I have always been intrigued and curious about meditation and how to actually master it and let all your thoughts run free. I’ve touched upon mild meditation briefly in my yoga class but I have never been fully successful at it. I find it incredibly hard to not think of anything at all and just let go, it’s virtually impossible. So like most of us I enjoy being challenged and want to conquer the art of meditation. I feel in a world where everything is so constant you always feel slight anxiety that you’re missing a beat. So, being able to empty my mind and think calmly about inner peace is something I want to master. From today going forward I will be participating in a meditation challenge and documenting my thoughts and feelings right here on the blog for you. I will be heading to a meditation center in Philly and seeing if I can actually empty my thoughts.
Stay tuned!
What meditation center are you going to? I am looking for one as well in the philly area.
What type of meditation are you looking into? Most aren’t about getting rid of your thoughts, just changing how you interact with them…becoming less attached or obsessive about certain thought patterns you are prone to so that you can separate your emotional perception/judgment of the world and what is actually happening.
Hi Sarah, I will be going to the Amitayus Kadampa Buddhist Centre
Hi Elena, thanks for your comment, I will be participating in Vipassana meditation
Very excited to see the results of this! I’ve been thinking of getting into meditation myself! Maybe this is the little push and inspiration I needed to start ;)
I find it so weird how FP always seems to know what inspiration I need, or what I am thinking about. I love meditating at yoga and have been wanting to get into meditation at home, just haven’t had the time, and have been really hesitant to try it without an instructor. Totally looking forward to this series!
I have been making strides with my own meditating ambitions – The book The Power of Now that you guys have been blogging about for your book club is really helping. It explains to not necessarily “let your thoughts run free” but to step outside of your thoughts and be an observer. Observe where your mind wanders when it doesn’t have a particular focus .. and when it starts to wander away, to gracefully and compassionately bring it back as you would a wandering child or pet. Within this process, bring your mental focus down out of your body and into the essence of your being – or your presence. And just be with yourself. You will notice thoughts start to bubble up, but just let them fizz out and fade. Keep coming back to yourself. Your being. Your breath. Best wishes xxxx
@Karlena – it is helping me so much too! It has made me so much more aware of certain things, especially what’s going on inside me, and the way my mind works.
Reading the blog today was totally a gift from the universe. I am definatley going to be following this mediation challenge because I too am going through the same thing, trying to master the art of meditation. I’ve always been interested just like jemma.I feel that it so healhty and good for your well being and I’ve been practicing it every morning along with yoga, and getting books like “Zen and the art of Happiness” and “Science of Being and Art of Living: Transcendental Meditation”. I know what she means when she says its hard just to let go but little by little I have been improving. With this documentary I won’t be going through it alone, I get a peek into someone else’s expirience and who knows, maybe this will help with the big breakthrough!
Best of luck, Stay zen.
-Ryann
Obviously, I need this article! I’ve read it (skimmed….) three times and then come back and finally read it.
Ok, so I need to practice it now. Beautiful, thank you!
@Ryann Thanks for your comment! We will have to try out your book suggestions, they sound great!
Love this! Can’t wait Jemma, your Bikram challenge was a great read
I am really looking forward to reading about your journey into meditation. With only four classes of kundalini yoga under my belt, I am definately hooked. The meditations we have done so far are actually not what I anticipated. They are postures that are held for various lengths of time, often involving chanting. It makes it something that is attainable. Hold this posture while you chant these words. I can do that. There is also a relaxation which is like meditation I have experienced at the end of the hatha yoga classes. This seems more like the clear the mind, focus on your breath. But I have heard about a gong meditation that uses the sound waves and your body’s relaxed posture. Some people spontaneously laugh or cry even. And some even have visions. I have only put my big toe in the water of meditation and I am feeling the effects. I can’t wait to hear your experience.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I will be 35 this year and still cannot meditate; I just cant let go of my overactive brain. I look forward to hearing more about your meditation journey…
get awa y to a nine day yoga retreat with meditation training and you wont believe the change in your mind – phenomenal
Focus on your breathing. It is all about paying attention to how you breathe in and out of your body. Analyze your body with your mind and spirit. It holds a great energy. Notice how when you breathe in it fills in your lungs. Hold that breath. Let the oxygen flow throughout your body. Release and feel how your lungs let go. Let go of all that there is. This is how your mind state should be with meditation. Enjoying every sensation within your body and your surroundings.
Good idea! I practice Buddhist meditation in a group and have meditated freely for a certain amount of time on my own too. I found the group meditation helped a lot when like me you have difficulty letting go of our thoughts and anxiety, so I am sure your meditation challenge will help you. I’ll stay tuned!
I practice Kriya Yoga . Meditation has change my life.
Great post! Meditation is amazing, and I would totally recommend looking into different types and find ones that best aligns with you, I would definitely recommend metta (or loving kindness) meditation, and books by Pema Chodron and Thich Nhat Hahn to anyone interested. :)
Good luck! I am very new at meditation practice, but the book that opened my eyes to it was, The Buddha Walks into a Bar. Since then, I have been practicing my meditation every day and I’ve begun reading more books on Buddhism and contemporary meditation…and also listening to dharma podcasts! I have to say I’ve only scratched the surface, but I’m fully committed to the power of meditation. All the best to you on your journey to enlightenment.
I love that first photo in this post, so cute!
xoxo
Holly
hi,
I’d like to suggest you a web site and a book:
www. sgi-usa.org,
“Full Catastrophe Living” by Jon Kabat -Zinn, Ph D,
Delta Trade PaperbaKs.