Meditation

What is meditation?

It is a process to give higher perspective on your thoughts, transcend the waves of the mind, give attention to the present moment and helps you to develop a relationship with your mind. Through meditation we begin to recognise our habits, and this allows us to break those habits.
Meditation relaxes the mind and allows you to discover who you are, and how to learn not to identify with your thoughts – to just ‘be’, without judgement.

Which meditation should I do?

There are thousands of meditations that you can practice! On the right hand side of this page there are some examples of meditations that we have done in class. If none of these feel right to you, send me an email and we can find a meditation to suit your needs.

How do I set up my own practice?

Where: Chose a setting where you will not be disturbed, with the temperature not too hot or cold. It is helpful to sit on a sheepskin, a mat, or a blanket (something supportive but also soft). If you cannot sit comfortably on the floor, it is okay to sit on a chair. The idea is to be relaxed yet still alert, with a stable base.
When: The best time to meditate is before dawn (between 4 and 7am) or when the sun is setting (4 to 7pm). Meditating before going to bed can also be beneficial, as you are calming the mind and preparing for sleep.
Wear: Wear something comfortable, and ideally something made of natural fibres. You may also wish to cover your head.
Tune in: Chant ‘Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo’ three times to tune in.
Exercises: We do exercises for yoga and breathing to prepare ourselves for meditation. The exercises balance our nervous system and the subtle energies of the mind and the body, which in turn facilitates meditation.

Which exercises should I do before meditating?

If you do not have time to do a full yoga set, you may wish to practice a few individual exercises. For example: spinal warm ups, hip openers, heart openers, breath techniques.