Mindfulness meditationstaying quietly in the presenthas been shown to increase creativity, the ability to manage pain and the power to relieve anxiety. For golfers, the last one might be most important.

There are as many kinds of meditation as there are coffees at Starbucks. Some meditators focus on numbers, phrases or mantras. They even meditate as they walk, counting footfalls. Some sit quietly and concentrate on the sounds around them. To start, keep it simple: Sit upright, close your eyes and focus on your breaththe flow of air, the expansion of your chest in and out. When your mind wanders, notice that, and bring it back to your breath. "It'll take about two breaths before the thoughts start," laughs tour pro Luke Donald, who says returning to meditation in 2014 helped him recover control over his mind-set and mood at a time when he was in a freefall from his No. 1 ranking.

You don't need shrines, special rooms or lotus pillows. "The easier, the more portable, the more practical, the better," says Dan Harris, whose on-air panic attack on "Good Morning America" more than a decade ago led to 10% Happier, a book about his experience. Wherever you do it, try to do it regularly, say, 10 minutes a day. Donald says his new strategy is three little sessions of five minutes each day.

Psychologist Michael Gervais, whose clients include Donald and the Seattle Seahawks, says the point isn't just awareness. It's insight. "For some golfers, the ultimate insight might be: It's just a game. But you start by becoming aware of your emotions, body sensations and the unfolding environment." Harris talks about "investigating" what you notice and feel. "Practicing mindfulness helps you lean into feelings, accept them rather than fight them," he says. "That's when the magic happens."

Naturally there are apps for this. Some "game" the process, allowing you to measure how long you focus before your mind wanders. Check out Headspace, Muse, Harris' 10% Happier and Opti-Brain, an app built on the Muse software by Arizona State sport psychology consultant Debbie Crews. She put brain-wave-measuring headbands on teachers at last year's PGA show, demonstrating how much better they putted when they got their brainwaves to a resting state.

So now ... sit up straight. Close your eyes. Take a deeeeeep breath... and let the birdies come.

1.) Notice negative thoughts without being run by them. I gag over bunker shots might be a thought that never leaves you, but its power over you should.

2.) Delay reaction to stress. "Think of road rage," says tour pro Luke Donald, who has worked with psychologist Michael Gervais and George Mumford, author of The Mindful Athlete. "Something happens. You react. There are moments like that in golf. The idea is to extend the gap between feeling and reaction. Give the urge to react time to dissipate."

3.) Stop fighting what you feel. "It's not about feeling good. It's about feeling what you feel, and not running from it," says Dan Harris, author of 10% Happier.

4.) Be. Here. Now. "You hit a shot and take a few moments to evaluatenot judgeit," Gervais says. "You say, 'OK, this happened and this happened and that happened.' After that, the idea is to simply be where your feet are. Enjoy the walk."

5.) Rehearse success. Some psychologists go as far as encouraging players to imagine a whole round in a kind of meditative state. See success. Invite success.

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Why Meditation Could Be Just What Your Game Needs - GolfDigest.com

Of course, exclaimed Mary Bitterauf when I asked her if mindfulness and meditation really help. Mary is a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher at the MaineHealth Learning Resource Center. She teaches an MBSR course based on aprogram developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University

I have been teaching the program for over five years. My teaching certification is from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and I was trained in the Jon Kabat-Zinn program, which is world renowned. The reason I teach it at the MaineHealth Learning Resource Center is because we know its effective.

A lot of people talk about mindfulness today. Meditation is a tool to achieve a certain quality of mind so it is part of the mindfulness practice. What we know about [the benefits] is through the research and the medical evidence that Jon has been able to provide over the course of 35, almost 40 years. And we know that it absolutely works.

The 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program has been proven to reduce blood pressure and enhance the immune system and to help people with a wide variety of chronic conditions such as stress disorders, chronic pain, heart disease, anxiety, depression, sleep issues and fibromyalgia. There are many physical benefits and studies have been done repeatedly to validate the effectiveness of mindfulness meditation when done on a regular basis.

I was diagnosed 20 years ago with rheumatoid arthritis which is an autoimmune disease. It affects the joints and other organs in the body and with that often comes pain. It can be somewhat controlled by new biological medications but when I was first diagnosed, they werent available so I did have a lot of chronic pain. One of the ways I was able to manage that was through the practice of meditation and through gentle movement such as yoga, particularly a style of yoga called restorative yoga which is very, very gentle movement of the joints.

