Meditation

[Gulp]

NPR had an interesting show with a Harvard professor speaking about the benefits of meditation or relaxation techniques at the genetic level.

I've been thinking for a while about trying meditation again, and wondered if anyone here had any experience/tips. One example mentioned was repetitive prayers, where you just repeat something over and over. I guess I'm just not sure how this works. Seems like it would be distracting.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by Gulp

NPR had an interesting show with a Harvard professor speaking about the benefits of meditation or relaxation techniques at the genetic level.

I've been thinking for a while about trying meditation again, and wondered if anyone here had any experience/tips. One example mentioned was repetitive prayers, where you just repeat something over and over. I guess I'm just not sure how this works. Seems like it would be distracting.

My wife knows a bunch of stuff about meditation. I'll ask her if she'll be open to getting in touch with you if you want.

[Hogg]

Check out the Silva Method.

[Onacara]

Repetative prayer makes sense. It is basically chanting. The idea is that your mind is busy repeating the same thing over and over which does not allow it to let other thoughts enter into it. Therefore your regular daily grind thoughts (work, mortgage, bills, etc) are not brought into play during that time allowing your body to not feel the stress, anxiety etc associated with them allowing you to relax.

[El Diabolo]

The idea behind repetitive prayer is to overcome the conscious mind and move closer to "stillness." I was raised as a Buddhist and I remember putting myself to sleep in the third grade by using the phrase "In-Out" as I was breathing deeply. Did wonders for stilling my restless mind! I think meditative practice is increasingly important in our world as we have so many gadgets to keep us from ever finding stillness.

[Gulp]

Originally Posted by El Diabolo

The idea behind repetitive prayer is to overcome the conscious mind and move closer to "stillness." I was raised as a Buddhist and I remember putting myself to sleep in the third grade by using the phrase "In-Out" as I was breathing deeply. Did wonders for stilling my restless mind! I think meditative practice is increasingly important in our world as we have so many gadgets to keep us from ever finding stillness.

So do you say (in your head) "in" while you're breathing in, and then same for "out"?

A friend took me to a Buddhist meditation center or something in Chicago. We sat quietly and just looked at the floor. Occasionally the person running the thing would ring a bell and do some ritual or whatever. And then we got up and walked around. I just wasn't aware of what meditation was about, the stillness.

[Mr Migraine]

One method is to count breaths to ten and then repeat. We've done it in my philosophy class.

~Mr Migraine, chiming in as just another child referring to what he learned in some class taught by a hippie teacher, and assuming adults on this site will take what he says seriously

[SuperflyTNT]

I'm sure it's impossible to meditate with you in the room, though...I know I couldn't find inner stillness with a Migraine!

[braveheart101]

The closest thing to meditation that I do is to plug in my iPod, turn on Sigur Ros or some other very relaxing band, and go on a walk. After a while, every thing from the sunlight to the trees to the music all seems to blend in together in peaceful, joyous whole. You guys should try it.

[flameslayer93]

I call my meditation staring at something and just emptying your mind. It is very relaxing.

Another option is just going to sleep at a random time in the middle of the day. Preferably after you eat. If you do it every once in a while, your body will be rested for the next week should you continue your normal sleep schedule. Quiet rooms are best. Now I'm feeling like a recharging nap is needed for me...
:insertsleepingsmilie:

[El Diabolo]

Originally Posted by Gulp

So do you say (in your head) "in" while you're breathing in, and then same for "out"?

A friend took me to a Buddhist meditation center or something in Chicago. We sat quietly and just looked at the floor. Occasionally the person running the thing would ring a bell and do some ritual or whatever. And then we got up and walked around. I just wasn't aware of what meditation was about, the stillness.

Yeah... and it worked well to give me something minimal to think about so I would not let distracting thoughts move me from stillness. Also, you might look up the Alexander technique... many actors study that system.