Mindfulness meditationis being recognised as a genuine approach to stress management and personal development.
Much research has been done on 'Olympian meditators' that is, 'professional meditators', ie Tibetan lamas, and monks who spend whole days meditating.
Even more inspiring was the research done on 'non-professionals'.
People who were learning how to meditate, also scored remarkable changes in their physiology and brain shape after just 8 weeks of meditation.
(Two 20 minute sessions a day.
) One of the meditative practices employed by meditators is the body scan.
The meditator begins by looking at all the different parts of the body, from the feet, working up the legs and torso to the head.
There is no judgement or attempt to change things.
All the meditator does is to look at each part of the body with the mind.
Observing in a friendly, curious way.
This is such a powerful exercise.
How often do we pay attention to our body? It is usually only when we ache or pain that we take a look at the body.
Even more astonishing is the fact that within our body is a whole community of intelligent beings.
50 trillion individual cells.
Cells contain the equivalent of our nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, endocrine system and reproductive system.
These are intelligent beings.
They continue to work for us day in and day out.
The least we could do is to look upon them with loving attention and gratefulness.
Just paying more attention to them with a grateful, loving attitude will improve our understanding of the workings of our body and alert us to any areas that need attention, be it medical or nutritional.
BODY SCAN MEDITATION Make yourself comfortable.
You can sit in a chair or on the floor if you find it easier.
But if you are unable to sit up, it is perfectly fine to lie down.
The only challenge you might encounter is to stay awake! But in time this should cease to be a problem.
However, the main thing is to be comfortable and not get distracted because you are in pain or uncomfortable.
Begin by looking at your right foot with your eyes closed.
Just look within with interest and appreciation.
Be aware of the enormous work your feet do.
Carrying you around, taking the full weight of your body.
They are so indefatigable.
Really look with your mind.
Don't judge, don't try to change anything.
Just be appreciative and curious.
Take your time and slowly work through the whole body in this way, calves, knees, thighs, buttocks, torso, head.
Being grateful and curious.
This scan should take about 20 minutes to complete.
When we do this for days and weeks, we get more and more intuitive about our body needs and state.
A highly useful perception for our health and wellbeing.
Much research has been done on 'Olympian meditators' that is, 'professional meditators', ie Tibetan lamas, and monks who spend whole days meditating.
Even more inspiring was the research done on 'non-professionals'.
People who were learning how to meditate, also scored remarkable changes in their physiology and brain shape after just 8 weeks of meditation.
(Two 20 minute sessions a day.
) One of the meditative practices employed by meditators is the body scan.
The meditator begins by looking at all the different parts of the body, from the feet, working up the legs and torso to the head.
There is no judgement or attempt to change things.
All the meditator does is to look at each part of the body with the mind.
Observing in a friendly, curious way.
This is such a powerful exercise.
How often do we pay attention to our body? It is usually only when we ache or pain that we take a look at the body.
Even more astonishing is the fact that within our body is a whole community of intelligent beings.
50 trillion individual cells.
Cells contain the equivalent of our nervous system, digestive system, respiratory system, endocrine system and reproductive system.
These are intelligent beings.
They continue to work for us day in and day out.
The least we could do is to look upon them with loving attention and gratefulness.
Just paying more attention to them with a grateful, loving attitude will improve our understanding of the workings of our body and alert us to any areas that need attention, be it medical or nutritional.
BODY SCAN MEDITATION Make yourself comfortable.
You can sit in a chair or on the floor if you find it easier.
But if you are unable to sit up, it is perfectly fine to lie down.
The only challenge you might encounter is to stay awake! But in time this should cease to be a problem.
However, the main thing is to be comfortable and not get distracted because you are in pain or uncomfortable.
Begin by looking at your right foot with your eyes closed.
Just look within with interest and appreciation.
Be aware of the enormous work your feet do.
Carrying you around, taking the full weight of your body.
They are so indefatigable.
Really look with your mind.
Don't judge, don't try to change anything.
Just be appreciative and curious.
Take your time and slowly work through the whole body in this way, calves, knees, thighs, buttocks, torso, head.
Being grateful and curious.
This scan should take about 20 minutes to complete.
When we do this for days and weeks, we get more and more intuitive about our body needs and state.
A highly useful perception for our health and wellbeing.