Sometime around 1985 was when I first heard of a doctor prescribing meditation to a patient to address a medical condition. I was impressed. I had already experienced the benefits of meditation but was surprised that a conventionally trained doctor knew that meditation improves health, that he was unqualified to teach it and needed to refer his patient to an expert that was impressive.

Since then, hundreds of studies have shown the benefits of regular meditation. Very simply, meditation can be a form of stress reduction and stress is implicated in nearly every disease. But the benefits of meditation go beyond that. Our mind is the most powerful tool we have. With an estimated 50,000 thoughts a day, the mind can end up with a lot of exhaust residue. Meditation can help clear out the jets and eliminate the toxic buildup from negative thoughts. It also clearly relaxes the body and releases stress.

Its all in your head. Humans try to make everything in the universe except ourselves responsible for our lives. The truth is, events in life do not generate stress. Events are neutral, though most humans struggle with that reality. Events do not cause stress. Stress comes from our thoughts about events in daily life. It is our thoughts that cause us to feel a certain way. And to make the outside world responsible is tantamount to saying I have no control of my thoughts. In fact, our thoughts are the only thing we have true control over. We may temporarily lose our confidence in that ability, but it can be reclaimed with practice.

If events were actually responsible for stress, how is it that one man is laid off from a job and says Woe! How horrible! and another man might say, This is exciting. Im ready for a change. A flat tire one day, maybe on the way to a concert, seems to elicit unhappiness. But a flat tire on the way to a root canal and we may feel a sense of elation. Same event (a flat tire), different feeling. Oh yes, you can draw out a because tree of reason after reason. But each branch of feeling is the result of the thoughts that we attach to it. That means we could say, Yeah, but one is a concert, one is a root canal. Yet always, for each branch, the same holds true. We feel the way we do because of the belief that a root canal means one thing and a concert another. If we think Oh dear. The root canal is going to hurt! we will feel one way. If, instead, we think, Wow, I was so looking forward to getting this over with, we will feel another way. We are responsible for our feelings and stress is the feeling of what we perceive as the negative aspect of any event, be it wedding or wake. It is the petulant avoidance of responsibility that allows us to waver toward an undisciplined and unruly mind, resulting in stress taking its toll.

Think less, know more. Practices like meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong, self-hypnosis, biofeedback, relaxation therapy all represent a form of stress reduction. People consider activities like exercise or a hot tub or a massage as stress reduction. Those activities are good and can be beneficial but they are activities. Relaxing the mind into abstraction requires specific intent. When our mind is intellectually active, it is busy judging. Judgment is what creates stress in the first place. The more active the mind, the more judgments it is making, and the more insistent stress becomes. It is possible to exclude judgment and attain thoughtlessness during meditation. Attaining the subtle moments where the critical and judgmental mind is uninvolved allows awareness of relaxation and a sort of mental purging that lowers stress. Lowering stress in the mind lowers stress in the body. Form follows thought. There is nothing that does that in the same way that real meditation does.

Do nothing, rest afterwards. People often believe that to meditate is to think. It isnt. Meditation is about not thinking. Often I will hear someone complain that they have been meditating but they are not getting what they want out of it. They are thinking about meditating. Stop thinking!

Finding an answer or hearing guidance is not the goal of meditation. Our job in meditation is to shut up, to be quiet, mentally. Meditation improves our ability to listen to our inner voice at all times. Meditation can be a time when we hear, but that is not necessarily the goal of it. Abstraction is the natural state of the mind. Just think about that!

Be well.

Heartland Healing is a New Age polemic describing alternatives to conventional methods of healing the body, mind and planet. It is provided as information and entertainment, certainly not medical advice. It is not an endorsement of any particular therapy, either by the writer or The Reader. Visit HeartlandHealing.com for past articles.

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Meditation: Slow down and get there sooner. - Omaha Reader

When you talk to someone about meditation, the usual response is, Oh, but I cant meditatemy mind is too active. Or, I find it difficult to sit still. Or, Who has the time, my life is so busy! In a nutshell, they list all the reasons they should be meditating.