When you deal with chronic pain, there is also a lot of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness and meditation are helpful because they keep you focused and centered instead of [launching into] catastrophic thinking. You recognize how often the mind takes us in different directions and we start worrying about the past and the future, which usually causes stress. Mindfulness and meditation bring you back to the present moment where you can steady your mind and find stability.

Mary still has a few openings in one of her upcoming classes. It starts Wednesday, April 26 from 10 am to 12:30 pm and endsJune 14.

If youd like to try a 15-minute sitting meditation narrated by Mary, click here.

Link:

Do mindfulness and meditation really help? - Bangor Daily News

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or any cancer, most people would advise you to go to a center where the medical team treats a lot of patients with your type of cancer. While deciding on how and where to get treatment, dont forget to take into account your whole person.

There are many options available to help patients cope with the stressful diagnosis of cancer. The official term used to describe therapies and botanicals that are used along with traditional medical therapy is Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM). According to the National Cancer Institutes web site, a 2007 National Health Interview Survey reports about four out of ten adults use CAM therapy, with the most commonly used treatments being natural products and deep breathing exercises. In 2017, it would seem that this number would have risen significantly.

While being treated for mesothelioma it is important to take care of yourself both physically and mentally. One of the ways could be meditating to help turn down the noise in your head.

According to Psychology Today, meditation is the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference. It can involve focusing on the breath, on bodily sensations, or on a word or phrase known as a mantra. In other words, meditation means turning your attention away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment.

Meditation can be done in most settings. There are many types of meditation, but they have common elements to them. Two types of meditation are concentrative meditation and mindful meditation. Concentrative meditation teaches individuals to focus on a single image, sound or mantra, or even their own breathing. In mindful meditation, the person does not focus attention on a single thing but becomes more aware of any and all thoughts, feelings, sounds or images that may pass through your mind. The point is to let them pass through and not dwell on them.

The different types of meditation have four elements a person meditating should seek: a quiet place with as few distractions as possible; a comfortable position; something to focus on, possibly an object, a special word; and an open mind- letting things go through your mind and letting them go.

Whatever therapy you decide works for you, learn about it and give it a try. You never know what alternative therapy will work for you.

Lisa Hyde-Barrett has helped ease the stress of patients and their families by offering a comforting hand. Lisa has 25 years of experience as a thoracic surgery nurse at Brigham and Womens Hospital a top 5 nationally ranked cancer hospital. Lisa works with leading nationally-recognized surgeons who specialize in mesothelioma. Through her extensive experience caring for mesothelioma patients, she is a facilitator for the patient to help them maintain control and dignity over their treatment of their disease and to assist with the patients wishes. She is passionate about helping the mesothelioma community.

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Mesothelioma Nurse Suggests Meditation as One Way to Cope With the Stress of the Disease - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog)

By Lou Baldwin Posted April 12, 2017

Just in time for Holy Week, a new wooded meditation garden at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, featuring the Stations of the Cross, was formally blessed April 8 by Norbertine Abbot Richard Antonucci.

The stations, 15 in number including the Resurrection, are the result of 18 months of careful planning, according to Norbertine Frater James Garvey, a transitional deacon who oversaw the project.

The garden is entered through a gateway featuring a statue of the Archangel Gabriel, a patron of pilgrimage and healing and an important figure in Norbertine spirituality because ministry to the sick is part of the orders charism.

The individual stations are placed in rustic alcoves off a meandering path through a wooded area of the abbeys property. They feature images in the style of bronze images on the doors of San Zeno Basilica in Verona, Italy, which were crafted around the 12th century, just about the time St. Norbert established the Canons Regular of Premontre (Norbertines).

In the secular world St. Zeno Basilica is a pilgrimage destination and the fictional clandestine wedding site of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet as imagined by William Shakespeare.

The tree-mounted stations feature small wooden shelters in a shape mimicking Daylesford Abbey itself. They are crafted of ipe, an extremely heavy and durable hardwood from the Amazon, and could well outlast the trees in the garden. They are surmounted by the necessary cross and the numeral for each station.

The bas-relief images of the individual stations are approximately one square foot and were crafted in Ortizzi, Italy in fiberglass, a material unknown to artisans in the Middle Ages.

This beautiful but simply laid out path is a tremendous addition to the overall spiritual invitation which we as an Abbey try to afford all who come to Daylesford, said Abbot Antonucci. Walking the way of the Lord parallels so often the paths we sometimes find ourselves on.

