Meditation for Healing: The Restorative Art of Quieting Your Spirit
Meditation has been a wellness tool for thousands of years because it’s simple and it works. Anyone of any age or physical ability can apply the most basic meditation types and techniques to experience a physical and emotional benefit. Advanced techniques incorporate different eye focus, mudras (finger and hand positions) and mantra (sound current) for more targeted and deeper benefits. Meditation for healing is ideally done after yoga and breathwork. These practices balance the nervous system and stimulate your subtle energy. If you’re not a yogi or yogini, then practice after exercising. You will have released stress and your mind will be less distracted.
Yoginis and yogis talk about the ideal time to practice yoga and meditation as the “ambrosial hours.” It is the 2 1/2 hours before sunrise when the sun is at a sixty degree angle to the Earth. The energy is most supportive for spiritual work and there is a unique stillness. Although this routine is part of many people’s live, it is not for everyone. With a busy lifestyle, anytime you can meditate is a good time. It’s a great way to start and end your day and an excellent break during the day. In as little as 3 minutes you can begin experiencing a benefit.
Benefits of Meditation
Regular meditation can directly support your physical well-being by reducing stress, which is the number one cause of major illnesses. Imagine living with greater internal calm and peace.
A meditative mind is less reactive and more neutral. With a regular practice, you will find yourself being less reactive and emotional in situations that trigger your subconscious. You will begin to notice subconscious thought patterns and can begin to make conscious choices in your words and actions to break those patterns that do not serve you.
A less reactive mind has greater clarity and mental awareness. It is more productive and present.
Meditation Tips - Set Yourself Up for Success
Find a quiet and comfortable place where you won’t be disturbed. Don’t limit yourself to a room where you can simply close the door. Consider a quiet spot in your favorite park or green space.
Posture is important. Whether you sit on the edge of your bed or chair with your feet planted firmly on the ground or invest in a meditation cushion, sit up straight so that the energy can move easily up the spine.
If your mind wanders, which it probably will, just instruct your mind to come back to your breath or mantra. Don’t engage the distracting thought.
Start slow and build up the length of your meditation with mantras over time. With just 3 minutes of meditation, you are benefitting your circulatory system and electromagnetic field. 11 or 31 minutes is a good goal to work towards.
Use an app for a guided meditation with music, or without, as you prefer. Having someone talk you through your meditation makes it easier to focus. Insight Timer is a great free app.
The Lazy or Smart Person’s Meditation - Gong Sound Therapy
Whether you develop a regular meditation healing practice or not, gong sound therapy is a great addition to your wellness routine. We live in demanding times and often simply want to be taken care of. Gong sound therapy addresses this need. The ancient technology of gong sound meditation can offer physical, emotional and spiritual healing through deep relaxation, stimulating the glandular systems and cleansing the subconscious mind. The sound waves of the gong stimulate the skin’s dermatomes, a network of nerves connected to the bodies organs resulting in a sound massage.
Fondly named “the smart person’s meditation”, gong sound healing also brings the mind to a neutral state and only requires you to be open and to allow the sound of the gong to wash over you. Therein lies the appeal of the gong therapy - little effort is required on your part for a deeply relaxing experience.
Restore & Rejuvenate
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