Meditation helps still the mind and body, increase focus, disconnect from stress, find a moment of peaceand these are just the very cosmetic advantages. At a deeper level, meditation offers great health benefits.

A March 2016 study, Now And Zen: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Brain And Improve Your Health, by researchers at the US Harvard University, and published on the website, showed that 80% of doctor visits are due to stress-related problems. They then studied an eight-week relaxation programme, which included meditative practices,at Harvard and found that people who attended this programme reported 43% fewer hospital visits than the previous year.

Meditation, however, is not just for people with conditions or those who are spiritually inclined. The practice is more relevant than it has ever been, given the constant connectivity and stress that are a hallmark of the millennial life.

People are scared of looking inwards, and seek gratification from the outside world, says Seema Sondhi, founder of The Yoga Studio in Delhi. She explains why people hesitate to take up meditation, We prefer movement instead of closing our eyes and sitting still.

Paula Tursi, founder and director of Reflections Yoga and the well-known Reflections Yoga Teacher Training Programme in New York, has a different point of view. People tell me all the time that they arent good at meditationI offer that there is no way to be bad at meditation, unless you simply dont do it. She describes meditation as the act of giving yourself permission to be with whatever is happening without needing to change it. US-based meditation master David H. Wagner, who has been teaching meditation and self-empowerment to people around the world for over two decades, says anyone who really tries can do it, with the right guidance.

Whether you learn it from a guru, a book, or follow a guided practice via an app, one thing is certain, you need to do it now. Meditation helps you disconnect from a stressful situation, it gives answers to burning questions, in fact you even have some eureka moments, says Sondhi.

And its not just the meditation gurus claiming this. Puneet Dwivedi, head of department, mental health and behavioural sciences, at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram, also recommends it to his patients. Meditation enhances the effect of our medicines and counselling. He says people who are stressed or mentally disturbed need some sort of calming exercise to restore the balance of chemicals in the brain, and this can be provided by meditative practices.

That said, you neednt sit for an hour to reap the benefitseven 15 minutes a day will show results. Heres how you can get started.

How to sit

The image of the ideal meditator is one who sits inpadmasana, with hands in amudra. But not everyone is comfortable sitting that way. In fact, the last thing you want is a mind agitated by painthis would eventually be counter-productive. Though there are reasons to sit in the lotus pose, its best in the beginning to sit in a way that your spine can be tall and that will allow you to sit for a longer period of time, says Tursi. A chair is fine, though I dont recommend lying down, she says.

Traditionally, north-east is the ideal direction to face because, as Sondhi explains, it is the direction of sun and light. Facing this side, however, isnt essential.

Morning is the best time for meditation, but Tursi says you can do it in the evening, around 4pm, too. Its the time when most people feel sleepytheir brain has been going all day and they need a break. I find it is far more effective than a cup of coffee.

How to meditate

While it is best to learn from a teacher, there are basic techniques that you can use to enjoy the benefits of this powerful practice. Sondhi says you should pay attention to your breathfocus on just the inhale for 20 breaths and just the exhale for the next 20 breaths. Then, focus on both the inhale and exhale for 20 breaths. After this, breathe normally and observe where your mind is instead of looking for answers to a problem.

Tursi also suggests breathing meditation, which is a bit different: Inhale to the count of 10 and exhale to the count of 15. Do this for 5 minutes and then just observe your thoughts for the next 5 minutes. I tell my students it is best to meditate for a shorter time but do it every day without fail.

What if your mind wanders?

This is the most commonly asked question, and one that actually prevents many from practising meditation. Its assumed that one must close ones eyes and empty the mind of all thoughts. Keep the mind blank.

How is that even possible? By giving your mind a thought to concentrate on, says Sondhi. It could be your breath, a mantra, a prayer, or an affirmation. She explains that meditation is one-pointed focus, so it could be any activity that absorbs your mind completely.

How will it affect your work?

In his book Advice On Dying: And Living A Better Life, the Dalai Lama says that earlier scientists usually viewed the mind as a product of the body. But now certain specialists are beginning to think of the mind as a more independent entity that can affect the body. Taming the mind is essential for a peaceful and equanimous life unaffected by external factors, he says, listing these practices as faith, compassion, single-pointed focus and reflection on emptinessall meditative techniques.

