The practice of meditation has diversified into a multitude of different styles and is referred to in many different ways. Once frowned upon as a pseudo-science practice, modern science now confirms what the Monks and Mindmasters of the past have always known.
Meditation is a mind tool that empowers one to harness and access incredible strengths within the subconscious mind, accessing benefits like reducing negative emotions such as depression and anxiety. Meditation increases focus and concentration, stimulates creativity, creates greater self-awareness, brings calmness by being more present in the now, and builds patience, resilience, and tolerance.
Benefits of Meditation
The benefits of meditation are not purely transient – they are long-lasting with regular practice and often support physical recovery and improvements such as reducing pain and fatigue. Evidence-based methodologies which prove helpful to participants who battle with pain, depression, and anxiety include mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and it is well documented that structural and functional brain changes are shown in people who regularly practice meditation.
Meditation and mindfulness are for everyone, the whole family, the carer, the professional, and the patient or participant to recover, heal, rest and restore. Life can be very demanding and stressful and these ancient practices are truly undervalued if not misunderstood. There is a subtle difference between meditation and mindfulness.
Mindfulness Practice
Mindfulness is about being conscious or aware of the present moment and its influences. What are you feeling, what do you see, hear, and what are your thoughts? Meditation on the other hand is a technique under the Mindfulness umbrella and it is easier than one may think. You can practice meditation anywhere, in a safe space, and embrace the information your senses communicate to you or you may decide to block out the internal and external stimuli and focus on a specific mantra, goal, or activity.
The style of meditation chosen depends largely on your goal and personal preferences, for example, thought-based meditation may allow thoughts to come and go, noticing how they make you feel, and deciding to release negative emotions as you exhale while inhaling strength and resilience.
According to this activity provided by the Calm app, extending exhales so that they are a little longer than your inhales can help one relax. Click the button to try the activity and see how you go.
You may want to visualise colour or patterns in combination with your breathing during thought-based meditation. When searching for answers one may find written meditation helpful, by writing down the question and reflecting inwardly before writing down your inner thoughts. In other instances, auditory meditation such as listening to specific music or mantras that are spoken, as one repeats those positive mantras and focuses on each word may prove beneficial to calm the senses or gain a different perspective.
Yoga Therapy
Another form of meditation is Yoga and here in Australia, there are a number of disability-accessible Yoga programs such as Bumblebee Yoga which provides classes inspired by Australia’s leading adaptive yoga teacher. Other innovative approaches and programs are provided by, Yogability Australia, Yoga Therapy Australia, and Yogavana each with a unique specialisation, to name a few. If practicing meditation at home is more your scene there are a range of online services providing meditation activities and practices. Smiling Mind is one of many online options developed by psychologists and educators to inspire and bring balance, in just 10 minutes a day and it’s free!