Most people associate the Stations of the Cross with the prayers and hymns composed by St. Alphonsus Ligouri in the 18th century, but the meditation may take many forms.

To facilitate the devotions of those who may have special intentions, laminated copies of devotions for special causes are located at the gardens entrance.

These include a Stations of the Cross prayer for children, for seniors, for widows and widowers, for the divorced and separated, for vocations, for migrants and immigrants, for 12-step recovery, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for contemporary traditional reflections, stations with psalms and stations with Pope Francis.

Deacon Jim Garvey has composed 12different themes for praying the stations, Abbot Antonucci said, adding the themes could describe the personal journeys of many of us. Im very grateful to Jim as well as to our donor whose resources allowed us to construct this spiritual path in memory of her loved one.

The entire project was made possible through a donation by Colleen DelMonte in memory of her late husband Bryan DelMonte, Frater Garvey said.

A procession winds along the wooded path of the Stations of the Cross on the Daylesford Abbey grounds during the April 8 blessing ceremony.

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Stations at Daylesford Abbey invite walking meditation on the cross - CatholicPhilly.com

A Mindfulness Meditation group taught by a Buddhist rabbi is being offered three times per month in the sanctuary at Congregation Bet Haverim, 1715 Anderson Road in Davis.

Meeting this Tuesday, April 18, and on all first and third Tuesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m., participants begin with 10 minutes of mindfulness instruction, followed by 35 minutes of silent meditation.

Teaching, discussion and questions typically occur during the second half of the program. Pre-registration and RSVPs are not required; donations of $5 to $10 are suggested, but not required.

A more brief Welcoming the Sabbath in Silence opportunity is offered on fourth Fridays from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m., preceding Shabbat services at the synagogue. RSVPs are not necessary, and donations are not accepted for this gathering.

Led by Rabbi Seth Castleman, who trained with Jack Kornfield, founder of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, Calif., the group is intended for participants of all religious backgrounds or beliefs, and is appropriate for experienced meditators, as well as those new to the practice.

While influenced by Buddhist and Jewish perspectives, the themes of each gathering are universal, spanning the diversity of religious viewpoints.

It is surprisingly hard to sit with our own thoughts and feelings, Castleman said. However, spiritual traditions the world over point to this as a powerful agent of change.

The ability to remain steadfast and present in the face of hardship and suffering not only can bring peace of mind, it is the key to effective political and social change, he continued. Contemplative practice is by no means a path of complacency; quite the opposite.

Be able to observe and understand your own mind and you come to understand others, deepen your caring, and unleash your effectiveness. To paraphrase the Buddha, The mind is a powerful servant, however it can also be a tyrannical master, Castleman concluded.

Each gathering of the group usually focuses on a pre-announced theme, and several modes of exploration are employed. Teachings examine themes spiritually, psychologically and politically. Religious texts, Buddhist practices or chanting may be introduced.

The increased interest currently in our community in interfaith collaboration and recognition, that has occurred around social justice and political issues, as well as acts of hate, really lends itself to this type of contemplative practice, Castleman said.It provides a format for interfaith exploration of peace, justice and love and respect for ones neighbor, without the dogma and theology which sometimes can serve as barriers to true understanding.

Those interested in the group can join an email list providing advance details about themes, guests, suggested readings and meeting structure by contacting Castleman at [emailprotected]

Additionally, information also can be found atwww.bethaverim.org/worship/spirituality, or by callingthe Bet Haverim office at 530-758-0842.

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Meditation group meets at Congregation Bet Haverim - Davis Enterprise

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A lovely person briefly introduced this meditation to me during an interval at a conference. During our conversation she shared a little of this beautiful spiritual practice that she enjoyed herself. This meditation is connected to the seven CHAKRAS and the sounds linked with these. To practise this find a comfortable place to relax. You choose if you cross your legs or rest them on the floor. I love to do this whilst walking barefoot (which is a way to ground yourself) on grass, or along the seashore.