Meditation, when done for a while, gives us the ability to pause, says Tursi. It helps us to put some space around situations so we can respond instead of react. Meditation, she explains, offers us perspective so we can see these are tasks in our day, things that we donot who we are. And this sort of mindset has the potential to change the way you work.

If you do face a stressful situation, Sondhi suggests applying your meditative practice and taking a step back. Instead of focusing on whats making you angry, focus on your breathing to bring yourself to a state of (relative) equanimity.

The last word

When you delve in the world of meditative practices, you will find many options. Theres simple breath meditation,japa with themala, Vipassana, transcendental meditation, yoganidra (to sleep and manifest), to name a few. You may find that you prefer some techniques over othersthis doesnt mean one is better than another, only that a particular type of meditation may suit you better. The best way to find out is if it leaves you in a balanced statenot too lazy or too hyperactive, then it is good for you, says Sondhi.

One word of caution, however: Tursi says meditative practices can be harmful for those with an unstable mind. Like in the case of severe depression or perhaps schizophreniait is not really possible to clearly observe thoughts when the messages are distorted to this extent. That said, she believes meditation can help even in these cases. But I would suggest working closely with a highly skilled teacher.

Dr Dwivedi adds: When people have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or are schizophrenic, meditation could increase the obsessiveness or hallucinations. These are the only contraindications of this practice that is otherwise very beneficial.

****

For mind, body and soul

Some meditation schools

Tushita Meditation Centre, Dharamsala: Learn meditation and Buddhist teachings at the seat of exile of the 14th Dalai Lama.

http://www.tushita.info

Vipassana, across India: A 10-day course done in silence. Vipassana is the form of meditation that Siddhartha Gautam used to become Gautam Buddha.

http://www.dhamma.org

Osho International Meditation Resort, Pune: This new-age meditation centre has courses such as Meditation for Busy People, which is ideal for companies.

http://www.osho.com/meditate

Transcendental meditation, across India: Learn this powerful technique which was popular with The Beatles.

in.tm.org

First Published: Mon, May 15 2017. 06 15 PM IST

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The meditation mantra - Livemint

I Tried Meditating Every Morning Before Work, and This Is What Happened

I'm constantly on the search for new and better ways to increase productivity, especially in the mornings. I am not an early riser in the slightest, so anything that helps me hit the ground running as soon as I wake up, I'm game. So, when Ananda Giri-ji from One World Academy visited our POPSUGAR office in San Francisco for a meditation session, I was intrigued when he advised us to meditate first thing every morning before checking our phones or making our coffees. By doing so, he said that we nourish the "beautiful state of being" (more on that later) and we manifest our intentions into reality. Basically, it helps you start your day off on the best possible note.

For 45 minutes, Giri-ji discussed the practice of meditation with our small group, including the difference between what the wisdom school calls a beautiful state of being and a suffering state of being. The former refers to the positive emotions you'd associate like happiness, peace, love, creativity, connection, and passion, while the latter is any state of being that would limit you: fear, loneliness, anxiety, jealousy, etc. By striving to maintain a beautiful state of being as much as possible, you're proactively trying to drive away the negative, resulting in an overall better mindset and well-being. Meditation is a way to shift your brain's activity to the BSOB.

There are various ways you can practice meditation, but the main thing to remember is that it's not about suspending thought, which is actually the antithesis of meditation, according to Giri-ji. Let your thoughts come in as they please instead of using all your efforts to block them out. You'll end up more in the suffering state by worrying about what to think or not think and whether you're doing it correctly. The objective of meditation is mindfulness and being in the present.

So, for every morning for a full workweek, I tried meditating for five minutes as soon I got up. I followed a shorter version of the eight- to 10-minute "soul sync practice" Giri-ji taught us with eight long inhalations and exhalations, eight more with audible humming, and the rest of the time visualizing myself melting into an infinite space. Here's how it went.

