Do You Meditate?

Hanley · 03-01-2016 2:08pm #1

I mentioned elsewhere that my only goal for 2016 is to meditate daily.

The downstream effects I've noticed over the last 2 weeks of doing it consistently have been incredible.

I don't want to say "transformative" yet, but I think I'll be bumping this to say it.

So, if you practice any sort of meditation or mindfulness, what are you doing? And what effects have you noticed?

I worked my way thru the free 10 days / 10 minutes of headpsace you can download from the app store, and have moved on to their paid package now.

I've had rough days where I can't quieten **** all, and days like today where it felt like I was almost thinking on a different level.

Would love to hear from people who've done the same, and the experiences you've had.

..we might even manage to convince some non believers to do it too!

Penny Tration · 03-01-2016 2:18pm

I tried it when in school for a few months, and in my early twenties, using techniques recommended by a therapist. It did nothing for me :pac:

However, I've started using those mindfulness adult colouring books and they're class so far for relaxing me and taking my mind off things that stress me

Manach · 03-01-2016 2:34pm

Does murmuring a non nobis prayer after a gym session count ...

syklops · 03-01-2016 3:09pm

I meditate to suppress anxiety. The only problem is sometimes I forget to do it when anxiety is building. Its like learning self defence and forgetting to block when someone goes to punch you. I'll research headspace.

I also have taken to meditating when I can't sleep which for someone who often has difficulty sleeping is very beneficial.

jeff bingham · 03-01-2016 3:18pm

Been meaning to get into this.Hopefully help with some anxiety issues. Ill give that headspace app a go seems as good a place to start as anywhere. Il let ye know how it goes.

Hanley · 03-01-2016 3:39pm

syklops wrote: »

I meditate to suppress anxiety. The only problem is sometimes I forget to do it when anxiety is building. Its like learning self defence and forgetting to block when someone goes to punch you. I'll research headspace.

I also have taken to meditating when I can't sleep which for someone who often has difficulty sleeping is very beneficial.

Random thought on this one, may be bunk.

One of the big things in NLP / CBT is creating "anchors". A phsyical action that you use to elicit a certain state, in your case, this would be calm.

Theoretically you could create this state when you've finished meditating (eg "i'm at my most calm, i am not anxious" by squeezing your index finger and thumb together, for example)

And then any time you need to bring back that state of calmness, you just squeeze your thumb and forefingr together and it'll create that state automatically without having to meditate.

Obviously you'd need to invest a lot of time in creating those states in the first place and anchoring them down, but I think it's something that could help a lot.

I know I have some anchors from various times that I still use that make A LOT of difference.

(FTR - we can create negative anchors too)

[DISCLAIMER: I'm still finding my way thru all of this, but I think it's osmething worth investigating]

syklops · 03-01-2016 3:51pm

Hanley wrote: »

Random thought on this one, may be bunk.

One of the big things in NLP / CBT is creating "anchors". A phsyical action that you use to elicit a certain state, in your case, this would be calm.

Theoretically you could create this state when you've finished meditating (eg "i'm at my most calm, i am not anxious" by squeezing your index finger and thumb together, for example)

And then any time you need to bring back that state of calmness, you just squeeze your thumb and forefingr together and it'll create that state automatically without having to meditate.

Obviously you'd need to invest a lot of time in creating those states in the first place and anchoring them down, but I think it's something that could help a lot.

I know I have some anchors from various times that I still use that make A LOT of difference.

(FTR - we can create negative anchors too)

[DISCLAIMER: I'm still finding my way thru all of this, but I think it's osmething worth investigating]

That is very useful. Thank you. I need to look into NLP. Of the people I know who use it, all swear by it.

deadlybuzzman · 03-01-2016 5:49pm

What sort of effect do you find it has? Is it that it calms and quietens a noisy mind?

Hanley · 03-01-2016 7:59pm

deadlybuzzman wrote: »

What sort of effect do you find it has? Is it that it calms and quietens a noisy mind?

The best analogy I've heard is this;

Your thoughts are like cars on a busy motorway. Once the road is flowing, there's no problems. But if cars jam on the breaks and hang around you're going to have tail backs and crashers.

Have lots of thoughts running thru your head isn't necessarily good or bad, but when they hang around for too long and clutter your head up, then you've a problem.

Meditation teaches you how to let the traffic flow, while still observing the cars as they pass.

Transform · 03-01-2016 8:51pm

Hanley wrote: »

The best analogy I've heard is this;

Your thoughts are like cars on a busy motorway. Once the road is flowing, there's no problems. But if cars jam on the breaks and hang around you're going to have tail backs and crashers.

Have lots of thoughts running thru your head isn't necessarily good or bad, but when they hang around for too long and clutter your head up, then you've a problem.

Meditation teaches you how to let the traffic flow, while still observing the cars as they pass.

TM learned from the school of philosophy which i highly recommend

have done an ton of work with the guys over at NLP.ie very useful

but like everything no point in having the tools when you dont use them or talk about intentions.

