Meditation Day

Meditation Day is May 31st

Meditation is the practice in seeking a better connection with self, with your body and mind, creating more self-awareness. The word meditation stems from the Latin word meditatum, meaning to ponder.

It is said meditation dates as far back as 5,000 BC in India and China, making its way to the United States in the 18th century. Philosophers like Budddha, Lao-Tze, and Dosho spearheaded the movement and education of meditation.

Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is known to help reduce anxiety, pain, and stress, while also improving focus, better mind-body connection, and reducing brain chatter.

Meditation can also help within your own practice when it comes to mindfulness or self-care. When you practice meditation, over time you become more attuned with your mind and body - your thought patterns, your breath, ways to find answers you have been searching for, emotional patterns, and just how you overall feel day to day and how you gain more self-awareness and self-control.

How to Meditate and Start Your Practice

• Sit comfortably - most of us have a hard time just sitting still, so make sure to put yourself in a space that you find comfort in.
• Focus on your breath - focus on how you breath, do you breathe through your nose or mouth? Let your mind become quiet as you just listen to your breath.
• Follow your breath - let it be your guide. Breathe in and out slowly.

If your mind begins to wander, let it, and then bring your focus back to your breath. It is not about being perfect but being present. Take notice of when your mind tends to wander most, what causes it or what makes you more uncomfortable. Remember your practice is about you. Ask yourself your why, what is your reason for meditating, what does it do for your self-care. Also, remember meditation is about self and bringing awareness, so each practice, bring some sort of intention for the day.

There are several different types of meditations and other resources out there. The hard work has been done for you, here is a list of online resources, videos, and books that will help you with your practice.

Books about meditation practice

‘Meditation: How to Meditate: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind’ by Pema Chödrön
‘Meditation: An in-depth guide’ by Ian Gawler
‘The Science of Meditation: How to Change Your Brain, Mind and Body’ by Daniel Goleman

Books about mindfulness

‘Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment—and Your Life’ by Jon Kabat-Zinn
‘Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life’ by Thich Nhat Hanh
‘The Neuroscience of Mindfulness: The Astonishing Science behind How Everyday Hobbies Help You Relax’ by Dr. Stan Rodski

Videos

Debunking the 5 Most Common Meditation Myths – TEDxVeniceBeach
How Mindfulness Meditation Redefines Pain, Happiness & Satisfaction – TEDxSFU
Taming Your Wandering Mind – TEDxCoconutGrove
Body Scan Exercise with Jon Kabat-Zinn
Guided Meditation for Detachment from Overthinking
3-Minute Mindful Breathing Meditation (to Relieve Stress) with Stop, Breathe & Think 
Guided Meditation with Kelsang Jampa – TEDxSarasota 
Two Minute Guided Meditation – The School of Life

Other Resources

HeadSpace -  guided meditations, animations, articles, and videos
Global Meditation Movement - a non-profit organization that serves as the peaceful interface for Humankind, which connects all types of groups, tribes, societies, and individuals through Meditation.

Meditation is powerful to help you unlock your own self-awareness, inner guide, answer questions, and hone in on your mind-body connection. Celebrate this day by serving yourself and doing your daily practice, however that looks. If you are new to meditation, try adding it into your daily practice or routines that you have.