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Houseman

New Calm Relaxation - Meditation (Download)

Cat. No.: DDMETR108
Barcode: 0698458110886
Playing Time: 3622000

The reviving powers of music have been known to man for centuries. Featuring music specially recorded for the New Calm range, this CD will help soothe the spirit, restore the daily balance of life and promote contentment and wellbeing. The booklet contains helpful notes on how to use and benefit from this recording.

The discipline of meditation or directed concentration is one that’s been around far longer than we can remember. It found its way into Western consciousness in the 1960s when The Beatles declared an interest in using it to transcend their high-pressure popstar lifestyle. But meditation was - and is - no quick-fix solution. Daily practice over long periods is necessary before the real rewards are forthcoming.

The dictionary defines meditating in several different but related ways: to reflect upon or ponder; to plan in the mind; to engage in contemplation; or engage in devotional exercise. A more spiritual definition could be this: if prayer is when you speak, meditation is when you listen. There are two broadly different techniques to meditation. The first directs the concentration towards a sound or symbol, turning thought inwards, while the second is a form of ’detached awareness’, looking at life as a dispassionate observer and thereby coming to a deeper understanding of it. We’re concerned here on the former.

By far the best hour of the day to meditate is when you wake up in the morning, before breakfast when the mind is clear. It also gives you the opportunity to make a regular time slot by rising earlier. It is preferable to sit on the floor with a straight spine; use a mat, rug, pillow, or blanket for comfort as needed. Ensure you are free of outside distractions, like telephones or family; if necessary, post a ’do not disturb’ notice on the door. Having ensured you are wearing comfortable, loose-fitting clothes and removed any distracting jewellery, switch on the stereo and we’ll begin.

The objective is to cut the chains of thoughts that generally occupy the conscious mind by concentrating on an unchanging object or a repeated sound - a mantra or a chant. You are looking to focus the mind - and, as the sound is being provided for you, why not concentrate on a physical object of meditation? Possibilities to consider include a candle, an abstract symbol (known as a mandala), crystals or stones. It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it works for you.

There is nothing more hypnotically repetitive than breathing, and a good way to start meditation is a breathing exercise. Leaning slightly forward, let your breaths come slowly and naturally along with the music. Count each time you exhale, from one through to five, starting again at one. If your mind wanders off on its own to something else, or you count higher than five, simply pause and resume at one. The mental rhythm you establish will immediately be beneficial.

Another breathing technique you can use involves colour and is recommended by many as a way of promoting wellbeing. As you breathe in, you visualise a colour, then while breathing out you switch to its complement. Breathing in red and exhaling the complementary colour turquoise, for instance, will give you a feeling of energy, while the reverse is said to benefit the immune system. Breathing in blue and exhaling orange will promote relaxation, while inhaling green and breathing out magenta has purifying powers. Colour therapy is a relatively new technique which, if you feel the benefit, is worth investigating further.

It’s important not to have unreasonable expectations of your earliest meditation experience. Firstly, you won’t be able to clear your mind completely: that’s simply not possible. Your aim is to order, direct and focus your thought. It will take time to build up your concentrating abilities, which will grow as you repeat the exercise daily. Let the music help you fall into a natural rhythm of thought and the rest will follow.

Having invested the precious first hour of your day in finding inner peace through meditation, it’s worth paying some thought to how to retain that feeling of serenity. Avoid caffeine and other everyday stimulants found in tea, coffee and popular soft drinks, and take time to concentrate on your breathing and re-establish a slow, steady rhythm when you find yourself in situations of stress. It’s no substitute for the hour you enjoyed this morning, but it is a reminder of the principles that can help you retain the balance in your life the whole day long.