Nervous Wreck · 03-01-2016 11:00pm

I have literally no idea what meditation actually is. Like, I know what it looks like it is (sitting quietly, possibly repeating a mantra and thinking...?). But I don't know what it actually is. Friend of mine meditates pretty much daily and gets huge benefit from it but I don't really know anything about it tbh...

Hanley · 03-01-2016 11:26pm

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

I have literally no idea what meditation actually is. Like, I know what it looks like it is (sitting quietly, possibly repeating a mantra and thinking...?). But I don't know what it actually is. Friend of mine meditates pretty much daily and gets huge benefit from it but I don't really know anything about it tbh...

My understanding of it is that you focus on something and eliminate all other thoughts from your brain.

In doing so, you better learn how to let go of cluttered thought processes, anxiety and stress.

For example:

_ You spend some time focusing on your breath
_ Then some time focusing on your body "scanning" it for any areas of tension
_ Then you spend time focusing on the contact of your body with the chair and how that feels
_ Then you come back to your breath and really focus hard on that
_ You finish by focusing on the sounds and smells in the room, to bring you back to your space
_ Then you reflect on how it all felt

That's just one example - I'd love to hear from some people more practiced than I tho.

Alf Veedersane · 03-01-2016 11:35pm

My Dad is a big fan. I burned one of his cds onto the mp3 player so gonna try and make some time for it to give it a go and see how it helps.

Between that, the colouring and the carving ridiculously intricate mandalas, I really need to pick his brains more.

Dtp1979 · 03-01-2016 11:49pm

Hanley wrote: »

My understanding of it is that you focus on something and eliminate all other thoughts from your brain.

In doing so, you better learn how to let go of cluttered thought processes, anxiety and stress.

For example:

_ You spend some time focusing on your breath
_ Then some time focusing on your body "scanning" it for any areas of tension
_ Then you spend time focusing on the contact of your body with the chair and how that feels
_ Then you come back to your breath and really focus hard on that
_ You finish by focusing on the sounds and smells in the room, to bring you back to your space
_ Then you reflect on how it all felt

That's just one example - I'd love to hear from some people more practiced than I tho.

How long does it take usually?

syklops · 03-01-2016 11:56pm

Dtp1979 wrote: »

How long does it take usually?

In many cases, until I fall asleep.

Two hours is my 'record'. When I build my house Im putting in a sound proof room. Between dogs, kids, electrical noise and slamming doors...

Less than 10 minutes I dont think is very beneficial, so 10 minutes plus?

Hanley · 04-01-2016 12:02am

syklops wrote: »

In many cases, until I fall asleep.

Two hours is my 'record'. When I build my house Im putting in a sound proof room. Between dogs, kids, electrical noise and slamming doors...

Less than 10 minutes I dont think is very beneficial, so 10 minutes plus?

Longer has been better for me as well.

I've only done 15min at this stage.

Buuuut it's like running.

You gotta start small and build up.

10x 10min a day for 10 days is better than 2x 40 minute stints in a week.

TM recommends 2x20min sessions per day.

jenizzle · 04-01-2016 9:31am

I use a podcast called the Daily Meditation Podcast quite often.

Find it really useful for calming anxious thoughts. Have found that I'm most likely do meditate just after a workout as I'm lying about on the floor stretching, and it's in my list of goals for 2016 to do this more often.

Also found some breathing and bodyscan techniques really beneficial when I'm trying to sleep but I can't. e.g. how do my heels feel against the mattress, how do my toes feel against the duvet etc etc.

Transform · 04-01-2016 10:12am

syklops wrote: »

In many cases, until I fall asleep.

Two hours is my 'record'. When I build my house Im putting in a sound proof room. Between dogs, kids, electrical noise and slamming doors...

Less than 10 minutes I dont think is very beneficial, so 10 minutes plus?

i beg to differ, i use pausing between actions daily (5-10secs pauses between working with clients, between moving on to different parts of work im doing etc) and they make a huge difference.

Its how i also started learning TM

LuckyLloyd · 04-01-2016 11:14am

Is it akin to the feeling of lifting? i.e. getting under a bar to squat. You have to clear your mind, and focus everything on bracing yourself and the small mental checks involved in executing a set of lifts correctly. When I'm performing a lift I'm not thinking about anything that stresses me - is it something like that only elongated?

guile4582 · 04-01-2016 11:19am

i used the ten days of headspace too. but have found best not to use any app at all now after getting the basics
i need to work harder at doing it daily but found places like the sauna after my swim is a place i can do it too.

everyone breathes heavily in there anyway haha

but it defo clears the head. i love that feeling when you open your eyes and connect back into the world after having 10min of bliss.

Transform · 04-01-2016 12:47pm

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Is it akin to the feeling of lifting? i.e. getting under a bar to squat. You have to clear your mind, and focus everything on bracing yourself and the small mental checks involved in executing a set of lifts correctly. When I'm performing a lift I'm not thinking about anything that stresses me - is it something like that only elongated?

yup lifting and training should be moving meditation, flow state

Jimmy Iovine · 04-01-2016 12:55pm

I tried the Headspace app this morning and found it to be good. I might give the month a go and try to find out more about it myself in the mean time.

