{"id":1283,"date":"2019-02-28T17:01:36","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T17:01:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebodymatters.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1283"},"modified":"2022-09-21T11:32:54","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T10:32:54","slug":"training-the-monkey-mind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thebodymatters.co.uk\/blog\/2019\/02\/training-the-monkey-mind\/","title":{"rendered":"Meditation: Training the \u201cMonkey Mind\u201d for a Calmer Existence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In teaching my 4-week meditation course, I\u2019ve realised three things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. The first is that people often don\u2019t really know what meditation<\/a> is or have only heard of one way to meditate. <\/li>
  2. The second thing is that quite a few people think they \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d meditate, or have been put off it because what they\u2019ve tried in the past hasn\u2019t worked for them. If they do they might think it\u2019s really hard, you can either do it or you can\u2019t, and some even think they \u201ccan\u2019t\u201d meditate. <\/li>
  3. And finally, people who come on my courses sometimes think I\u2019ll have some kind of magic wand to \u201cmake\u201d them able to meditate. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    I have seen so many benefits of meditation, and I had to try out lots of different ways of doing it before I found the thing that worked best for me, so I wanted to answer a few questions to help clear things up. Because I believe you can meditate, you just need to find the way of meditating that works best for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But no\u2026 I don\u2019t have a magic wand (sorry). Here\u2019s how it works.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Why Meditate?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you look online you can read plenty of articles about the health benefits of meditation, for example, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress levels. But the reasons to meditate will be as different as each person who wants to do it. So, I\u2019m going to share some of the benefits based on my own experience and those of my clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I know from experience that meditation can make you a calmer person and help clear your mind. I might not be able to \u201cmake\u201d you stop thinking so you can meditate (which is not what it\u2019s about anyway) but a clearer, calmer mind<\/g> is one of the positive side effects of meditating regularly. A few people who attended my meditation course even said that it gave them more clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I certainly don\u2019t get caught up in other people\u2019s dramas like I used to, and I don\u2019t rush around like a headless chicken any more.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There have also been unexpected benefits to my physical wellbeing, for example, I had really bad eczema for three years but that\u2019s all cleared up now, even though the doctor\u2019s lotions and creams hadn\u2019t worked.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For me, the main benefit of meditation is learning more about myself, which has given me the option to decide whether I want to change or not. Sometimes that can be challenging, as this involves learning about the things you might not necessarily want to own up to, but at least then I have the option of what to do with that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I believe meditation helps you to more easily access whatever it is you need at the time \u2013 whether it\u2019s calmness, clarity, a sense of wellbeing, or something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So what is Meditation?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Meditation is about training the mind and finding the right techniques for each person. For example, you can\u2019t tell a busy mum to sit and meditate for an hour \u2013 it\u2019s got to be something that\u2019s right for you and your lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You don\u2019t have to be religious. You don\u2019t have to be a Buddhist. For me it\u2019s about training what I call the \u201cmonkey mind\u201d – that part of your mind that runs all over the place and distracts you, making you feel stressed or overwhelmed can learn to be still and quiet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It takes practice and discipline, but it\u2019s worth it!
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I don\u2019t think I can meditate\u2026 what can I do? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The good news is that there is science that tells us that you can \u201cteach old dogs new tricks\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s about creating the neural pathways in your brain. And to do that you need discipline and practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you were hoping for a magic wand then sorry to disappoint you. But you wouldn\u2019t give a new baby a knife and fork and just expect them to automatically know how to use them \u2013 even if you\u2019ve shown them the first time, it takes practice. And after years of your monkey mind taking you off to wherever it wants to take you, it needs re-training. And from a scientific point of view<\/g> it\u2019s about practicing<\/g> regularly to create those new neural pathways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do I have to be an \u201cOlympic Meditator\u201d for it to work? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    There\u2019s no need to be an Olympic Meditator, shutting yourself away and sitting cross-legged for hours on end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On my courses and with my 121 clients, I introduce a whole range of techniques. You can even do some of these techniques with your eyes open, or when you\u2019re walking around, in a meeting, or watching TV.
    It\u2019s about trying different things until you find something that works for you.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So where do I start?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Your first steps will depend on you and your lifestyle.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For some people, I suggest allocating 5 minutes a day – even if you just set your alarm 5 minutes earlier \u2013 to get that bit of quiet time. It can make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For others, I might recommend a meditation app, because this makes it easier for some. This isn\u2019t right for everyone but it\u2019s where I started \u2013 though for me it was a 10-minute CD that I listened to each day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Or I might teach mindfulness<\/a>, which you can do if you have a very busy life. For example, you can be cutting a carrot while you\u2019re preparing a meal, but rather than letting your mind run wild with what you need to do next, you can be fully present cutting that carrot \u2013 noticing what it feels like to stand there, the feeling of the knife in your hand, the sounds of it slicing through the carrot \u2013 being fully in the moment. This has a meditative effect. And you can even use mindfulness when you\u2019re walking from A-B or picking up the kids – one student managed to do a technique I taught in a business meeting!<\/g><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If I just recommend a specific technique and say \u201cgo do this\u201d it can end up feeling overwhelming because it becomes yet another thing on your to-do list. So, I don\u2019t just talk at my clients and tell them what to do \u2013 we come up with something together that they can go out and try and adapt for their life and lifestyle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s about finding the way that works for you. I\u2019ve tried so many over the years \u2013 even going and studying with a Buddhist Master in China for three months \u2013 that I\u2019ve realised there is no one-size-fits-all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    So, if you\u2019ve tried one or two techniques that haven\u2019t worked for you, it\u2019s ok\u2026 there are plenty more options to try. I\u2019m sure you can find one that suits you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What next? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019d like to try different forms of meditation and find a style that works for you so you can go and do it on your own, here are your options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Meditation Workshop<\/strong> \u2013 A one off<\/g> workshop where you can come along and find out how meditation works, try it out, and go home with a meditation exercise you can do for yourself.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4-week Meditation Course <\/strong>\u2013 Over the course of 4 weekly classes you will learn about meditation and how it works, trying out different styles, allowing you to come back and be supported whilst you try our different techniques at home.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    121 Meditation Training<\/strong> \u2013 for a fully supported experience, tailored just for you. Contact me here<\/a>.
    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Employee Wellbeing<\/strong> \u2013 I can come into your organisation and teach meditation to help improve employee wellbeing and in turn<\/g> increase productivity and reduce absenteeism. Contact me here.<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I have seen many benefits to meditation and had to try out lots of different ways of doing it before I found what worked for me.<\/p>\n

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