Meditation&Manifestation

Feel the surface, whether it be a chair, cushion, or grass, beneath you as you relax, the muscles at your shoulders going loose. Notice how your hands rest gently upon your lap. Take a deep breath and feel your lungs and chest expand with each inhale, and contract as you exhale, allowing the gentle air to clear your mind. Once more, breathe in deeply, and this time, as you exhale, let out a gentle om. Now, let’s begin.

THE ART OF MEDITATION

Though the origin of meditation is hard to pinpoint, historians have found written records from Hindu traditions in India dating back to 1500 BC. Meditation is an umbrella term that encompasses many different practices that share the same goal of achieving inner peace and tranquility. The practice of meditation includes focused attention on the present moment and one’s surroundings, making a quiet setting especially important for beginners. Settle into a comfortable position with good posture, either sitting or lying down. Focus on finding a relaxed and deep cycle of breath, whilst keeping an open mind and attitude.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDITATION

Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or you are just beginning your journey, there are many different ways to practice the art of meditation. Guided meditation allows you to focus on the breath with moments of silence sprinkled throughout guided imagery and visualizations. Mantra meditation involves the repetition of a single word or phrase to prevent a wandering mind. The practice of mindfulness meditation asks that you focus solely on the present moment and the flow of your breath. The goal is to observe passing thoughts and emotions and then, without judgment, release them. Tai chi is a meditative form of chinese martial arts that uses slow movements paired with deep and focused breathing. Another popular form of meditative exercise is yoga. A yoga practice follows a series of mindful postures and controlled breathing which allows you to feel present while gaining flexibility and strength.

BENEFITS OF THE PRACTICE

According to the Mayo Clinic, regular meditation can allow for an increase in self awareness, the building of stress management skills, reduction of negative emotions, and heightened focus on the present. It can also increase patience, tolerance, creativity and imagination. For those with pre-existing conditions such as anxiety, heart disease, chronic pain, asthma, sleep problems, depression, and even cancer, meditation can help alleviate symptoms and pain.

“On days I meditate I find myself having more developed and interesting creative ideas that apply to my art and design practice, which I think is a useful thing for any creative.”

DIGITAL MEDITATION APPS:

Calm - The meditations included in this app are peaceful and leave users feeling refreshed and happy. The platform recently added a feature for mood check ins and short gratitude lists that make mindfulness more accessible throughout a busy day. The free version of Calm or a Calm subscription are great for those looking to start their meditation journey. Smiling Mind - For an inexpensive way to try meditation, try Smiling Mind–– a non-profit sponsored by the Australian government. This app is completely free to all users, regardless of which country they live in. The app includes a wide variety of meditations for people of all ages and lifestyles. Headspace - This app is notorious for including a variety of short meditations. Full access to the app can only be granted with a subscription, though the guided meditations within the free version are wonderful as well.

YouTube - This platform is another great place to find meditations free of charge. There are many guided meditations and free yoga classes, as well as meditation music and nature sounds on repeat.

Implementing short meditations into daily life and allowing a chance to be mindful and reflective can benefit the mind and body in many ways. Life is stressful and unpredictable at times. Taking just a few minutes every day to allow yourself to be still and present can allow a feeling of calm in the midst of chaos–– a feeling everyone deserves.

SUCCESS STORY

Kai Barker Dennett, an artist, designer and student at the Pratt Institute, discussed his journey with meditation, explaining how he started meditating out of curiosity, and continued practicing because of the numerous positive changes he experienced. To those thinking about beginning their meditation journey, Dennett suggests formulating a practice that is sustainable and easy to implement on a daily basis, as it’s important to start with small goals and build from there. For beginners, an eight to ten minute meditation is a great place to start. This minimum time frame will allow the mind to grow used to meditation so that longer practices are attainable in the future.