Yoga, reiki and other forms of Eastern therapy methods have deep roots in China, Japan, India and other parts of Asia, with philosophies and schools of thought often stretching back thousands of years.

But these methods of treating body, mind and soul with a variety of physical and mental exercises or, in the case of reiki, using the bodys energy to heal itself have found their way into the Western world in the past 100 years or so.

Jeff Wright is a yoga teacher from Platteville, Wis., who has been teaching in the tri-states since 1985. He said that even almost 100 years later, yoga wasnt trending all that much.

It was a different kind of thing back then, he said. It wasnt as popular as it is now.

Wright began studying meditation with a professor at University of Minnesota in the late 1960s. He pursued the art of meditation for many years and thought the physical practice of yoga would be a good addition to his routine.

I thought it would really help to learn yoga and keep practicing it if I taught, he said. If you teach something, youre motivated to learn more about it. Its been 50 years that Ive been interested.

According to The Good Body, a website that collects research and case studies on health, the number of people practicing yoga has tripled in the past eight years. Those people arent just looking for spiritual enlightenment. The top reasons cited include relief from stress, anxiety and depression and a desire to improve energy, memory and focus.

However, in addition to the physical, moving practice of yoga, Wright also has a passion for stillness something he has been cultivating for more than 20 years.

Ive really simplified what I do and what I think helps people the most, he said. With COVID, Ive stopped teaching physical yoga. Im really focusing on stillness practice. Its just being still and letting the brain do what its going to do.

Wright emphasized that, like any good habit, its important to practice daily, even though we might not always want to do it.

Its like sleep in that way, he said. We need a reintegration of our minds but in a wakeful way. A lot of stuff goes into the brain, and its not always pleasant, so we dont always look forward to it.

Wright meets with two stillness groups per week, one at Rountree Gallery in Platteville and one at Body & Soul Wellness Center and Spa in Dubuque.

He also believes the act of being still is a perfect practice for what he calls formal public sitting (FPS).

FPS is based on two premises: One is that sitting, relaxed and wakeful for at least 20 minutes a day, unguided, allows us our natural mental health, he said. The second is that when doing this practice around others, they feel inspired by your stability and may join you as well. When many practice together, there is peace.

The core elements of yoga, particularly the act of stillness, is really very natural, Wright said.

You see animals in nature doing this all the time, sitting still for periods of time, he said. Its really a very natural thing for all beings to do. Its a turn-off for a lot of people that think that its something so exotic.

In fact, Wright said the process is not at all intimidating but simple. Theres nothing to learn, and the whole group is in and out in an hour.

We sit for 15 minutes, then we walk and loosen up a bit, then sit for another 15 minutes, then do it again, he said. Then, we chat for about 10 minutes, and then were on our way.

While Wright admitted the demographic for yoga has been middle class White, he would like to see diversity in his stillness groups.

Ive had so few minorities, he said. Id love to see a broader spectrum of people. This isnt a big, splashy idea, but its so useful. I just think there are so many other people who are missing these benefits.

Wright said sitting still doesnt have to mean doing nothing. In fact, he encourages those who need to keep busy to do whatever they want to do.

You have to give yourself time to get to those intuitive insights in your mind, he said. That may mean reading or spacing out in front of the TV. Its doing whatever works for you.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, such self-care and wellness practices have seen an uptick.

Rachel Harwood, owner of Perfect Zen in Dubuque, has been a reiki master for more than a decade. Reiki is a form of energy healing and can be used for both physical and emotional healing.

When people ask me what reiki is, I try to get them to understand that their body is full of energy, and we carry those through all of our experiences, she said. When you get an emotional response in your body, thats an indication that you have fully processed it. If you dont feel any tension or emotion, thats an indication that youve fully processed it, that youve moved past it.

Harwood uses a variety of methods in her practice, including sound massage and sound meditation, using singing bowls and tuning forks to pick up imbalances with discrepancies in sound.

I can hear it, and my client can hear it, she said.

While meditation focuses on breath and mind visualization, sound meditation brings the focus to atonal sounds using singing bowls, chimes or bells.

