3 Reasons You Should Be Meditating

Axis Yoga Trainings of Denver, Colorado - Yoga Teacher Training 200-Hour Program

A look at the benefits of regular mediation

Why Meditate?

It was only a couple of decades ago that meditation was regarded as something reserved for mystical spiritual seekers; it had something to do with eating brown rice with tofu.

Now, it is practiced everywhere from pre-schools to prisons, from hospitals to monasteries. It can even be found on the cover of Newsweek and Time magazines.

Why this dramatic shift from kumbaya to mainstream media?

The answer is very simple.

Meditation implicitly makes life more enjoyable.  Meditation teaches how to deliberately move from mental, even physical tension into a place of peace and clarity.  Meditation is like a best friend that will never abandon you, a friend that is always there for you in any and all circumstances.

How is this possible?

Our mind is at the cornerstone of all of our life experience. You are what you think. Two people can experience the exact same event and experience it in two totally different ways, based on their unique mental constitutions.  The mind is the ruling force of our perception and interpretation of all life experiences.

Through meditation it is possible to reprogram our thought process, to let go of needless distractions, to give you the mental stamina to overcome adversity, attract favorable circumstances and expand your capacity to experience peace.

Here are three basic tips to get you started on the path of inner freedom:

  1. Have a teacher.  There are many automated resources out there to help you get started on the path of meditation, however I would encourage you to find a teacher with can give you some outside eyes, answer your questions, and provide a living example of what a committed meditation practice looks like.
  2. Regular practice.  Just like learning any discipline, meditation takes practice.  If you want to learn to play the violin, you need to practice.  If you want to learn how to run of four minute mile, you need to practice.  If you want to learn to master your own thought waves…. you need to practice. Consistency is the key.  It is hard to make any meaningful progress if your practice is sporadic.  Aim for meditation daily, ideally at the same time and place.  This will build a powerful groove of association that will radically deepen your practice.
  3. Life off the cushion.  At first we do yoga/meditation to enrich our lives.Then we do our life to enrich our yoga/meditation.  Meditation helps to shine the light of awareness on our habits and tendencies.  With this insight we are better able to make choices that support our life and in so doing support our meditation practice. 

The beauty of meditation is that nothing outside of ourselves is required.  If we can think and breath, we can learn to meditate. How conscious are we of our thoughts?  How intentional are we about our decisions?  Are we in-touch with our creative capacities?  Meditation can help us to answer these questions and many more, provided we are willing to practice.  A world of awakening awaits you.

 

Going Deeper with Meditation

 

Got Peace?  Have you ever felt anxious, or lay at wake at night thinking your way in endless circles?  Learning how to direct and live in harmony with one’s own mind is an essential life skill.  Meditation teaches us how to gain mastery over one’s (discursive) mind and experience deeper levels of peace and fulfillment.  Mainline into the source of all happiness with practice of meditation.

Join us on Sunday, Feb. 26th.  9:30-11:30  |  3250 E. Sixth Ave. UCC ~ Upstairs

Suggested Donation ($15-20)

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What happens when you meditate daily?

Axis Yoga Trainings of Denver, Colorado - Yoga Teacher Training 200-Hour Program

An experiment in daily meditation

 

An account from one of our yoga teacher training students…

My personal experiment was to construct a continuous meditate practice outside of yoga class. My plan was to do it every morning, considering that is when I had the most time for myself, and to do it 20 minutes a day. The first two days were really easy. I noticed I was really productive at work and had more of a chill day than when I would not meditate. The third day through the seventh day, I did not find time for a session. I decided to sleep in instead of waking up on time which is 4 am. My day would start out sluggish and it was harder to focus at work. I would try to get 4 things done at once, instead of completing one duty at a time. My day was more unorganized and felt longer and more stressful. After that week, I told myself I had to find time for it in my day somehow or another.

The second week rolled by with hardly an issue. I meditated everyday for seven days and it seemed as though the week was easy as pie. If I could not fit it in my morning time before work, I would meditate right before bed. When I did that, my sleep was more sound. I hardly rolled over or moved or woke up. My dreams were more vivid and peaceful. I was able to go to bed later than usual and still be able to wake up on time the next morning. I felt more energized throughout my day.

I would go into work with a smile on my face and not have a tired look. My days would fly by, and if it got stressful at work, it hardly affected me as far as putting me into a bad mood and I was able to come up with simple solutions immediately. I felt more confident in my skin. At work, when employees were not doing their job the right way, I would tell them the expectations and if they did not listen to it, we would have to find someone else. I was not rude about it, rather I introduced the conversation in a direct but pleasant matter. Needless to say, they fixed their attitude and got their job duties done. I was really proud of myself for saying something when I normally would pretend to not see anything and let them get away with not doing their job correctly or half ass. I even stopped watching television after 7. When I needed something to do, I grabbed a book and started reading for at least an hour.

The third week came by and once again, I got caught up in old arguments which lead to me missing a few days of meditation.

The practice was a little choppy as far as the effect it had on my day, and the timing. My practice was all over the place. I would miss a day, next day meditate in the morning. Next day, miss another day. Day after, meditate after lunch. Next day, miss another day. Then I meditated the next day after. Same thing happened the fourth week.

The same affects happened to me the third and fourth week and they were really chaotic weeks. In spite of meditating a few days in a week, it was clear to me that it is not going to cut it. I had to do it everyday without missing a day. Granted, some days were better than others but overall, I noticed I had the best week when I was consistent with my practice. Now, I am on day 4 without missing a day and it is only going to get better from here. This whole experience has made me accept who I am as a person and that I can amount to great things if I simply apply myself to it. I will continue to have a consistent practice for meditation and even in my busiest of days, if I have to go to the bathroom just to meditate for ten minutes I will, but I will make time to meditate somehow.

The little things I do now, will amount to greater and bigger things in the future.



Going Deeper with Meditation


Got Peace?  Have you ever felt anxious, or lay at wake at night thinking your way in endless circles?  Learning how to direct and live in harmony with one’s own mind is an essential life skill.  Meditation teaches us how to gain mastery over one’s (discursive) mind and experience deeper levels of peace and fulfillment.  Mainline into the source of all happiness with practice of meditation.


Join us on Sunday, Feb. 26th.  9:30-11:30  |  3250 E. Sixth Ave. UCC ~ Upstairs

Suggested Donation ($15-20)

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