Are there any recommended books out there?

My dad has a mini library at home and I'm sure he'll have some on meditation.

Transform - am I imagining it, or have you mentioned "Flow" by Mihaly ... before on here or your site? My dad definitely has that book. Does it tie in with meditation or is it something else entirely?

Transform · 04-01-2016 1:09pm

yup good read and very tied into meditation alright.

two good primers on meditation - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wherever-You-There-Are-Mindfulness/dp/0749925485/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345894016&sr=8-1

this podcast does a good job of taking all the woo woo stuff away from meditation and breaking it down simply - http://www.richroll.com/podcast/light-watkins/

i did 3 seminars before xmas and it was mainly coaches that showed up. in the business and personal development section this was a really really important point in an extensive article i wrote for it -

"Your enthusiasm for the job and your passion to help people will be challenged because fitness is an extremely tough industry to make as your life’s work so we will break down what has worked for us as a guide but this by no means is a presentation on what’s ideal but just what’s worked for us because this is a continual evolution in which we will adjust as our process and systems develops and evolves. You character can and should be molded by what we present here"

Becoming an indispensable employee that your company treasures or being a trainer that never want’s for clients has at it’s core a person that helps people with their problems, you do your job while fully engaged in the task or the people you’re working with face to face and you always over deliver, when ever possible, on the customers expectations.

To do all of this successfully you need to constantly work and develop your own sense of worth and gratitude (start a gratitude journal), understand your value system, carve timeout to recharge and learn to meditate so you can become fully aware and open to what your work and your clients truly both want and need".

cloudatlas · 04-01-2016 6:31pm

I've been using the head space free trial for a while now, just repeating it. I have a free 20 minute guided meditation podcast for my mp3. It's definitely beneficial, not incredibly easy but it calms me down before stressful events.

Hanley, Is there any point in subscribing to head space. What extras do you get?

Hanley · 04-01-2016 10:43pm

cloudatlas wrote: »

I've been using the head space free trial for a while now, just repeating it. I have a free 20 minute guided meditation podcast for my mp3. It's definitely beneficial, not incredibly easy but it calms me down before stressful events.

Hanley, Is there any point in subscribing to head space. What extras do you get?

You get longer programs. Different things to focus on. Different types of meditation and stuff. Very glad I upgraded.

Ruu · 04-01-2016 10:51pm

I use Insight timer app (free and you can listen to hundreds of different types of meditation). I have been meditating at least 10 minutes but nearly always longer, for just over a year now. I use it to acknowledge the tough moments in life, but knowing I can access these tools deep down and live with it instead of trying to change. Right now, I love sound mediations with singing bowl, find the vibrations very soothing.

+1 for colouring books as well!!

Precious flower · 04-01-2016 11:57pm

I'm going through anxiety at the moment - it's a right fecker between the physical symptoms outside of the panic attacks. One book recommended, besides exercise, is to take 3 minutes a couple times a day, especially when anxious/stressed just to focus ourself and do a mini mediation if you find it a struggle to stay focused or you're new to mediation. One think is not to try to think of nothing when you're mediating or forcing yourself yourself to empty your mind because you'll achieve the very opposite. Acknowledge how you're feeling and just go with it. Same with panic attacks, the more you fight it, or force yourself to calm down the worse it gets. Same with anxiety symptoms.

Ruu · 05-01-2016 12:18am

The important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to meditate.

Yeah, your mind will wander and there will be other distractions but the goal is to let it happen.

Transform · 05-01-2016 8:51am

Ruu wrote: »

The important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Yeah, your mind will wander and there will be other distractions but the goal is to let it happen.

agreed and i would say there is no goal, its just to observe thoughts like a passing cloud when they happen and return your attention back to what you are using to focus your mind i.e. a sound, image etc

Hanley · 05-01-2016 10:39am

Transform wrote: »

agreed and i would say there is no goal, its just to observe thoughts like a passing cloud when they happen and return your attention back to what you are using to focus your mind i.e. a sound, image etc

Just don't get stressed about meditation!

guile4582 · 05-01-2016 10:40am

Ruu wrote: »

The important thing to remember is there is no right or wrong way to meditate. Yeah, your mind will wander and there will be other distractions but the goal is to let it happen.

...and you dont necessarily need an app. it is all within.

apps are good to get yourself started and quick started and reading books like The Calm Technique are helpful. but meditation is about you. you need to work at achieving that state, and you know it already, it is natural, you have experienced it many times before although fleeting.

i see aswell some people are trying to make a buck off classes too. i'm weary of mediation being bought and sold, it is not a commodity. (although i do agree with retreats! they obvs incur costs)

(these are my personal observations, i do not mean to derail this conversation, but felt this needs to be said, just in case anyone thinks they must get an app, must get a library etc)

Do You Meditate?

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