Sarah Linton
Professional & Personal Coach
How to define Meditation
The English Cambridge Dictionary defines Meditation as the act of giving your attention to only ONE thing, either for inspiration or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed.
Yoga international defines Meditation or –DYANA – as a precise technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from the normal waking state.
Meditation practice no longer belongs in any ‘woo-woo’ camp – it’s being fully embraced as part of being human.
Why? Because our world needs support in managing our busy overthinking minds.
Combined with a healthy approach to nourishing & moving our bodies — it’s now one of our 5 core pillars of wellbeing.
We are huge fans of radical wellness and self-care for the real world.
Since starting a meditation habit, my brain has literally been rewired for contentment, peace & success.
I find my Zen and my calm in unexpected places.
By far the most notable change is an inner connection to peace that creates a ripple effect into every area of my everyday.
Integrating a Meditation Practice
Initially, I felt awkward with a sense of judgement by others – even if that was just a thought in my head!
When I closed my eyes I would see images & hear my nearest and dearest saying, “gone to her whacky-mat again.”
That monkey mind was hardly conducive to the joy, peace and harmony of meditation.
As a result of intentional practice, within weeks I was able to put those thoughts in the trash & engage in the daily 45-minute practice.
That was over a decade ago.
And if I happen to miss it – whoah …look out world… I feel it!
5 Fun Facts
- The number of meditators across the globe tripled between 2012- 2019
- Since 2012 the number of children meditating has increased by 800%
- Apple named mental wellness/mindfulness apps the #1 app trend of 2018.
- Headspace App has 65 million users in 190 countries with 2million subscribers (2021)More than 300 companies, including Google, LinkedIn, GE, Adobe, Genentech and Unilever,
are offering Headspace to employees as a health and wellness benefit. - Calm App had 80 million downloads (2019) – and 4 million (2020) paying subscribers.
What’s driving us to Meditation?
The growth is part of the snowballing momentum of our “anxiety economy”.
The trends are due to the behaviours of habit and continually being available – the smartphone, the 24-hour bad news cycle, social media & climate change stress.
In a frenetic world of change, immediacy, busy-ness and information overload, what could serve us better than finding a way to be with the moment giving our minds a chance to rest and recuperate?
Who is Meditating?
The simple answer is… we ALL are & we ALL can!
Yes, there are some big names doing it – Oprah Winfrey, Hugh Jackman, Richard Branson, Famous athletes, Deepak Chopra, Arianna Huffington to name but a few … take a look here at the list of outrageously successful people who are getting their zen on.
Why is Meditation so on Trend?
There’s a reason why. The scientific evidence speaks volumes.
Meditation is a uniquely powerful solution for our stressed-out, digitally addicted & distracted times.
The evidence shows how meditation is the anxiety-attacking and focus-restoring choice of many – not just the Celebs, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs & government leaders, Meditation is becoming the choice of the masses because it underpins our wellness.
Meditation is for you, me, your mum or your dad, your brother or sister, your children, your auntie or uncle, your grandparent, your boss, your colleague, your peer and your friends.
The better news is that the more we practice, we embed the habit and the more we connect to the health benefits. This is juicy stuff!
Meditation is a science, which means it follows a process:
- Follows a particular order.
- Has definite principles.
- Produces results that can be verified.
In Meditation:
- The mind is clear, relaxed, focussed inwardly.
- You are fully awake and alert.
- Your mind is not focused on the external world or on the events taking place around you.
Meditation requires an inner state that is still and one-pointed so that the mind becomes silent.
Getting your ‘sweat on’ by embracing a meditation practice
We need to look after our physical wellness as well as our mental and energetic wellness.
Meditation is often referred to as a way of getting a sweat-on for our internal world.
I find it inspiring to observe how this science & art is being integrated into our daily routines and having a significant impact on our wellbeing and vitality.
+ 3 Additional Bonuses
1) Meditation is fully accessible to all
2) Zero Costs – AND
3) We can do it wherever we are.
It’s here and it’s here to stay. If you have not tried it before, we invite you to try it on.
A complete workout for your mind. And so many ticks on the benefits list.
Together with the physiological benefits, a daily habit will create abundant joy and happiness in your everyday.
Share with us how it is for you!
SEE our 2 THRIVE Zen-10 BLOGS :
PART 1 – 10 PHYSICAL Health Benefits of Meditation
PART 2 – 10 PSYCHOLOGICAL Benefits of Meditation
Sustainable change happens one step at a time.
Take care of you,
Takeaways:
- Benefits can be experienced by quieting the mind for 10 to 15 minutes each day.
- Meditation has the power to permanently change our brains for the better.
- Quotes about meditation can serve as inspiration for your meditation practice.
