Does anyone here meditate?

[ski diva]

I just finished a ten-day trial with the Headspace meditation app and have decided to subscribe for a year. I'd been considering meditating for a long time; I keep hearing about its beneficial effects, so I figured why not?

Anyway, I'm curious: Anyone else here have experience with mediation? Has it helped you out, and in what way?

 

[SkiBam]

I do, but mainly as part of my yoga class. I think it's something that can take years to master so I wouldn't expect instantaneous results. I had a very pleasant experience recently on a Delta flight where sessions of guided meditation were part of the inflight entertainment. I think I went through three or four sessions and found the trip passed so pleasantly. I should put some apps on my phone so I can do that on other flights.

 

[altagirl]

I do, but I'm not consistent. I do have some guided meditations on my phone and definitely use them on flights or when in stuck waiting somewhere. And I've tried setting up a daily practice, but it hasn't stuck yet. But I do find it helpful in combination with yoga for sure.

 

[SkiBam]

Yeah, like @altagirl I'm inconsistent about meditating on my own. For me it seems the energy, vibe, or whatever it is when there's a group helps me get "into" it more. My yoga class is actually called "Meditation and Movement" so the meditation end of it is a fairly big part, which I like.

 

[altagirl]

We even have specific meditation classes, or some that are a mix of breath work and meditation. I like both. Sometimes I get in a groove of doing it at home, but my spare yoga room became storage. I need to clean it out and get back in the habit. But I have trouble exercising at home too. For the most part, I know I'm better off with the group energy of a class.
But I think the payoff comes when you find yourself stressed and can remember to stay present and breathe. It works!

 

[MI-skier]

A 2016 goal is to do at least a daily affirmation. My favorite place to do it is (of course) on the chair lift skiing. Otherwise, while I'm doing yoga, morning stretches or in the steam room. Love the idea of an app. Whenever I'm stuck somewhere waiting I could do it. Will have to check out the app!

 

[VickiK]

@ski diva , thanks for bringing up the app you used. I'm assuming you found it beneficial if you signed up for a year. I've tried a couple of meditation techniques, but haven't stuck with any. I am thinking to try a free program offered through the Conscious Transformation organization (Joey Klein) but maybe I'll try the Headspace app.

 

[Christy]

Listening to talk about Mindfulness on Fresh Air the other night as part of a discussion about how the mind-body connection works (https://www.npr.org/sections/health...and-virtual-reality-help-power-mind-over-body) inspired me to look in to it. But everything I'm reading discourages me from trying to learn it on my own--I keep reading that it's like trying to learn piano, that it's technically possible to learn on your own, but it's not a great way to try. But I'm lazy and don't want to commit to a multi week class! People that are using apps that didn't have experience with meditation--are you finding it beneficial?

 

[ski diva]

Listening to talk about Mindfulness on Fresh Air the other night as part of a discussion about how the mind-body connection works (https://www.npr.org/sections/health...and-virtual-reality-help-power-mind-over-body) inspired me to look in to it. But everything I'm reading discourages me from trying to learn it on my own--I keep reading that it's like trying to learn piano, that it's technically possible to learn on your own, but it's not a great way to try. But I'm lazy and don't want to commit to a multi week class! People that are using apps that didn't have experience with meditation--are you finding it beneficial?

I have to say I really am. But I've been really diligent about it, too. Today was day 26 for me (haven't missed a day yet!), and I think it's going well. You have to be disciplined about it, though. I think it's one of those things you have to commit to and keep at it. Then again, you have to do that with just about everything, right?

 

[VickiK]

I haven't followed up on the free program through the Joey Klein organization, but I investigated the free apps and picked one called Calm. I liked the sounds and pictures that came with it. It has a free 7 day intro program, which consists of 10-min guided meditations. Each day introduces a different meditation technique as a topic, which is helpful to a newbie, but basically, each day is a short meditation focusing on your breathing and being still. Access to more themed guided meditations open up to paid subscribers, and it sounds like more programs are introduced over time.

I completed the 7 day program in 7 days, making time to do it in the last part of the day. I like the quiet of it, because of all the bustle here at the house. I will try to tweak my timing or environment to create a better meditation space (for example, since the washer/dryer are in my bedroom, don't have them running). Regardless, I want to stick with this as a routine. My sleep became more restful. Going forward, I'll either repeat the free 7 day program, use the timed unguided meditation program (also free), or become a subscriber. It's $40/year ($39.99!), but a couple of days ago I got an email offer to sign up for $30/year.

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I am not very regular, but use my little meditation timer as needed. I loved a thirty day meditation challenge a friend of mine created through Facebook. I actually did practice every day for it, even if 9 seconds was a long as I could sit still one of those days - is it any wonder I became a ski instructor? I love how quickly I can de-escalate anxiety and tension in my head. It is a practice without a doubt, and that has taken some months, which is really not that long. I love doing walking meditations. Again, I like to be in motion. So I close my eyes and cover ten feet or so in mega slow motion. I mostly meditate on the sounds that are around me. Rather than fight their intrusion I try to let them be "heard" but not focused on. Enjoy your travels into peacefullness!

