Ommmmm

as you know, july was an incredibly stressful month for me.  one technique i used to cope with the stress was to meditate.  a few years ago, when i was studying for the bar exam and had extreme levels of stress, anxiety and insomnia, i took a meditation workshop led by hugh byrne at the flow yoga center in d.c.  i learned the basics of meditation, which include posture, breathing, and awareness of the present.  when i went to pick the practice back up in july, i realized i was rusty so i turned to my trusty ipod for help.  i downloaded a bunch of podcasts by "stin" where she guides the listener through a meditation session.  i found the podcasts to be really useful, as it is extremely difficult as a beginner in meditation to just sit quietly for a period of time.  feelings of boredom, frustration and stress bubble up as the mind begins to race with thoughts and ideas of all the other things one should be doing.  the guided meditation helps me to relax my body, not just emotionally but physically.  i don't realize it, but my whole body is usually tensed up by the end of the day, including my facial muscles and jaw.  it really helps to have a voice remind me to unclench my jaw, relax the muscles around my eyes, relax my shoulders, etc.

after the body is relaxed, the stin will guide the listener through the next step, which is to become aware of one's breathing and come into the "now."  breathing is something our bodies have to do to stay alive, but so rarely in our hectic lives are we actually aware of our breathing.  it's an incredibly calming - and almost spiritual - experience to feel our bodies fill up with air and then release it.

at this point in the meditation session, the struggle to quiet the mind begins.  between life and work and media/technology, our minds are constantly barraged with information.  in addition, our minds are forever racing with thoughts of what to make for dinner, remembering to pick up the dry cleaning, trying to resolve a problem at work, etc.  when you sit down to meditate, those thoughts only grow louder and louder.  the idea of meditation is not to suppress or ignore these thoughts, but to acknowledge them and then return to present awareness.  as one meditation instructor described it, "you treat thoughts as guests, you thank them for coming and then tell them goodbye and that they're welcome to return another time."

after the stin podcast ends, i like to continue to meditate while listening to music.  pandora has a great meditation station that i turn on.  one doesn't need to mediate to music, but i find it helps me to tune out the loud noises of the city right outside my window.  i typically try to meditate for 15-20 minutes each night.  usually, i meditate right before bed, which is a good way to relax before sleep.  the only problem is that sometimes i'm so tired, i start to fall asleep while meditating, which is not ideal because meditation is all about being in the present.  if i have the chance, i like to meditate right after getting home from work.  again, it's a good way to unwind, but most nights i go straight from work to the gym or out with friends.  so, as you can see, it's hard to fit it in during the day, but it is so worth the effort.

i have seen many benefits from meditation.  not only does it help to clear the mind, de-stress, and relax, but i have also noticed that while i'm meditating, my clarity of thought increases exponentially and answers to problems i have been mulling over for weeks come to me easily.  also, i have noticed that my dreams have become much more vivid and symbolically rich.  these dreams also help me compartmentalize my problems and provide great insight into how to resolve the problems.  i have also read that meditating helps one connect with his or her intuition, which can come in handy when trying to make a tough decision or size up a situation.

this evening after work, i attended a beginners meditation class at the shambhala meditation center.  the class is free (a $10 donation is suggested) and is held every wednesday at 6pm.  i thought it was a good class.  i didn't really learn anything new, except that i was introduced to walking meditation.  i would definitely recommend the class for anyone interested in beginning a meditation practice.  meditation is truly a "practice" in that you get better the more you do it.  i truly believe everyone should meditate, whether you're happy or sad, relaxed or stressed.  the practice can assist everyone in connecting with their inner psyche and becoming more at peace in this crazy world.  if you have any more questions about meditation or my personal experience, feel free to ask away!