SONIC CHAKRA MEDITATION ROUTINE

When I first practised this meditation I started at the crown and hummed the sound mime three times. Then moved onto the Third Eye sound neem and did the same here too and so on. Since using this. I have been unable to find out any more information regarding Sonic Chakra meditation on the Internet as well as researching sites such as Amazons book and DVD section. If you have more information please contact me. http://www.TickhillClinic.com

This is an excerpt from my book to be published

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SONIC CHAKRA MEDITATION PRACTICE - Huffington Post

I have friends who suggest anything they really like doing is a meditation. When theyre not just being cute or ironic the principal they seem to rely on for this assertion is that such things as knitting, bowling, cooking, all involve concentration and at best, perhaps, an achieving of a sense of oneness with the object of their concentration. I have little argument with such an observation and indeed many of the so-called Zen arts such as tea ceremony and archery are such joining of action and attention.

But there is another kind of meditation that has no goal, no purpose other than just being. In my life this is mainly encountered on the meditation pillow. And I know it can take many forms, possibly even in knitting, bowling and cooking.

Now that Jan & I live in Long Beach, California, weve taken up walking on a near daily basis. It started out mostly as a health thing. And it remains that. But, it has something else going on about it, as well. Im thinking that something else might actually be meditation.

One must be careful, however. Its easy to get lost, to miss the real value in the practice.The difference between what might best be called concentration meditation and objectless meditation might at first seem subtle, maybe even too subtle. But its not. Our Zen ancestor Dogen Kiegen addressed this in his Genjo koan essay, where he says When the self advances toward the ten thousand things, is delusion. When the ten thousand things advance to the self, thats awakening. If we mix our self up too much into the matter, it taints our experience. If were open, many doors also open.

So, an open hearted knitting or bowling or cooking can do the trick. And, yes, walking. But, it may be a little more difficult than just sitting down, shutting up, and paying attention. Or, just walking. And here Im more thinking about how well objectless meditation works with walking.

The great Unitarian Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreaus primary spiritual discipline appears to have been sauntering. It sure looks a lot like this openness to reality that is at the heart of Zen sitting, an authentic objectless meditation practice. In his essay Walking printed in the Autumn of 1862 in the Atlantic, not long after his death was Thoreaus focused reflection on sauntering as a spiritual discipline. He also points out what comes to us when we let go of our expectations, hopes and fears.

Near the end of that essay Thoreau writes We walked in so pure and bright a light, gilding the withered grass and leaves, so softly and serenely bright, I thought I had never bathed in such a golden flood, without a ripple or a murmur to it. The west side of every wood and rising ground gleamed like the boundary of Elysium, and the sun on our backs seemed like a gentle herdsman driving us home at evening.

And at the end he sums it all up, returning to the metaphor of walking toward the Holy Land. So we saunter toward the Holy Land, till one day the sun shall shine more brightly than eer he has done, shall perchance shine into tour minds and hearts, and light up our whole lives with a great awakening light, as warm and serene and golden as on a bankside in autumn.

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When is walking Meditation? A Zen Reflection - Patheos (blog)

Explore meditation. Beginning on Thursday, March 30 at 7 p.m., Pastor John Griffin-Atil will offer a free weekly meditation course at the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church at 455 Palm Avenue. The course is open to everyone and will include reflection on Richard Rohrs book entitled The Naked Now: Seeing as the Mystics See and thirty minutes of silent contemplative prayer. Those participating are encouraged to purchase the book.

Meditation is a mindfulness practice that has been around for thousands of years. Forms of meditation exist in nearly every religious tradition, including Christianity. It is known by various names, such as prayer or contemplation. Meditation techniques are simple and can be learned in a few minutes or hours, but they take a lifetime of practice to master.

First and foremost, meditation is a practice of self-emptying. At its most basic, meditation is letting go - of our habitual thoughts, preferences, judgments, and feelings. It teaches one to live in an undefended way. Little by little one lets go of the need to prove one right or superior. It can be discovered that one is not so different from others. The individual taps into the immense, God-given source of compassion and kindness. Meditation retrains the mind and heart to know true humility and love.

This meditation experience is led by Griffin-Atil who is the pastor of the Imperial Beach United Methodist Church, an ordained clergy for 27 years who spent four years exploring the practices of Zen Buddhists and Quaker spiritualities of silence.

For more information, contact the church office at 619-424-5181 or ibumc@att.net. While reservations are not required, it would be helpful to notify the church that you plan to attend.

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Meditation Course Offered At IBUMC - Eagle & Times

One in four people experiences mental health problems every year in the UK with depression and anxiety being the most common, according tomind.org.uk.

This year the World Health Organisation's global campaign in focused on tackling depression, encouraging people to talk about it and seek help.

