what is meditation?
I get asked all the time, “what is meditation?” For so many of us, we were conditioned to think it means silencing EVERY one of our 60,000 - 80,000 thoughts we have each and every day, while meditating in a cave and burning incense. I am here to tell you, this is far from the truth.
As described by my teacher Deepak Chopra, ”Meditation is not a way of making your mind quiet. It’s a way of entering into the quiet that’s already there - buried under the 60,000 - 80,000 thoughts the average person thinks every day.”
Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years and is a tool for rediscovering the body’s own inner intelligence. So as Deepak says, it isn’t about forcing the mind to be quiet, it's about finding the silence that’s already there and making it a part of your life.
It's a state of being that gets us in touch with our true self, not something you should be able to check off your to do list.
I promise it’s way simpler than we all make it out to be.
what is primordial sound meditation?
Primordial Sound Meditation is a meditation technique originating in the ancient wisdom of India. It's a mantra based meditation that uses Primordial sounds - the basic, most essential sounds of nature - to disconnect us from the activity of life. These individually selected sounds of nature, or mantras, are based on the vibration the universe was making at the moment of your birth.
A Sanskrit term meaning "vehicle of the mind," a mantra truly is a vehicle that takes you to a quieter, more peaceful level of the mind. When you silently repeat your mantra in meditation, it creates a vibration that helps you slip into the space between your thoughts, into the complete silence that is sometimes referred to as "the gap." It really is as peaceful as it sounds.
What’s different about Primordial Sound Meditation compared to other mantra based meditations is simply the way in which the mantras are calculated.
It’s not super complicated even though it has a fancy name. PSM really is very simple and by far the most powerful form of meditation I have practiced.
Benefits of meditation
If you Google “benefits of meditation” you get an endless list of positive effects such as: helps you manage stress and reduces anxiety, improves relationships, creates inner peace, enhances sleep patterns and lowers blood pressure. I don’t know why it took me so long to incorporate this practice into my daily routine! This is all great information, but now you probably want to see proof. Fortunately, thanks to people like Jon Kabat-Zinn, all the lovely folks over at the Chopra Foundation, and many other researchers, science is now able to validate the positive effects meditation can have on the body.
Personally, I don’t need to see the research to give me reason to meditate. It has not only allowed me to weave in much needed silence and stillness into my once anxiety filled mind and body, but has given me emotional freedom, which has brought me greater compassion and fulfillment. This is proof enough for me. But if you aren’t yet convinced, let me summarize some of the other benefits I've experienced.
I live with more wonder
I'm more comfortable with the unknown and uncertainty
I experience more joy, peace and harmony
I stopped stubbing my toes (yes, it’s true, my shoe bill dropped significantly because I stopped rushing to get places)
I've noticed more synchronicities in my life
I started to make decisions from my heart
I'm less reactionary when under stress
I learned to slow down
I became more creative
I learned what it means to live in the present moment
I started to see the interconnectedness of things
My desires are more easily fulfilled
We are all meant to live vibrantly, so if I can learn to mediate and see these types of results, so can you! Meditation is not hard. All you have to do is simply commit to making it a daily practice. I promise that keeping up on your commitment is the hardest part, but it doesn’t have to be. I can teach you how to meditate, but you first have to commit. Are you ready to meditate yet?
BENEFITS IN THE WORKPLACE
After I started meditating and changing my perception about the experiences I was having, others began to notice. And not only did others notice, but I realized I was attracting positive energy and magical experiences began to unfold. It was like my energy was contagious! This was not only positively impacting my interpersonal relationships, but I saw a great impact in my work environment. I was less reactionary, more calm under stress, had a stronger mental resilience and was just generally a happier person to be around at the office. Here are some results companies have seen after launching their mindfulness programs.
A 2014 study of employees at the Dow Chemical Company, showed that their mindfulness training was effective in decreasing employee stress and improved resiliency, vigor, and work engagement. This thereby enhanced overall employee well-being.
More than 13,000 Aetna employees have completed Aetna's mindfulness training. Employees have reported, on average, a 28% reduction in stress levels, a 20% improvement in sleep quality and a 19% decrease in pain. They also gained an average of 62 minutes a week of productivity each, which Aetna estimates is worth $3,000 per employee each year. Source