Hitting Send

The art of meditation was introduced to me as a very young child. I remember being completely fascinated by the practice of an Indian woman who lived next door to us when I was about eight. I would carefully tip-toe around her as she sat in the lotus position, meditating. Then I was told that I could trumpet my way past her and not disturb her, as she had been meditating all of her life. Haha, now I was really curious! Where did she go? I could see her there, so how could she not hear me walking right by her?

Despite this fascination, it took me until a few of years ago to actually begin practicing meditation regularly. I have yet to become so adept that one could trumpet about and not disturb me, but I am able to go deeper all the time and finally understand where she went. By quieting my busy mind, I am able to focus upon myself in the moment, experiencing my thoughts in a subjective way, acknowledging, then releasing them.

I have made it a daily practice because it makes such a big difference in my life. I discovered this at a time when I was working on television and movie sets. I recognized that if I began my day with at least ten to twenty minutes of meditation, the entire day went more smoothly and so did my interactions with others. My daily commute through Los Angeles traffic was less harried. The ten to fifteen hour days on sets were more manageable. I was more grounded, centered, and had an inner peace I had not experienced before.

There are many forms of meditation. I personally use different forms from day to day, because it is what works best for me. The first form that worked well for me, to which I most frequently return, is open-eyed meditation. In the lotus position, I focus upon a candle flame. This is concentration meditation, using a target to keep one anchored in the present moment. I find this the best method for centering myself and allowing myself to be in expanded consciousness and in the present moment. Another great one for the beginner is to get comfortable sitting or lying down (the key is to have a straightened back) and just to focus upon your breath, which is called mindfulness meditation. The intention is not to be focused, but mindful of the thoughts as they pass through. You still use breath as an anchor to the present moment, but no attempt is made to direct the attention.

Why are you going to set aside at least ten minutes a day to do this? Because the benefits are so numerous, it’s easy, it’s free, it can be done almost anywhere, and it’s going to make you feel really good. Meditation is going to make you feel grounded, less reactive, your interactions with others will become more harmonious, you will feel happier, less stressed, and you will have a greater sense of inner peace, as well as a knowledge of who you are.

Still not convinced? Let’s take a quick look at the numerous health benefits then, shall we? Did I mention less stress, depression and anxiety? This is because meditation shifts brain activity from the stress-prone right frontal cortex to the calmer left frontal cortex. That means that there is less brain activity in the amygdale, which is where the brain processes fear. (Getting the picture?) You will thus have better concentration levels, increased blood flow (which also means healthier skin), lower blood pressure, decreased muscle tension, increased serotonin production, enhanced immune system, reduced pre-menstrual syndrome, better sleep, help with chronic diseases, and increased post-operative healing. I ask you to try it because it will change your life. There is plenty of information and different resources out there to help get you started. Just start today! Try it, you’ll like it! Enjoy! I know you will!