As well as seeking medical help, there are some more holistic approaches you can take. Meditation and mindfulness arebelieved to relax and calm the brain and tackle the sources of stress and other sources of mental health problems.

According to mentalhealth.org.uk, those whove undertaken mindfulness have shown increased activity in the area of the brain associated with positive emotions.

Here are the best places in London where you can try to find your zen.

This is your 45-minute getaway from the buzz of the city. You'll leave this guided energy boosting meditation class feeling refreshed and brighter, ready to take on the afternoon back in the office.

Class:11, 17 The Mall, Ealing Broadway,W5 2PJ, tribecastudios.co.uk/studio

No need to worry if you have never done meditation before because this course will teach you the technique. Explore how to relax, practise positive thinking and find your inner peace. It will also guide you to harnessing your thoughts and emotions and recharging your energy tanks.

Class: free, Inner Space, 36 Shorts Gardens,WC2H 9AB, innerspace.org.uk

Through the two main practices at the centre, Mindfulness of Breathing and Metta Bhavana, a meditation to develop loving and kindness, youll learn to focus on developing calmness and positive emotion.Classes are held Monday through Wednesday and Saturday.

Classes: free, 51 Roman Road,E2 0HU,lbc.org.uk/events/meditation/meditation-classes

During this 30-minute meditation class youll learn how to be present in the moment and just to switch off for a small portion of your day. The instructor shows you breathing techniques, guiding you to connect body and mind in deep relaxation.

Membership: 140 per month, Hereford House, 64 North Row,W1K 7DA, virginactive.co.uk

Gong bath is an ancient sound-healing practice to ease your modern problems. The 90-minute workshop takes you through different meditating techniques first then once you lie down, the unique sounds of the musical instrument will do the rest. The tones of the gong can lead to altered state of consciousness and guide you into deep relaxation.

Class: 20, 14 Collent Street, The Basement, The Ceramic Works, London E9 6SG, therefinerye9.com

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5 best places to practise meditation in London - Evening Standard

We find ourselves in a unique time in history, where time-saving technology is encroaching on our ability to relate to each other and ourselves. We spend more time engaging in stimulation and entertainment and less time integrating emotional experience.

The result?

Chronic, low-level stress and a nagging sense of disconnection.

Enter meditation.

Meditation is a tool for us to down-regulate our nervous systems. This, in turn, allows us to turn toward what we value. By engaging in meditation and sharing the practice with others, we have an opportunity to provide tools for health and happiness to a wide range of individuals, including ourselves.

Teacher training

Learn more about meditation and how to share this powerful tool with others at the upcoming Beginning Meditation Teacher Training, held at the Vail Vitality Center starting in June. The training, which is open to yoga teachers and meditation practitioners, will take place over the course of four weekends; it will be held one weekend a month, June through September.

This course will explain meditation along traditional lines, offering teachings that are accessible to all. By taking a close look at the various types of meditation, we will gain insight into the benefits of different techniques, and when they might be appropriate for an individual. Learn about common difficulties encountered during practice, as well as traditional methods to overcome these difficulties. With this knowledge, you will not only improve your own practice, but also learn how to guide others effectively.

The training is a great opportunity for yoga instructors who want to feel confident leading a meditation at the end of a yoga class, or for regular meditation practitioners to get a better understanding of their own practice and possibly begin to guide others.

We will explore mindfulness meditation and heart practices, and begin an inquiry into the practice of concentration and opening to insight. While the practices will be based on Buddhist meditation traditions primarily those of Theravadin Buddhism it will also include context for practices in other traditions. Rather than a religious-based training, the training will have a secular approach, for broad application in modern culture.

It is a common belief that meditation is simply forcing the mind to be quiet; with this attitude the practice appears difficult, and many people are afraid to begin, or quit after trying a couple of times. Learn how to overcome this resistance and employ a powerful tool that will reduce stress, increase self-awareness and happiness, and improve your emotional and physical health.

For more information, visit http://www.vailvitalitycenter.com.

Karen Anderson is the yoga director at the Vail Vitality Center. She has attended 10 month-long silent meditation retreats in Asia and the U.S. Her training in meditation is primarily in the Indo-Tibetan tradition. She is empowered and certified to teach meditation by Noah Levine in the lineage of Jack Kornfield and the Thai forest tradition.

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Beginning Meditation Teacher Training begins mid June at Vail Vitality Center - Vail Daily News