Body & Soul and Center of I Am in Dubuque boast similar offerings.

The sound tools help to entrain the vibration of cells and help them vibrate back to where they should be, Harwood said. Its an amazing way to balance the nervous system. When were in a state of stress, our body isnt in a place where it can rest or heal.

Harwood emphasized that our bodies are designed to heal themselves.

Were accepting of the Western model of medicine having things done to us and taking medicine, and that will fix you, she said. But we have much more power over our bodies than we realize. We have more control than we give ourselves credit for.

Brittany Wagner is a nurse from Ridgeway, Wis., who works at Upland Hills Hospital in Dodgeville, Wis. She has been a client of Harwoods for several years.

Ive been going to Rachel for more holistic therapies such as reiki and sound healings, she said. Theyve all been a great complement to my mental and spiritual health, especially while working in the pandemic.

Wagner also practices clarity breathing with Harwood, a method of breath work that can help access the subconscious.

It can take you to a million different places, Harwood said. It can be great for people who arent afraid to go there.

Wagner said the breath work she has done has greatly improved her personal and professional lives.

Its brought me a sense of balance and stillness, she said. Its in that stillness that I am able to reset and find some mental clarity and stress reduction.

Wagner said the work she has done with Harwood has made her feel more grounded as a nurse, wife and mother. It also gave her the confidence to step out of her comfort zone and be part of a medical mission in Guatemala.

I never would have had the confidence to do it if it werent for the medical and spiritual training Ive had over the years, she said.

Harwood also teaches yoga to school children at Challenge to Change in Dubuque. Teaching these methods of relaxation and stress reduction to young children has been rewarding for her. Harwood said Challenge to Change yoga programs are in more than 200 schools this year, compared to just 14 a few years ago.

We teach them mudras, which is a way of holding their hands or fingers to show how theyre feeling, she said. Youll see kids walking around the school holding their hands in these mudras. They are recognizing that this is something they need, and theyre connecting with that intention.

Harwood would love to see everybody learn yoga at a young age and thinks it could positively impact the course of their lives.

I believe that we all have access to connect with our inner knowing. Why wouldnt you want to know how to better understand how to connect to yourself? she said. Yoga is about tuning in and realizing what youre feeling. Theres a lot we can learn, and a lot that we can do if we pay attention early enough.

Originally posted here:

The art of sitting still: Tri-state residents embrace meditation practices amid pandemic - telegraphherald.com

As we inch/hurtle toward a year of living with COVID-19 and its attending horrors, those of us not wrapped in the gentle insulation of exactly the right medication (prescribed or otherwise) might be struggling a bit. Who would have thought, other than informed epidemiologists shouting themselves hoarse, that this would have lasted longer than that sack of dry beans you panic bought and never cooked because, honestly, even in lockdown, soaking overnight is planning too far ahead in an uncertain world. And then they said takeout was safe, so forget it.

But here we are! Nearly a year later with many of us "hitting the pandemic wall," tired of COVID-19. Aside from the mental health crisis wrought by a staggering death toll, the possibility of contracting the virus and crushing financial pressure, it's the little things. We're tired of masks when we should be doubling them up to guard against a more contagious mutant strain. We're over Zoom cocktails, the flat, diet version of once bubbly conversations, and itching for the forbidden luxury of crowding around bars and dance floors with strangers.

And yet, like on those long-lost nights out, there's always one of us who isn't tired, that one friend who does not want to take the ride home because, "You guys, it's not even that late," and THIS IS HER SONG. That friend is COVID-19 and her song is our collective exhaustion. She has come back from the ladies' room with pupils the size of saucers and you just cannot reason with her.

So here are some meditations to help you calm your anxiety, re-energize and push through the pandemic fatigue wall and straight into what will likely be another one and another one, like dominoes resetting themselves on a Mbius strip forever. Kidding! I hope.