 

[ski diva]

Just thought I'd update here. Today is day 152 of meditation for me. Headspace gives you stats that tell you how much time you've spent meditating, and I'm up to 40 hours, which is pretty amazing! Just goes to show how small chunks of time mount up (I wonder how much time I've spent brushing my teeth, for instance?). Anyway, I'm enjoying it pretty well. I find it relaxing and a nice way to unwind and make my mind a little less cluttered. The challenge is taking the mindfulness that comes with meditating and applying that to the rest of the day. As they say, it's a work in progress.

 

[vanhoskier]

I started meditating using some instructional recordings 2 years ago and I could see the results in my daily life. Then, I sort of fell off the wagon, and I restarted with the Headspace app when SkiDiva told me about it at Jay. I really like it, and like that it's only 10 minutes per session. (My other sessions were 30-40 minutes...hard to fit into some busy days). I purchased a year's subscription and I like the way it is going.

There is definitely a strong link between the mind and body, and our busy lives and noisy environments have caused us to lose touch with ourselves, I think. Learning to quiet my mind and change the way I think about situations has made me happier and feeling more fulfilled. If I had to chose between social media and meditation, I'd take meditation, hands down.

 

[ski diva]

I started meditating using some instructional recordings 2 years ago and I could see the results in my daily life. Then, I sort of fell off the wagon, and I restarted with the Headspace app when SkiDiva told me about it at Jay. I really like it, and like that it's only 10 minutes per session. (My other sessions were 30-40 minutes...hard to fit into some busy days). I purchased a year's subscription and I like the way it is going..

Glad you like it! You know you can increase the time on those sessions, right? Mine are 15 minutes.

 

[bounceswoosh]

I HATE meditation. Which I'm pretty sure means I need it badly. I talked to a sleep specialist about my difficulty sleeping, and he mentioned the importance of routines to trigger our brains that now is go to sleep time. As I was changing up a few other things about my evening rituals, it occurred to me that this is a great time to reintroduce meditation to calm my mind.

.... So now I've done exactly one day of meditation in a row! Go me!

I do have a lovely round cushion specifically for meditation, and I find it helps with posture and being comfortable enough. The hardest part, for me, is sitting down and doing it. Sitting with my own thoughts is so darn uncomfortable. There's a reason I'm constantly listening to podcasts when I'm not actively engaging my brain.

I started meditating with a group of people at work a few years ago, which was really great as a way to start learning. There are also some decent guided meditations you can get on Audible ... for yesterday, I used the app Zazen Timer, which I remember as having settings - but maybe I misremember, because all it had was 10 minutes (daily) and 40 minutes (intended to be done once a week ... yeah, gonna pass on that one for a while).

 

[vanhoskier]

Glad you like it! You know you can increase the time on those sessions, right? Mine are 15 minutes.

Nope, didn't know that!

 

[bounceswoosh]

Yesterday: 2 days in a row! Oof, yesterday was hard. Brain was all over the place. It was really kind of bonus since I did yoga and had two shivasanas ... right?

Anyway, I just went looking for some apps, and I'm intrigued by Insight Timer, so I downloaded it. It has the option of either plain timed meditations, or lots of guided meditations from some well known figures in the meditation world. I think you do have to create a login to use it. It's free, but you need to pay for some features - the one I just noticed was if you want periodic chimes during the meditation. There are social features, which I don't currently find useful, but it shows you all the people meditating with the app right now on the globe, which is kind of cool, and it does track your meditation history, so that's cool, too. So - I'll try it for a day or two and see what I think.

 

[Christy]

I enjoyed the free 10 days of headspace, but it took me 2 months to do it. I really like the idea of keeping this up, but the motivation...

 

[Skier31]

Several years ago, I went to a week long Buddhist retreat at Spirit Rock in California. It was a silent retreat which I actually enjoyed. No phone/email/ or anything for 7 days. It was amazing how relaxed I felt after the week. It was also amazing how much non verbal communication occurs when people are not talking.

When I arrived and saw the schedule of meditation which was usually an hour of sitting followed by an hour of walking meditation, I though I had bit off a bit more than I could chew. The walking meditation was easy but the sitting was tough. I fell asleep a few times and had difficulty not letting my thoughts take over but the more I did it, the easier it became.

I incorporate small amounts of meditation each morning but not a formal program.

 

[bounceswoosh]

@Skier31 , a couple of years ago, I went to a weekend retreat with Pema Chodron. There were 24 hours of silence, which I actually enjoyed. It was harder when the silence was lifted, because it seems like everyone else was there with a friend; I was there solo. So I felt more isolated when people were talking than when it was quiet.

Also, most of the women in my dorm arrived late, weren't part of the starting ceremonies, and weren't in the spirit of things - they kept talking. I hope one day to participate in a (short) silent retreat.

How much nonverbal communication did you find went on? Was it actual conversation, or more utilitarian? I wonder if "chatting" would be counter to the intent. Maybe not.

My joints really hate meditation. Maybe even more than my brain. I don't think I could do an hour of sitting. 20 minutes is pretty tough on my knees in all of the positions I've tried. Maybe I should try a chair.