At Loyobo FIT we are often asked about Meditation – What is it? Why should we do it? How do I meditate? – as well as common challenges that people experience while trying to meditate or incorporate it into their wellness routine.
Many people shy away from it for several reasons: they find it too uncomfortable to sit for long periods of time, their mind wanders “too much”, they think they are doing it “wrong”, they don’t feel the benefits right away etc. So we decided to go over the basics, answer some of the most frequently asked questions we hear and provide suggestions for common challenges experienced in a two part blog series 🙂
What is Meditation?
Meditation can be difficult to define, but I explain it as a mindfulness practice that trains your awareness and attention to focus on the present – creating a more calm and stable state.
While there are countless forms or ways to meditate, at Loyobo FIT we generally use Focused (using an object, the breath, a mantra, a feeling or visualization as a focus point) or Open/Mindfulness meditation methods (bringing your attention to experiencing the present moment – thoughts, sensations – without judgment).
What Are the Benefits?
There are a variety of benefits you can experience during and as a result of consistent practice:
Lower blood pressure
Improved sleep
Decreased reaction to stress and anxiety
Positive impact on your ability to show kindness to yourself and others
Improved ability to focus
Enhanced self awareness and emotional health
The benefits most easily and quickly seen are its positive impact on levels of anxiety and stress. Even by pausing for a few moments to take a few deep breaths, you can alleviate tension, re-centre and feel more calm and at ease.
Why Should I Meditate?
Please know – and I can not stress this enough – that there is no ultimate ‘right way’ to meditate. Consistent effort and a gentle approach (no judgment) to practicing are the most helpful things you can do when starting out (and in general)!
Bonus – you can do it anywhere, anytime! And if you’re not sure where to start, try YouTube, pick up a book with a variety of different Meditations to try, or come out to one of our Mind/Body Unwind classes where we often implement some kind/form of Meditation.
-Lori
Stay tuned for another Blog Post next week by Sobia, all about why she loves meditation and answers to common challenges experienced when meditating. And if you haven’t tried a Mind Body Unwind class yet, we hope you’ll join us 🙂 Our classes run every Monday and Wednesday evening from 8.30 – 9.30 pm, Thursday afternoon from 2 – 2.45 pm and Saturday morning from 11 – 11.45 pm.