Nature and Guided Meditation
By now you have likely read or heard about the wonderful benefits that meditation can provide to you. It goes beyond the obvious stress reduction, relaxation and inner peace. A NY Times article shares proof that meditation can actually change your brain. Read the article here
Now not everyone will find it easy to meditate so we’d like to share a few options with you that can make it much easier. Remember that CNY Healing Arts offers regular classes and workshops to assist you on your efforts with meditation, just check out our calendar and pick the location nearest you: Syracuse, Albany or Rochester.
Guided Meditation:
This is by far one of the easiest ways to meditate. You can either utilize a CD, podcast, video or other form of media if you wish to practice from the comfort of your own home. Or you can attend a guided meditation class or workshop to enjoy the community aspect and personal connection. Guided meditation is very simple. It’s exactly what it sounds like, a meditation session guided by a person and usually with relaxing sounds in the background. This can be a simple guide talking you through the process of relaxing, focusing on a given mantra and continually bringing you back to that mantra. Or possibly your guide will walk you through an experience such as a walk in the woods that opens to a field and on the other side is a loved one that you connect with and explore with further. The options are vast, you only need to find what works best for you.
Nature Meditation:
This is a fun way to meditate and if you haven’t tried it yet, you really should. This one is also very simple. You will want to find a space outside that is comfortable to you. Bring a blanket and a pillow. Sit down, cross-legged on your blanket with the pillow under your seat for comfort. Keep your eyes open for a few minutes and take in everything that surrounds you with your senses: sight, sound, smell. Now close your eyes and do the same thing again: take in everything that surrounds you with your senses (with the exception of the obvious – sight). Notice as your eyes stay closed longer, you begin to hear sounds you may not have heard while they were open. Take some time to hone in on those different sounds and enjoy the experience. Now open your eyes slowly and do it all over again.
This is a beautiful meditation that is foolproof and allows your mind to completely clear of everything but the task at hand. Nature becomes your mantra. Remember that meditation is work and you can’t do it wrong just keep practicing.