Tag: Mental Health

Why Online Meditation?

Like you, I hear and read the news and know that so many people are struggling with loneliness and mental health issues during this time of enforced isolation.  These issues are not new but the lack of human contact, mental stimulation and concern over the virus are often bringing them to the surface.   If this is you, then you are not alone and joining an online meditation circle could really help.  There is a sense of group, of community in a meditation circle despite the fact that I am the one doing most of the talking by leading the guided meditation.  The small detail of our being in our own homes and many miles apart, also has no bearing on the sense of togetherness that practicing meditation in a group can bring.

It is a year or so since I ran regular meditation circles in my sitting room.  However, my concern for people’s mental wellbeing as they became more isolated from society, was one of the main reasons I decided to bring the circles back.  Of course it’s now in an online format, but you can join me every Monday lunctime and Thursday evening (we’re finished in time to clap for the keyworkers) and I’ll even send you a reminder that morning so you don’t miss the sessions.

There are other things that meditation can help us with, particularly at the moment as we are learning to accept change and dealing with an emotional rollercoaster or new emotions as we come to terms with what is going on with the world and the virus.

• mentally stepping away from the difficulties we are facing at any point

• show how sitting with our emotions can help us accept and deal with them in a  kinder fashion

• bring focus and clarity to the thoughts we really need to focus on, rather than being constantly distracted

I want to introduce,  or re-introduce, more people to meditation and to these benefits.  So if you’ve never tried meditation before, but have maybe heard it’s a good thing, then this could be your time to give it a go – half an hour of your time and your don’t even have to travel anywhere.  You might find that the quiet of a guided meditation is just what you need.

You’ve tried it but don’t think it’s for you,

A lot of people say to me that they have tried but can’t do meditation or that it wouldn’t work for them because their mind is too busy and my answer is always the same – you have to try it, I mean, really try it and you have to practice regularly.  You wouldn’t take up a new hobby, sport or musical instrument and expect to be perfect straight away.  You would expect to have to practice and to strengthen certain muscles, you would expect to start at the beginning and make mistakes along the way.  Meditation is no different.  We are training the brain, like a muscle, to undo what it has done all our life, over think.  We have to learn to do things that are different and don’t come naturally, we will have days when we can do it and days when we can’t – and that’s ok.  In fact the journey of learning and recognising your reaction to what happens on your journey is what it is all about – that is meditation.

I’ve done a lot more meditation than usual during lockdown and at first I thought it was the escapism I was enjoying, but actually it’s the space I’m loving. The space in my mind between the thoughts. The space when it all stops. It doesn’t happen easily or all the time but the more I practice the more often it happens. Funny that, isn’t it?

And if it’s not for you, do you know someone who could use one of these benefits – even if they don’t realise it themselves.  Then please forward this blog to them or send them my email address meditation@medulla.space – you could be doing them a huge favour!

Would you like to try the session first, here is a link to my You Tube channel where I have uploaded a few meditation videos that you can use at any time.