I’ve talked a bit about the benefits and challenges of a regular meditation practice in my previous video posts. In this post, I’m presenting a very, very simple way to get started. I hope some of you will take five minutes or so daily to cultivate your meditation practice. I recommend meditating first thing in the morning, before your mind has time to talk you out of imposing this discipline upon it. While the first two weeks or so can be tough, the results will be well worth it!
Let me know how you do!
Blessings,
Andrea
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Andrea, I loved your point about success in meditation being about noticing that the mind has wandered and bringing it back. Even though I’ve become much better at this as I’ve progressed with my meditation practice, I’ve always had a niggly thought that my mind shouldn’t be wandering at all and maybe I still wasn’t doing something “right” – how cool to know that I actually am! Thank you!
Hey Andrea! Love this video series on meditation and how fitting it is for me right now! With disciplining the mind through meditation, it seems to reason that this discipline would also translate into even more powerful intentioning/creating through setting intentions. Do you find this is true?
Brenda Dumas
One of my favorite discoveries in my journey of self-healing was the Walking Meditation. It truly does my soul and body wonders because I combine my favorite activity, walking, with meditation. When I am stressed — I walk. When I am excited — I walk. When I am sad — I walk. And almost without fail, when I am done my walk, I feel more balanced and in tune with myself. My thoughts are clearer.
Here are some great tips to making a regular walk even more helpful:
Just as Andrea indicted in her video, awareness of your thoughts during the walk is essential. You want to calm the chatter and focus on one thing (it can be your breathing, it can be your steps, it can be a mantra).
Breathe in with four breaths then breathe out with four breaths — studies show that certain breathing techniques done while walking can actually increase your energy levels, control moods, give mental clarity, and give feelings of connectedness.
Add an affirmation to your breaths (4 beats works best). Some possibilities are: “I love my life”, “I am a success”, “Health, wealth, love, happiness”. This, of course, is up to you and your mood.
Happy meditations!
Rose-Anne Kumpunen
http://www.RealLifeChanges.com
Hi Andrea,
Why did you switch from YouTube to Overstream? Was there an issue with YouTube?
Sorry, I guess I am learning not just meditation but also the video making. Since I conversed with Stephen Hopson, I am opening up to all kinds of new possibilities I might want to do, public speaking is one of them.
I love this series. And you talk and body talk like a mommy of 2 year old. (this is a compliment)
Some day, can you do the opera singing for us as a special bonus??
thank you.
What a great video lesson on meditation. Success definitely comes with small steps in meditation. I look forward to learning more from your classes.
Patricia
Mags – I’m so glad that the post shifted your perception of success in meditation! It’s fantastically hard to keep the mind from wandering at all … you’re doing the right thing!
Brenda – Absolutely! When we have greater awareness of our thoughts, we can also shift our thoughts to align more fully with our intentions throughout our days.
Rose-Anne – Great suggestions. I love walking meditations, too – although they are a bit “easier” on my mind, at least, and don’t require as much self-discipline, I find. After all, there is more “entertainment value” for the mind when we’re outdoors. There’s more to see, feel, and focus on. But there are LOTS of people out there who find it extremely challenging to do a sitting meditation, and walking meditation is absolutely a fantastic place to start.
Love the affirmations!
Akemi – Overstream allows me to add subtitles for hearing-impaired viewers. It was a great idea that Stephen Hopson brought up. I probably can’t do it for all my videos (it’s pretty time-consuming) but I do try. Nothing wrong with YouTube, though! And you probably won’t find me bursting into song …
Gail – thank you for stopping by!
Patricia – Thank you! I agree … meditation is all about baby-steps. I really enjoyed your article on your first meditation experiences!
Blessings,
Andrea
Hey Andrea, I’ve got to say this is a very good introductory video! I’ve heard so much about meditation but it never fail to give me the impression that it’s rather difficult. But your lesson really simplified the whole process. Any beginner should really watch this!
Cheers,
Ellesse
Hi Andrea,
I absolutely loved your video, you’ve made it very simple and accessible to everyone. I feel the readers of my blog would really enjoy it. I’ll share it with my twitter followers.
If you are up for writing a guest post at my blog that would be fabulous.
Peace, love and chocolate
Carole
http://www.thehealthylivinglounge.com