Finding just the right fit...

Each person's meditation practice is as unique as they are.

My personal exploration of meditation began in 2013, while trying to cope with profound loss. Through a grief group I was taught the basic concepts of meditation and mindfulness and quickly discovered that I could manage my "monkey mind", which was dragging me forward and backward in time... but never allowing me to be in the present.

Intrigued, I started to research various forms of meditation, settling in with Zen Buddhism for a couple years. We would join together in group practice, called a sangha, and chant, recite liturgical readings and silently meditate for two 25 minutes periods, plus a silent walking meditation. Each person must sit mute, without moving. As you might imagine, the minute I was told I could not move, my focus would immediately turn to every bodily sensation possible. A tiny itch would morph into a stabbing pain... eye twitches, sleeping limbs, aches and pain would scream for my attention. Over time I was able to conform (more or less) to these restrictions, but I felt there might be other models of meditation that would be a better fit for me.

Over the next few years I practiced guided meditation alone using the app "Insight Timer", which allowed me to select a subject, length of time, with music or without, etc. This app is available for free and is one of the most robust platforms you will find for meditation and mindfulness. During that period I also found a meditation group in Foxborough that offered a wonderful community of people looking to develop their personal practice and explore the contentment available through mindfulness. In 2019 I trained as a Level 1 Meditation Teacher and I have been sharing the practice ever since. During the pandemic I had the opportunity to learn Transcendental Meditation (TM) and experienced a deeper level of meditation.

I would love to share with you the simplicity of meditation and the profound benefits you will discover over time.

On September 29, we will be meeting at the Sharon Public Library, 6:30-7:45 to join in simple meditation (please feel free to move around as necessary:), followed by discussion. There is no fee and I will be posting the event sign-up on this blog. Please be sure to subscribe to the blog so you receive notifications of our meetings. Thanks!

Why should you meditate?

If I told you, that with a commitment of just 15 minutes per day, you could improve the quality of your life, would you be interested?

As a naturally skeptic human, I was probably as suspicious as you might be right now. How is it possible that such a small investment of time, simply practicing meditation, could improve a person's life so dramatically?

The first step toward belief for me was learning that both science and history consistently confirm the benefits of meditation, including the positive changes it can make to your physical and mental health. The earliest documented records of meditation date back to 1500 BCE. The fact that the practice of meditation has endured for thousands of years led me to consider that the highly touted benefits of the practice are real.

But, I needed scientific data too... so I sourced medical and scientific journals that also confirmed positive changes in the brains of meditators and the direct correlation to a more peaceful state of mind.

The emotional benefits of meditation can include:

• Gaining new perspective on stressful situations

• Building skills to manage your stress

• Increasing self-awareness

• Focusing on the present

• Reducing negative emotions

• Increasing imagination and creativity

• Increasing patience and tolerance

The physical benefits are impressive as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, research suggests that meditation may help people manage symptoms of conditions such as:

• Anxiety

• Asthma

• Cancer

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Heart disease

• High blood pressure

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Sleep problems

• Tension headaches

Let me be your guide as you explore the concepts of meditation and mindfulness here. I will offer simple, basic explanations along with easy steps you can follow to tap into your own awareness and move closer to peace and contentment.