So you want to try a spot of meditation?

Recently, someone contacted me through my Twitter feed to ask where a good starting point would be with meditation. It rather stumped me a bit because by no means can I claim to be a leading authority in meditation. Nevertheless, I was unduly flattered to be asked. I can humbly impart whatever knowledge I may have gleaned from my years of dipping in and out of different forms of meditation and learning from my own experiences and evaluating whether I should continue with a type of meditation.

For most, meditation still remains a mystery. For pragmatists, like my boyfriend, he listens intently to my meditation ramblings only to come to conclusions like “so how exactly do you know it works?” or “how long does it take to realise a result?” The answer is, and this is where I feel I come across like a feeble sap, “I don’t know.” Still, each to their own. My mission is not preach to the cynics or the realists whoever they may be. Everyone is entitled to decide for themselves what works for them.

But for those of you interested in meditation, here are some starting points. The Brahma Kumaris (BKs) run regular meditation workshops for all levels. Essentially, non-denominational in nature, the BK’s emphasis is on raja yoga meditation. Their premise is simple; to teach the goodness in people. The meditation is practical and when you attend the  sessions often run without charge, the classes are directed at the masses of us, who lead busy lives in the city. Last year, I visited their beautiful centre in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside and there’s a clear peace and tranquility that you can certainly experience. The way meditation is taught is intellectualised a bit too much for my liking. Still it’s a great starting point.

Then there’s Transcendental Meditation (TM). This is not a form of meditation I’ve tried but many swear by it. TM extols its virtues by focussing on how you will feel much more revitalised and healthy; reduced anxiety, better sleep, happiness, creativity, more energy, relief from stress, improved relationships, “greater spiritual awareness”, “clarity of mind”, “inner calm”, reduced addictive behaviour, lowering of high blood pressure, and healthier ageing, to give some examples. In fact, all these benefits are very similar to any form of meditation you follow, and not particularly unique to TM. Still TM has many followers and I must say again, discover whether it works for you.

The Art of Living Foundation also run very credible meditation programmes. I’ve partaken in Part 1 of the Art of Living Foundation course, where we were taught a special breathing technique. I must admit after completing the weekend, I did feel energised, alive and very much a new woman. The breathing technique is so powerful, after a weekend you see your problems not as nooses around your neck but very much as challenges you can tackle head on.  It’s a real self-esteem booster if you feel you’re generally in a space where you look at what can go wrong with your life rather than look at the possibilities. The only thing is maintaining the kriyas after the course. I found it rather heavy duty; 30 minutes first thing and then again in the evening. However, if you’re committed to change this can really take you to new dizzying heights, but you won’t feel so giddy that you feel you’ve lost your mind.

My favourite is perhaps Buddhist meditation. The premise behind Buddhist meditation is the principle of mindfulness. The great thing is you don’t have to be a Buddhist to practice. I sometimes visit a very special Buddhist temple and it very much has a special place in my heart. To date, I’ve not yet found a peaceful place in the UK, which truthfully and sincerely exudes peace in it’s purest form. The Amarvati Buddhist monastery deserves a visit. Meditation sessions are run every Saturday afternoons if you can make the trip up there. It’s not the easiest place to get to by public transport. But in some strange way, the lack of acccessibility makes you feel you’ve unearthed a gem which you like to keep close to your heart. If you get a chance to visit, the vibe is one of humility and gentleness. The monks potter around mindfully and have a light amiable sense of humour, there’s hierarchy amongst the monks of different order but if you’re fortunate to meet them on your visit, you’ll always be met by a warm, sincere smile which comes from within. A real treat. I come away feeling nourished like you would be from a lovingly cooked meal and that my heart has expanded with warmth and humility.

Whatever you choose, remember to be your own master. There are some forms of meditation which may not be run for the “higher good” meaning there are darker intentions at the root of group meditations. Some groups for instance, like to say they’re meditating for world peace, which is all well-intentioned but some people latch onto your light energy so just be a little cautious.

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