So there I was, sitting in a yoga studio on a mat, eyes closed and trying to focus on my breathing without my mind wandering to crazy places. 

Hold 1, 2, 3, 4.

Gees, the weather is getting cold now.

Breathe out 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Ech, I’ve got so much housework to do…

Breathe in 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

I wonder what this person meant when they said that thing like 100 years ago…

If you can’t tell by my inner monologue, I was in a meditation class as part of a course I had decided to do on a whim. 

As a person who leads an incredibly busy and sometimes stressful life, I had found the benefits of meditation back in my early 20s and decided that, now in my completely frazzled 30s, I had to get back to the basics and practise some self-care - and hopefully better myself along the way.

Since I had only rarely dabbled in meditation at home - prompted by apps and podcasts - and via a very brief stint with a psychologist, I wanted to learn some real techniques. So that is how I found myself signing up to a six-week meditation journey at The Balancing Elephant studio in Penrith.

What I thought would make me feel less stressed or warm and fuzzy, turned into a complete overhaul on the way I viewed the benefits of meditation - from something that just makes you feel good to a tool that helps you holistically alleviate various mental health issues. 

I walked away from those classes feeling completely… well, quite frankly, Zen. There is no other word for it. I was calm to the point of almost not being able to drive or carry on a coherent conversation, but when i woke up the next morning - look out! I was ready to take on my world. Another student in the class said she was miraculously sleeping again every night after many years of insomnia and many, many failed treatments.

While the 21st century has brought us the wonders of connection through the internet and allowed us, through convenience, to pack more in our days, it has also been a breeding ground for burn-out, exhaustion and failing mental health. As I wrote a couple weeks ago, we are more connected now, but studies show we feel more disconnected with ourselves and a general sense of loneliness.

This need for simplifying life and connecting with ourselves again was realised and in 2015, mindfulness and self-care became the buzzwords for all manner of activities, from Yoga to adults colouring books, morning affirmations, gratitude journals and meditation.

But these things are not at all fads or the airy fairy hokum they can be seen to be due to their recent rise in popularity and the fact that practices such as Yoga and meditation are derived from Eastern traditions like Buddhism - which doesn’t sound particularly scientific or medically based.

“It’s about ending your own unnecessary suffering. Meditation is a courageous step for some people into a desire for learning and self-inquiry. The challenge people are most trying to overcome is stress, anxiety, depression, and a lack of self-connection. Some people also just want to learn and have an experience of relaxation and peacefulness,” says Andrew Freeman, owner of The Balancing Elephant and a Hypnotherapy/Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner.

And surprisingly enough, more and more health practitioners like GPs and registered psychologists are hopping aboard the meditation train, while science is also looking more critically at these practices from our Eastern brothers - even confirming as far back as the 1970s that meditation has remarkable and lasting health benefits, providing it is practised on a regular basis.

“The science on meditation’s benefits has been researched pretty extensively for the past 40-50 years. Now modern medicine is beginning to introduce the benefits of meditation for a mental framework towards better health and preventing stress-related disease. Focused breathing reduces stress and lowers heart rate. We know that new mental cognitions can thicken and old ones diminish, we know that we can access the para-sympathetic nervous system and influence deeper functions of our body. Sometimes it’s only our minds that get in the way of our own natural healthy being,” explains Andrew.

Countless studies have been conducted to prove that regular meditation also helps to boost immune function, decreases pain and inflammation, decreases the feelings of depression, anxiety and stress, increases positive emotions, helps you to feel less lonely and boosts your social capabilities, boosts brain function and self-control, amps up your productivity, and finally it can make you wiser. 

Namaste! You’ve heard of superfoods, well meditation is the superfood for the soul it seems.

But what is meditation and how can you reap the benefits?

“Meditation is more of a surrender to the present moment in its fullest. By bringing your awareness to your breath, for example, you’re bringing your awareness into the present moment. Meditation is for everybody. If you have a mind, you have everything you need to begin,” says Andrew.

“There are different styles and approaches towards meditation. But traditionally, meditation is bringing your awareness to a certain point, the breath or a mantra for example, and as your mind begins to wander, just lovingly bring your awareness back to your chosen intention. During this process, you’re learning to be present, developing mental muscles and willpower over the impulsive and spontaneous direction of your thoughts.

“We can send intention to parts of our brain that experience joy, just like sadness. The more we experience any state or thought, the more we strengthen its rope. We can become stuck and see our whole world through that old lens. Keeping us feeling un-whole and disconnected. 

“When we go beyond our surface and draw our attention within, we are influencing ourselves with growth, development, healing and self-insight. Those lessons extend beyond ourselves into our environment, our community and beyond. Meditation is a process towards growth and removing those internal barriers.”

And the way to unlock all of this goodness rests in doing nothing but meditating for 10-20 minutes a day, advises Andrew. That’s all the commitment it takes! 

You don’t have to be in any holy cross-legged, hands on your knees Buddha position to feel like you’re floating on a cloud. You can be lying down, sitting or in a comfortable position in a quiet place - anything that works for you and means you can switch off from your responsibilities for a few minutes.

“Developing your own personal practice is the best insight into meditation and yourself,” confirms Andrew.

So what are you waiting for? This is another great strategy if you’re looking for a little digital detox - and we guarantee you won’t regret it.

If you’d like to know more about Andrew’s studio and services, visit his website here or via Facebook.

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