Monday: I had trouble focusing. Maybe it was because it was Monday and I couldn't stop thinking about my to-dos for the week. And of course when my boyfriend is usually still asleep at this time, I was startled in the middle of meditation when I heard, "Nicole! COME HERE!" I thought something was horribly wrong, but he wanted to show me scenes from his middle school play that his best friend had dug up, and they definitely were worth seeing. But then when I tried resuming my practice, it was even harder for me to focus and I couldn't stop thinking about what coffee I wanted to drink after.

Tuesday: This morning was much better! I did at times get distracted because of stomach pains from the container of parmesan I ate the night before, but other than that, I found myself in a peaceful state. My mind didn't race as much as yesterday, and the time went by much more quickly than I expected.

Wednesday: Today's practice was the most nice and calming yet. It could've been because I woke up especially tired and it was kind of like a second sleep. Breathing felt so good, and this was the point when I thought to myself, "OK, I see you, meditation."

Thursday: I definitely drifted off into a mini sleep, which could be why the five minutes passed so quickly this time. But I didn't wake to a groggy state as I expected. I felt slightly more refreshed than had I woken up after hitting snooze in bed.

Friday: I was really distracted this morning with thoughts about what was still left to complete on my list for the week. It was difficult to stop thinking about work and what I needed to pack for my trip the next week.

Overall, I found morning meditation to be a calming way to start off my day. I felt like I was actively turning my brain on earlier and didn't have to wait for my coffee to kick in at the office for me to get going. I also realized that I have always sort of practiced a form of meditation each morning in the shower when I run through my mental list of to-dos and story ideas, except I found myself less frantic and more collected. I was able to enjoy my first cup of coffee at home without excessively thinking about my day ahead because I had already run through my mental notes. I didn't expect five minutes to make any difference, but I was pleasantly surprised to experience its subtle benefits. Though it didn't change my life or anything, it definitely helped me jump-start my day on a positive note and got my wheels turning sooner than usual. Close your eyes and try it for yourself!

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I Tried Meditating Every Morning Before Work, and This Is What Happened - POPSUGAR

As a meditation teacher, Im frequently asked which type of meditation is the best or the most effective. People also want to know if meditation is possible without a religious connection or belief in God. Then there are questions as to whether busy type A personalities can slow down enough to meditate.

In order to be successful, meditation needs to be simple, comfortable, and have results that make you want to keep showing up every day. As far as the details go, whatever works for you is the right approach, and you have plenty of varieties to choose from. The key is making time every day to sit, breathe, and connect with the self.

Primordial Sound Meditation (PSM) is a silent practice that uses a mantra. The mantra you receive is the vibrational sound the universe was creating at the time and place of your birth. Its calculated following Vedic mathematic formulas and is very personal and specific to you.

Repeating your personal mantra silently helps you to enter deeper levels of awareness by taking you away from the intellectual side of the brain. The focus is on comfort, and PSM is generally practiced sitting down. Dr. Deepak Chopra and Dr. David Simon founded this method.This is the method of meditation taught at the Chopra Center and by Chopra Center certified instructors all over the world.

Famous Practitioners: Deepak Chopra and Lady Gaga

Started by Jon Kabat-Zinn in 1979 and now offered in over 200 medical centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) classes are often taught by physicians, nurses, social workers, and psychologists, as well as other health professionals, to create a partnership in care between the patient and the medical team.

This technique uses both breath awareness and body scan. Breath awareness is as simple as it soundsyou focus your attention on the inhalation and exhalation. Body scan is a process of focused attention on the physical body starting at the toes and working your way up with heightened awareness and the potential for release or relaxation of tension. The practitioner may be seated, laying down, or walking depending on the focus of practice.

Famous Practitioner: Jon Kabat-Zinn

Zen is also referred to as Zazen, which literally means seated meditation. It comes from Buddhism, which is more of a philosophy than a religion. You acquire insight through observing the breath and the mind, and through interaction with a teacher.

Zen emphasizes the attainment of enlightenment and the personal expression of insight in the Buddhist teachings. These Sutras (scriptures or teachings) and doctrine are taught through interaction with an accomplished teacher. Sometimes chanting is involved.

