ‘try meditation’? Meditation and mindfulness seems

to be the go-to remedy that everyone is talking about. The Internet itself is full of success

stories, advice and information about the benefits of meditation. And truth be told, there are

many studies that claim that meditation can reduce stress, improve focus, and in some,

meditation has also been known to assist individuals with suffering with chronic pain.

Meditation is not a trend, it is not a technique that can be switched on by a novice at any given

moment – it takes time and practice. In fact, it is not easy to practice and for some people, it can

be extremely difficult to practice it especially when there are constant thoughts and worries in our

heads about everything from work – money – bills – the cat – the dog and everything else under

the sun.

 

So what is Meditation…?

 

Meditation has a different meaning to different people but generally, is a form of practice that

focuses the mind in order to achieve a clear and emotionally calm and stable state of mind.

It’s about training in awareness and getting a healthy sense of perspective. It is certainly not

about ignoring your thoughts or feelings. It is about learning to observe your thoughts and

feelings without judgment. It typically refers to formal, seated meditation practice. There are

different forms of meditation—for example, those that focus on opening your heart, those

which focus on expanding your awareness, and many more.

 

Meditation usually begins with deep breathing in a comfortable position, bringing all your

awareness to how you are breathing while consciously guiding the mind toward a single point

of focus. Here at Temple of strength studio we teach Mindfulness Meditation, a specific type

of meditation, and our recommendation is that for a ‘newbie’ to try our meditation class

themselves and reap the rewards.

 

Ok, so what about Mindfulness Meditation? What is it? And how is it linked to meditation?

Mindfulness is all about being aware, which of course includes the practice of meditation.

When you are being actively mindful, you start to notice and pay attention are noticing and

paying attention to your thoughts, feelings, behaviours and the affect you and your behaviour

is having on those around you. Mindfulness can be practiced by anyone at any time. You are

mindful as long as you are fully engaged in the ‘moment’ – in the here and now without allowing

your mind to wander! Mindfulness can be practiced both informally and formally and can be

applied to any situation throughout the day when required unlike meditation which is more

focussed on a specific time.

 

There are many benefits of practicing a form of meditation. Some of them include:

• It helps to reduce stress

It is one of the main reasons people try to meditate. It may also improve symptoms of stress-related conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder.

• It helps to reduce anxiety and helps to improve mental wellbeing 

If there is less stress, there is less anxiety. By incorporating meditative practice with physical exercise like yoga has been shown to have a positive effect on improving mental wellbeing.

• It enhances self-awareness

This is because meditation allows you to develop a better understanding of yourself and how you can positively improve yourself.

• It improves your attention span

Focused-attention meditation is like weight lifting for your mind, it helps to keep your mind young by improving clarity and focus. Everybody can learn to meditate and practice mindfulness techniques with the right tools.

Here at Temple of Strength Studios, we understand the importance of being able to reduce stress levels.

 

If you would like to learn how to reduce the stress of everyday life, why not pay

us a visit. We are located on the Penge High Street between 2 train stations. Penge East and

Penge West are just a 2- 7 minute walking distance to our studio. With frequent bus service from

Sydenham, Crystal Palace, Anerley and Beckenham stopping right outside the studio.