When you hear the word meditation, what is the first thought that springs to mind? I can guess that it more than likely relates to lentil-eating hippies, or Buddhist monks. Hippies and monks do not have to be the only people benefiting from the age-old art of meditation. You too can integrate the art of breathing, relaxing and clearing your mind into your day with fantastic results.

What is it?

According to The Buddhist Centre (www.thebuddhiscentre.com), meditation is the art of transforming the mind. The techniques encourage concentration, clarity and emotional positivity. There are many different types of meditation, and it can be confusing to find which one is right for you. World-renowned meditation teacher Charlie Knoles acknowledges the indecision that some people face when beginning meditation. His recommendation is to relax, and breathe, and through practice you will find the right type of meditation for your purpose. While it does come down to something so simple as breathing, there is also a very interesting science behind it. He describes meditation as having four categories – cultivating awareness, bringing your mind into sharp focus, transcending your ego, and controlling your breath. Knoles likens the categories to gears in a car. The fourth gear may be great for driving on the freeway, but you wouldn’t use it to pull into a parking space. Therefore, one form of meditation may be effective at aiding one problem, but not another. Practicing and experiencing the four different types of meditation would obviously be the best way to find out which works best for you, and achieves the outcome you are looking for.

How can I learn to meditate?

There are two distinct ways that you can learn the art of meditation – traditional and technological. A simple Google search unearths a raft of meditation courses, classes and centres in any major city. Buddhist temples often offer one day and residential retreats that can help you learn more about the religion and the art of meditation. Learning meditation in a face-to-face setting will allow you to ask questions and have immediate feedback, and have your technique corrected if the need arises.

For those who would prefer to learn and practice their meditation in private, there are now many options from apps to online courses. They are available at a wide variety of price points, and can cater for specific issues such as relaxation, panic disorders and encouraging motivation. Sites like Mind Body Green (www.mindbodygreen.com) offer online video tutorials from meditation gurus like Charlie Knoles, or healthy life style advocates like Rich Roll (www.richroll.com). My favourite meditation app is by Andrew Johnson, a meditation and hypnotherapy teacher with a beautiful Scottish accent. His dulcet tones lull me to sleep every night.

What are the benefits?

I have been using the Andrew Johnson Don’t Panic and Relax apps for the past six weeks with fantastic benefits. They both focus on relaxation, with the Relax app conducting a ‘body scan’ identifying each muscle group and concentrating on loosening each part of the body. The sessions focus on breathing and calming techniques that calm the mind and relax the body. I use the Relax version for a quick 20-minute meditation in the early evening, if I’ve had a stressful day or need some time out. The Don’t Panic app sends me to sleep each night.

Since practicing these versions of meditation I feel calmer and less anxious. My sleep has improved and has become deeper, which is very welcome with two small children to care for! The first few times I meditated I found it difficult to let my mind go and to fully relax into the exercise. After these few weeks, my body and mind have started to respond more quickly each time, and I can completely understand how people who regularly practice the art of meditation can begin to feel as though they are having out of body experiences.

The next step I am planning to take is to participate in a one-day workshop at a Buddhist temple in my area. I am really looking forward to a day to prioritise relaxation, and to concentrate on my mind. I have definitely become an advocate for meditation and would urge you to try it – it will only do good things!

 So, will you try meditation? Do you already meditate? What benefits has it brought to you?

I’m currently in Thailand experiencing some dodgy internet connection so I’ve asked a few of my favourite bloggers to guest post while I’m away. If you want to keep up with my adventures be sure to follow me on Instagram. I’m Smaggle. Sarah Adam is the editor of Style Unearthed. You can find more wellness and style tips from her on Facebook and Twitter.

Feature image source & in post image source