Famous Practitioners: Dalai Lama and Richard Gere

Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Transcendental Meditation (TM), made popular by famous followers like the Beatles, uses a mantra or series of Sanskrit words to help the practitioner focus during meditation in lieu of just following breath.

The mantra given to the student will vary according to a number of different factors, including the year in which the student was born and in some cases their gender. The year in which the teacher was trained will also affect the mantra provided. The teacher will have been given a list of mantras to use and this list varies depending on which year they received their instruction. TM is a seated meditation.

Famous Practitioners: Katy Perry and Russell Brand

Meditation in the Kundalini Yoga tradition contains specific, practical tools that carefully and precisely support the mind, and guide the body through the use of breath, mantra, mudra (hand position), and focus. The range and variety of meditation techniques in the Kundalini Yoga tradition is very large.

Yogi Bhajan, the founder, passed on hundreds of meditations tailored to specific applications. There are meditations that reduce stress, work on addictions, increase vitality, and clear chakras, to name a few. Since these meditations are so specified, working with a teacher is a large part of this tradition.

Famous Practitioners: Sting and Jennifer Aniston

Research shows that spending time in mindful meditation of any type can combat anxiety, stress, and depression while heightening optimism, creativity, and vitality. Pick the style that resonates with you and give it a try. If you want some help to get started, try the free program for beginners, the 21-Day Meditation Experience.

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5 Types of Meditation Decoded | The Chopra Center

May is National Meditation month, and that seems to be the topic on everyones mind.

On the Money reports that supermodel Gisele Bundchen told a crowd at the David Lynch Foundations Women of Vision Humanitarian Awards that she meditates whenever she can, even in the back seat of a New York City taxi.

Robin Roberts, a co-anchor of ABCs Good Morning America, also told emcee Rosanna Scotto that she now gets up at 3:15 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. to meditate. Her co-host George Stephanopoulos also practices transcendental meditation, or TM.

Roberts and Bundchen were among the honorees at the awards dinner.

Meditation may even have helped actor Leonardo DiCaprio win his first Oscar a prize that had long eluded him as he meditated with Montreal-based expert Lynne Goldberg while he was filming The Revenant in Calgary.

Goldberg is in town to spread the meditation mantra and her app, OMG. I Can Meditate!

While the transcendental meditation taught through the Lynch Foundation, which also uses meditation as a tool to help veterans and victims of sexual and domestic abuse, touts 20 minutes twice a day, Goldberg has an app for 1-, 2- and 5-minute meditation options.

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Meditation is the key to these stars' success - New York Post

Two Helena residents are launching an interactive platform called GuideFul to provide tutorials and guided meditation with a community focus.

Justin Whitaker, one of the co-founders, was raised in Helena before moving to Missoula for college. He was studying business when he took a Buddhism class with a meditation lab. It addressed his anxiety and depression unlike prescription drugs or therapy did. Whitaker changed his major from business to philosophy and took all the Buddhism classes available at the University of Montana. He has since received a Ph.D in Buddhist Ethics and heard teachings from the Dalai Lama.

After teaching for more than a decade, Whitaker said he understood the necessity of connecting people during their meditation practice and noticed it deterred people from sticking with the practice. During a meditation class at Merlin CCC in January, Whitaker and classmate Bob Funk talked about launching a website and app for mindfulness and meditation with the ability to foster interaction.

Whitaker said most existing apps dont provide any interaction among users, which causes them to burn out after a few weeks.

Mindfulness can be a very lonely practice, he said. You need people there to support you.

To provide that support, the app and website will include video tutorials by meditation teachers from around the world, guided and live meditation, community forums and podcasts. Users will have a chance to ask questions and guides will provide answers and feedback. The app will go through beta testing in July and launch in September. The app will be available on iPhones and Android phones for free to download, but with a $9.99 a month paywall to access full services.

Whitaker said theres research that shows meditation can combat anxiety and depression as well as physical ailments like high blood pressure.

Meditation can be a wonderful adjunct or add on to medicine or therapy, he said. But its not going to work for everybody.

