A Meditation on Meditation
I’ve been meditating my whole life. I hadn’t always thought of walking without music as meditation, or sitting by an open window on a pretty day. And maybe they’re not, depending on who you ask- but I know this: meditation is any practice that helps you call in awareness, or grounds you, or brings you mental clarity. Sometimes, for me, that looks like Savasana on my yoga mat, 432hz at a just-right volume on my headphones. Other days, it’s beachcombing. It’s holding my partner close. It’s taking intentionally deep breaths. By that philosophy, people have been meditating since the dawn of time.
As a care worker, meditating is essential to my overall well-being. Research supports the idea that people who practice meditation are able to achieve better psychological and physiological well-being. A pilot study with cancer patients showed that longer meditation practice was linked to better mood symptoms- the literature suggests that meditation can reduce suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially in people with major depressive disorder. Participants also reported better sleep and improved focus, and brain scans show that meditation can reduce amygdala activity, which is linked to fear and anxiety (Jamil et al., 2023). How do we achieve this through meditation? How does something so seemingly simple have such profound effects on the human psyche? On the body? On the spirit?
The answer (my answer) is sort of simple- when we reduce the stress and tension we hold in our bodies, it gives our systems a chance to function without obstruction. We are in alignment- mind, body, and soul, like a stack of river rocks or a stars that have all lined up for a few beautiful moments. That is obviously not a medical suggestion, though I know there are physicians who could speak enthusiastically about the psychosomatic benefits of lowering stress.
There are many holistic ideologies that reflect the benefits of mindfulness and meditation- hypno-birthing (learn more about that here), visualization, breathwork, yoga, tai chi. When it comes to wellness, mindfulness, and spirituality- my mindset is, “take what works, leave what doesn’t.” If it feels good to you, lean into it. If it interests you, invite it in and get to know it. If it feels counterintuitive, listen to your inner voice.
If you’re new to meditation and want to know where to start, it can be as simple as sitting in a position that feels supportive to your body, closing your eyes, and focusing on your breath. If you want to get a little fancier, I love the Simple Habit app, and your local library probably offers yoga or meditation classes. If you’re local to Brooklyn, I recommend keeping an eye on Grand Street Healing Project’s event calendar for group meditation events.
Thanks for listening to my ramble on mindfulness. Take a deep breath and get excited for next week’s post, all about traditional midwifery and birth practices.
References
Larzelere, M. M., & Jones, G. N. (2008). Wellness: Stress and health. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 35(4), 839–856.
Jamil, A., Gutlapalli, S. D., Ali, M., Oble, M. J. P., Sonia, S. N., George, S., Shahi, S. R., Ali, Z., Abaza, A., & Mohammed, L. (2023). Meditation and its mental and physical health benefits in 2023. Cureus, 15(6), e40650. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40650
