“Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.” ― Sharon Salzberg
So you have some stress in your life. You might turn to exercise to deal with these stressors. Or maybe you had a date with your couch and Ben & Jerry or Sam Adams? Did you zone out to the latest CSI or “reality” show? Out of these three, exercise is the best choice. But what do you do when you come home from a horrible 12-hour day and you don’t have any juice left for exercise. Do you have a room, a floor, and 20 minutes? Why not try a little meditation?
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years. Initially, seekers and gurus used it to get in touch with a spiritual and mystical dimension. Practitioners would meditate, in silence, for days at a time in order to reach a desired state of mind. In modern times, we can’t carve out days to reach a higher spiritual dimension (try asking your boss for a little personal time off to meditate for three to four days), but we don’t have to commit hours and hours to the practice to reap the rewards. Meditation isn’t just for reaching a higher plane. There are proven emotional and physical benefits to practicing it as well.
Benefits of Meditation
According to the folks at the Mayo Clinic we can gain the following emotional benefits:
- Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
- Building skills to manage your stress
- Increasing self-awareness
- Focusing on the present
- Reducing negative emotions
If you feel like you are even keeled most of the time, meditation can help to control some of these chronic conditions:
- Anxiety disorders
- High blood pressure
- Pain
- Sleep problems
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Depression
- Heart disease
Famous People Who Meditate
At this point you might be considering meditation as a real prospect to achieving a healthier and happier you, but you still are on the fence. Sitting still and quieting your mind is that beneficial? Well these folks seem to think so, and they are pretty successful. A bunch of celebrities (and high-powered business folks) meditate, and I looked up a list to share with you. Check out who is getting in their daily silence:
- Sheryl Crow
- Paul McCartney
- Katy Perry
- Jennifer Aniston
Those are just a few who practice meditation. Their names might not surprise you, but these might:
- Rupert Murdoch
- Hugh Jackman
- Howard Stern
- (and this one really shocked me) Clint Eastwood!
Getting Started with Meditation
So now that you are convinced that meditation is worth a try, what do you need to start your practice? The best news of all is that you don’t need anything. I have found some great resources online and some terrific podcasts on iTunes. Check out these websites for free guided meditation scripts, music, and mantras:
Check out these podcasts:
Even Pandora has a Meditation station with terrific music to quiet the mind, and to help you find your inner peace.
Meditation often goes hand in hand with yoga, and here's some information about yoga at work.
So go out and find your inner self, quiet the thoughts, and open your mind!