Whitaker said after he gives his personal story and talks about research, most people are willing to try it.

Whitaker has been teaching since 2003 and will lead the teaching effort for GuideFul. Hes leading a four week mindfulness and meditation class at Dancing Lotus and has previously taught at the University of Montana, Carroll College, Hot Yoga Helena and Merlin CCC.

Funk, his co-founder, also has a background in mental health care and is developing the platform. He started Awareness Network, a Helena nonprofit covering out-of-pockets costs for mental health treatment.

While GuideFul plans to launch this fall, Whitaker and Funk are crowdfunding on IndieGoGo to raise $5,000 for startup costs and offering 50 percent off a year long membership to anyone who donates.

More:

Helena residents to launch meditation, mindfulness platform - Helena Independent Record

Mindfulness and meditation are often used to mean the same thing, which can be confusing, while not many are clear on what mindfulness meditation is and how it differs from either of the above. So heres our version:

Mindfulness isnoticing and paying attention to thoughts, feelings, behavior, and everything else. Mindfulness can be practiced at any time, wherever we are, whoever we are with, and whatever we are doing, by showing up and being fully engaged in the here and now.

That means being free of both the past and futurethe what ifs and what maybesand free of judgment of right or wrongthe Im-the-best or Im-no-good scenariosso that we can be totally present without distraction.

Mindfulness is the awareness that arises when we non-judgmentally pay attention in the present moment. It cultivates access to core aspects of our own minds and bodies that our very sanity depends on, says Jon Kabat-Zinn, from The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness Meditation.Mindfulness, which includes tenderness and kindness toward ourselves, restores dimensions of our being. These have never actually been missing, just that we have been missing them, we have been absorbed elsewhere. When your mind clarifies and opens, your heart also clarifies and opens.

Mindfulness also releases happy chemicals in the brain; it lowers blood pressure, improves digestion, and relaxes tension around pain. It is simple to practice and wonderful in effect. When we do pay attention, then change becomes possible.

Einstein said that we cant solve our problems from the level of thinking that we were at when we created them, says Marianne Williamson. A different level of thinking doesnt mean just a different emphasis in our thinking, or a more loving kind of thinking. It means what he said, a different level of thinking, and, to me, that is what meditation is. Meditation changes us, as it returns us to our right mind.

Mindfulness and meditation are mirror-like reflections of each other: mindfulness supports and enriches meditation, while meditation nurtures and expands mindfulness. Where mindfulness can be applied to any situation throughout the day, meditation is usually practiced for a specific amount of time.

Mindfulness is the awareness of some-thing, while meditation is the awareness of no-thing.

There are many forms of meditation. Some are aimed at developing a clear and focused mind, known as Clear Mind meditations. Others are aimed at developing altruistic states, such as loving kindness, compassion or forgiveness, known as Open Heart meditations. Others use the body as a means to develop awareness, such as yoga or walking; others use sound, as in chanting or intoning sacred words.

I could never still my mind. And then, as I was approaching my seventieth birthday, I thought the time has come. Part of getting older is that as the externals begin to fray so you are beckoned inward. As my mind became quieter in meditation, I discovered this place that seemed to be suspended behind my forehead, like a chandelier hanging from the top of my skull. It was a place of complete stillness, says Jane FondainThe Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation.

Mindfulness Meditation is a form of Clear Mind meditation. Attention is paid to the natural rhythm of the breath while sitting, and to the rhythm of slow walking. This alone can have an enormous impact. Ultimately, the method is simply an aide; its not the experience itself. A hammer can help build a house but its not the house.

In the same way, meditation practice is not an end in itself. We may wander off and do all sorts of other things, but stillness will always be there. It is a companion to have throughout life, like an old friend we turn to when in need of direction, inspiration, and clarity. Theres no right or wrong way to practice, we all do it differently. Most important of all, meditation is to be enjoyed!

Extracted from The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation.

***********

Ed & Deb are the authors of The Unexpected Power of Mindfulness & Meditation. Deb is the author of Your Body Speaks Your Mind, now in 19 languages. They have six meditation CDs. See more at EdandDebShapiro.com

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Mindfulness & Meditation: What's the Difference? - Care2.com

Everyone had recently encountered a frightening example of road rage before the meditation class.

