Whether it’s due to a barrage of exams, a flood of papers or simply the heat of homework and creeping deadlines, we all know college can be very stressful at times. One simple thing people forget to do is take time to relax and find peace of mind. A great solution to this is mindful meditation.
What is mindful meditation you ask?
Mindful meditation is a western, research based form of meditation derived from a 2,500-year-old practice called Vipassana or Insight Meditation. This type of meditation allows you to develop the ability to focus on your inner and outer experiences with acceptance, patience and compassion.
“Mindfulness is a quality, which human beings already have, but they have usually not been advised that they have it, that it is valuable, or that it can be cultivated. Mindfulness is the awareness that is not thinking but which is aware of thinking, as well as aware of each of the other ways we experience the sensory world, i.e., seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling through the body.”
Basically this means through mindful meditation you can focus on a more positive life outlook and become more attuned to your life experiences and emotions.
That all sounds good, so how do you try it?
Here are the basic steps:
- Find a quiet place and comforting place, then sit in a chair or on the floor upright with your head, neck, and back straight but not stiff.
- Focus on the current moment, don’t think about what you have to do today or what’s going to be on TV tomorrow or if you’re going to be hungry in an hour. Just be there.
- Listen to your breathing and try to make a pattern, the air slowly coming in and out. Feel your belly rise and fall. Become knowledgeable on your body’s movements.
- Watch every thought come and go, do not suppress them but acknowledge them and make note of them as they come and go.
- If you find yourself getting lost in your thoughts just observe where your focus was lost and without judging yourself, return to your breathing.
- As your meditation time comes to a close, sit for a few more minutes and become aware of your surroundings. Get up slowly.
If you don’t want to practice on your own time there is a Mindful Meditation Group that meets in Memorial Hall Dance Studio, every Monday from 12-12:50pm. There next meeting is on Monday, November 4th.
The benefits of mindful meditation include:
- Decreased stress, anxiety and depression
- Positive outlook increases, optimistic perspective gained
- More self confidence and understanding of personal emotions
- Boosts your immune system along with body recovery
- Enhances relationships and communications
Ok, so maybe you’re still skeptical of mindful meditation, but watch this TED talk about mindfulness and reflect on your life. How “one” with your body are you? Are you living in the moment and living your life to its full capacity? Mindful meditation can help you fix the disconnect between your mind, body and potential.
I encourage you all to try mindful meditation, whether on your own or in a group like the Mindful Meditation Group at WSU. You may or may not like it, but mindful meditation could be the answer to relieving your stress and creating a better life for yourself.
