I think I snored at Yoga last night
To be fair I’d had an antihistamine as the pollen count is insane, so I’ll put it down to that.
It was during Claire’s relaxation / meditation at the end, and I deduct 100 points from myself as you are not really supposed to fall asleep (I was fully in a dream!).
You can listen to that relaxation here. (there are lots more if you look in our videos – this one might be a bit quiet!)
The only other time I remember falling asleep in public (aside from at obvious places like airports) was at the church I used to belong to.
Mitigating circumstances for the embarrassing doze at the church were; having a small baby, it was warm and I’d closed my eyes to listen to the singing. (Your Honour)
Interestingly there is a lot in common with meditation and praying… and actually hypnosis – but we’ll address that one another time.
It’s important.
Taking God, Bhuddha or the Universe out of the equation – the states of praying and meditation are physiologically in a very similar neurological ballpark.
And they are hellishly good for you 😉
Several studies have shown that those who pray regularly, especially as members of a church have lower rates of heart disease, Cancer and lower blood pressure.
Their viral load is lower. This is seen to be due to lower stress levels.
With meditation, similar benefits are reported, with a measurable decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, reducing inflammation and lengthening of telomeres.
It literally slows down the aging process of our cells.
So which wins: Meditation or Prayer?
In terms of your health rather than eternal salvation – it’s a draw (I know the nuns at my school might not agree – but I’ll stick to the evidence and your life now, rather than anything… after)
But were there to be any extra time or a penalty shoot-out – Mindfulness Meditation just scores the decider with all of the above PLUS its positive effects on depression – marginally better all round than anti-depressants.
Take 2 minutes to try it now
A Simple Meditation Practice
- Sit comfortably. Find a spot that gives you a stable, solid, comfortable seat.
- Notice what your legs are doing. If on a cushion, cross your legs comfortably in front of you. If on a chair, rest the bottoms of your feet on the floor.
- Straighten your upper body—but don’t stiffen. Your spine has natural curve. Let it be there.
- Notice what your arms are doing. Situate your upper arms parallel to your upper body. Rest the palms of your hands on your legs wherever it feels most natural.
- Soften your gaze. Drop your chin a little and let your gaze fall gently downward. It’s not necessary to close your eyes. You can simply let what appears before your eyes be there without focusing on it.
- Feel your breath. Bring your attention to the physical sensation of breathing: the air moving through your nose or mouth, the rising and falling of your belly, or your chest.
- Notice when your mind wanders from your breath. Inevitably, your attention will leave the breath and wander to other places. Don’t worry. There’s no need to block or eliminate thinking. When you notice your mind wandering gently return your attention to the breath.
- Be kind about your wandering mind. You may find your mind wandering constantly—that’s normal, too. Instead of wrestling with your thoughts, practice observing them without reacting. Just sit and pay attention. As hard as it is to maintain, that’s all there is. Come back to your breath over and over again, without judgment or expectation.
- When you’re ready, gently lift your gaze (if your eyes are closed, open them). Take a moment and notice any sounds in the environment. Notice how your body feels right now. Notice your thoughts and emotions.
- Feel Amazing
Wait…
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