One person was driving and saw someone yelling at another driver. I had walked by two people arguing over no-parking signs. And the meditation teacher recounted that the day before, on her way to class, she saw a man stop his car, get out and walk menacingly toward another driver.

She wondered, she recalled, did he have a gun? Others shared similar anxieties and agreed that, overall, the level of anger among strangers seems to be high.

Chill, a meditation studio in River North that opened in April, wants to help calm those anxieties.

This year has offered a steady drumbeat of blaring headlines, from concern over North Korean missiles to this week's abrupt firing of FBI director James Comey. With headlines rotating so quickly, the studio hopes to bring relief to stressed-out Chicagoans.

"I notice a shift in my energy," said Susan Ifergan after taking Insight, Chill's advanced meditation class. She said she has taken four classes in a week, and they are helping her during a difficult time.

Thursday's class was nearly full, with a dozen people stopping in at lunchtime. Instructor Kimberly Dunn began by recounting the story of road rage and explained that the class would focus on compassion. She guided meditation by suggesting how to bring awareness to thoughts and telling the class to think of someone who needed compassion a friend or a person with whom we had a grievance.

When the 30-minute class ended, people languidly stood up from their cushions and slowly walked out, some saying they wanted to come more often.

The studio's River North location is intentional, says co-owner Laura Sage. She wants downtown cubicle dwellers to feel they can drop in before, during or after work.

"I am perpetually in a state of frenzy, which I'm not proud of," said Sage, who also founded the Lynn Sage Foundation, dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer. "I had always wanted to meditate and have a consistent practice, and I couldn't find a place in Chicago that made that convenient for me."

The rooms are softly lit with a variety of cushions and blankets, but not much else.

"We intentionally made Chill very minimalistic," Sage said.

Along with Insight, the studio offers a variety of classes including Breath, an introduction to meditation; Rest, a night class aimed at calming the body before bed; and a class that's a combination of yoga and meditation. Single sessions are $22, and an unlimited monthly membership is $150. The studio also offers massages.

Like many beginners, my mind wandered noticing an itchy eye, wondering whether my contact was the issue, pondering how strange it would be to remove a contact lens in the middle of a meditation class.

But Sage offers the comforting analogy that meditation is like running a marathon.

"You wouldn't assume you could run 26 miles day one. You would incrementally grow to that level," she said. "Meditation is exercising your brain. If you haven't done it before, give yourself a break."

abowen@chicagotribune.com

Twtiter @byalisonbowen

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Stressed by current events? Chicago meditation studio aims to help - Chicago Tribune

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Transcendental Meditation (TM) Technique - Cleveland, OH

Editor's note: You can hear Sarathy Korwar and other leading players in London's jazz scene in this week's Jazz Night In America radio episode.

Sarathy Korwar, a percussionist and electronic producer born in the United States but raised in India and now working in London, released a knockout album last year, Day To Day. Working with his own field recordings of the Sidi Troupe of Ratanpur, which consists of five drummers who also vocalize, Korwar sought to illuminate patterns of human migration and drift, and the small-scale but profound ways in which cultures can meld.

During the 2017 South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, Jazz Night In America asked Korwar to perform a track from Day To Day for NPR's "Night Owl" series. He played "Indefinite Leave To Remain," a song whose themes bear direct relevance to the issue of cultural exchange in an era of high geopolitical tension. On the street below, revelers and traffic made a distant racket but Korwar, sitting on an open-air hotel balcony, created a zone of quiet focus and meditative intent.

CREDITS:

Director: Nickolai Hammar; Producer: Josie Holtzman; Animation: CJ Riculan; Video: Nickolai Hammar; Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin; Series Producer: Benjamin Naddaff-Hafrey; Series Creator/Supervising Producer: Mito Habe-Evans; Executive Producer: Anya Grundmann

See the article here:

Watch Sarathy Korwar Play A Nighttime Meditation On Tablas And ... - NPR