I'd like to open up the subject of meditation and calming strategies.

Do any of you actually sit and meditate as a healing practice ?  How often do you do it?  Can you describe your process?

I like meditation Sahaja Yoga,
when I practise every day I really feel so relax

http://www.sahajayoga.com/

Well Raquel...it looks like nobody besides you is actually meditating daily.  

I would have loved for others to have joined in a discussion...but I guess it's you and me...
There doesn't seem to be much interest...

So, how long do you actually meditate?  Are you sitting quietly on the floor?  Lying down?
And do you do this first thing in the morning?  For how long?  Can you describe to me what you
actually are doing?

Thanks...

I do too... just not always daily...  

I had Shambhala Training in graduate school which is a secular form of Tibetan Buddhist meditation or, as they call it, sitting practice. It is essentially just sitting on the floor (I use a zafu [cushion] and zabaton [mat] which are zen I think) and placing your attention gently on the outbreath. Anything that arises in your awareness is labeled "thinking" whether it be a thought, feeling, sensation, etc. Once you find yourself thinking, you gently bring your attention back to the outbreath. Very simple actually, and lets you take something of an observer approach to how 'full' our minds are and how little we can tolerate the space of no thinking.

So that is the core of my sitting practice. I also add visualizations and affirmations once my mind quiets down at the end of practice. I only sit for about 15-20 minutes a day at present, first thing in the morning. I feel more grounded and peaceful throughout my day when I begin with sitting practice.

I try to meditate every night before bed for at least 20 mins.

I'm glad to see there are others who meditate...

Diana, what does your meditation practice look like?

I am not a very successful meditator, my mind is very busy.

I do alternate nostril breathe because at least it is active.
I have been interested in TM for the health benefits, but it looks like it is a big secret to learn.

I am hoping at the conference I will get to talk to someone who can help me.. just point me in the right direction and I will figure it out.

Quoted from Andrea AWsec

I am not a very successful meditator, my mind is very busy.

Really... all meditation is sitting and breathing. That's it in a nutshell. There is nothing to "get" or no way to do it unsuccessfully. Feeling agitated, restless, with racing thoughts and like you want to scream is all a part of it too.

My favorite meditation explanation is to hold the image of watching your thoughts floating by like clouds against the clear blue sky.

I think practice is key to success.  I expect to get it on one sitting.

I meditate also.  I try to do some every day, even if it is just a couple of breaths.  It tends to be the first thing I ditch when I get 'busy', and I am trying to remedy that, because it helps me so much.  I mix it up, some sitting, some walking, some during stretching, etc.  I've practiced several traditions, kind of mix them all together into something that works for me.

Quoted from Kristin

I do too... just not always daily...

Well my intention is daily, but I waste too much time here so I sometimes fail to accomplish my 20 minute sit. (zafu but no zabaton)

Daily, throughout the day. I dont follow a system except post exercise when I incorporate yogaasanaas for stretching, and then I spend about 15min *looking in* And after that when I light the lamp at the altar. After that through out the day I do small pockets of turning inwards. It helps me tremendously.

thanks for this thread, Chloe, there are many of us who meditate. I hesitated to check out this thread because there was a previous thread on this and I assumed this thread would just be referred to this other thread. Nice to have a fresh one. I appreciate hearing peoples' experiences with meditation. I have practiced with various approaches, and at this time I try to sit for 20 min. daily (don't always make it) looking within, doing nothing. (non-doing)

daily meditation a *must* in my case ....autogenes training nach Schulze, dito.....implementation of the Louise Hay scripts as well...works wonders for and with me ...my overloaden mind is able to calm down...

Quoted from Chloe

So, how long do you actually meditate?  Are you sitting quietly on the floor?  Lying down?
And do you do this first thing in the morning?  For how long?  Can you describe to me what you
actually are doing?

Thanks...

I've practise many meditation since 20 years ago. Sometime I've stop meditation and I've noticed immediately the difference in my mind (stress) So I know it´s important to clean the mind from 'avoids'thoughts.
That's  BTD has to practice every day to see the good effects, the same with meditation.
Now I practise SAHAJA YOGA (kundalidi energy), in the web you can see how to do it...I prefer do firts in the morning!!!
I love it

Quoted from Chloe

I'm glad to see there are others who meditate...

Diana, what does your meditation practice look like?

I sit in a chair or I'll practice laying down. I do deep breathing then TM for 20 mins and visualization.  When I'm unable to fall asleep, I'll meditate..always works.  All my life, my problem was getting enough rest and trying to stay awake (iron deficiency and figure skating) so to meditate in the morning before work is a no go. It makes me too sleepy. I also do walking meditation and I'll find myself relaxing when I drive. There's something about driving I find relaxing. I've had a few revelations while driving.

Here's what I do...

One form of my mediation is a self guided visual healing journey...I learned to do this in a group with the guided voice of a leader, but I like to do it by myself....

I lie on the floor on a mat or towel...I breathe deeply and slowly and feel my belly rise and fall as my breath slows down to a pace that feels natural.. and do nothing else for about 15 minutes just to get a sense of calm.....I sometimes light a candle before I start...make sure that I've got a blanket if I get chilly.  My second phase of this is to see myself walking across a beautiful open peaceful field...It is a sunny warm day and I am surrounded with
love and good health....and I tell myself that the energy under the ground where I place my
feet is sending white light throughout my body with each step....I then come to a bridge...
where over it is written the words, "you are entering deep bliss"....I go over the bridge and
find myself near a pond....I gaze into the water and see it is completely still...I see my own
reflection and it is young and vibrant and completely healthy.

I then see myself lie down on a blanket next to the water....and feel the energy of the earth
radiate deeply into my body...it's warm and comforting and healing.  If I'm experiencing
any bodily discomfort, I might direct the healing energy to start at the bottoms of my
feet and be directed upwards towards the top of my head, entering each bodily cell, muscle,
tendon, tissue, bone and surge through my blood stream......I like to work with the chakra system and feel each color and intention energize my body accordingly.

I stay with this energy until I'm ready to return from my journey, go back over the bridge and go home...taking with me all that I've gained on this journey..

I lie for awhile after I meditate like this and intentionally allow myself to absorb the healing experience.

Of course I can sit and just breathe...I can't last as long as the self guided visualizations which
I enjoy doing.

sounds lovely.....

nada màs to add here , twinnie .....

lovely thread

Very nice Chloe. You have good focus.

Fantastic Chloe!

Anyone meditate with music in the background?

Quoted from Chloe

Anyone meditate with music in the background?

I do not find that it helps me. Chanting/signing/praying before or after meditation can enrich the experience for me. But music justs acts as a diversion for me during meditation.

I know other people who do nearly all their meditation with a music backgroung. But for me it is not meditation if I have music going.

I also do not meditate with music in the background. I remember reading awhile ago that for true relaxation to occur, one should be in as quiet a room as possible with no music playing. I know many people use music for relaxation but it actually is just one more thing that your brain must process. I think music can be relaxing in and of itself... but not while doing deep relaxation exercises.

I never tried meditating with music on but I think it would be distracting as well.