Meditation for Standing in Line

Ground your feet on the orange social distancing floor decal and begin with a deep breath deep enough to smell the fabric of your mask but not so deep that you might be inhaling the potential viral load of someone ignoring their own very bright decal. Exhale gently through your nose, releasing your breath and your frustration at their inability to eyeball 6 freaking feet after 11 months. Visualize the mask of the person ahead of you magically lifting, lifting, up, up over their nose. (If you're a cashier faced with hundreds of people on your shift, try this same visualization without the deep breathing. Without any breathing at all, actually.)

Meditation for Social Media Posts of Gatherings

It's easy enough to recover from the jump-scare of seeing a packed group photo from the Before Times but the shock of a fresh shot of a dozen unmasked Facebook or Instagram friends side-hugging at a party can linger. (Sweet baby Jesus, is that a charcuterie board they're picking at with their fingers?) Start by bringing your awareness to the tips of your fingers, where they hover over the keyboard. Move up through your hands and wrists, on and on until you reach your frontal lobe, where a string of angry comments is piling up like cartoon ticker tape. Imagine that string of negative thoughts and expletives drifting away on the surface of a lake like the one where you would have scattered your uncle's ashes if you'd been able to hold a funeral and ... nope. Nope. This is too heavy a lift for the millennia-old practice of meditation this is a job for kitten videos. Like 45 minutes of them. Share some with someone you know who's keeping it locked down. Try that one with the lawyer who can't turn off the filter that makes him a kitten send that one.

Meditation for the Overwhelming Urge to "Refuse to Live in Fear"

Right, of course, nobody wants to cower before the specter of death! If it's your time, it's your time! But since we're talking about a highly contagious virus very few people are as yet vaccinated against, let's channel that natural desire for personal freedom in a way that won't, say, kill me. Close your eyes and picture yourself on a mountain trail at dusk. Feel the earth, the grass, the bucket of chicken in your lap. Imagine the smell of the chicken wafting into the brush. Imagine the sound of curious wildlife approaching. A squirrel? A mountain lion? A bear? Who knows? Embrace the whims of fate without me.

Meditation for Resisting Rationalizing Dumb Shit

There will come a moment when you are tempted to flout the safety rules and recommendations maybe by cheap airfare, maybe by what everyone else seems to be doing, maybe by the quasi-psychedelic effects of eating beans you didn't cook long enough and also may have spoiled. Spike the urge to hit a house party, an underground gig or the buffet at a wedding by closing your eyes, picturing 1980s Moonstruck Cher and slapping yourself full-force across the face.

It's a global goddamn pandemic. Stay home.

Jennifer Fumiko Cahill (she/her) is the Journal's arts and features editor. Reach her at 442-1400, extension 320, or Jennifer@northcoastjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @JFumikoCahill.

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Meditations for Hitting the Pandemic Wall | Seriously? - North Coast Journal

The Meditation Market research report is latest addition by Data Bridge Market Research offers in-depth analysis of the industry size, share, major segments, and different geographic regions, forecast for the next seven years, key market players, and premium industry trends. It also focuses on the key drivers, restraints, opportunities and industry challenges.A comprehensive report gives details about historic data, present market trends, future product environment, marketing strategies, technological innovation, upcoming technologies, emerging trends or opportunities, and the technical progress in the related industry. The report endows with market potential for each geographical region based on the growth rate, macroeconomic parameters, consumer buying patterns, their preferences for particular product and market demand and supply scenarios. Meditation market report studies rising opportunities in the market and related influencing factors which are valuable for the businesses. It is an essential document for every market enthusiast, policymaker, investor, and market player.

Meditation marketis expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to USD 9.0 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 10.40% in the above-mentioned forecast period. The growing awareness amongst the individual and world population about the hidden power of meditation and its unconventional outcomes for the health benefits to lead a healthy life is driving the market growth exponentially in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027.

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By Mental Disorder (Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders)

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Meditation market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies focus related to meditation market.

The major players covered in the meditation market report are Simply Better Apps, Smiling Mind, Inner Explorer, Inc., Committee for Children., Stop, Breathe & Think PBC, Breethe. Life , Simple Habit, Inc., Calm. HEADSPACE INC, MINDSET Brain Gym Toronto Inc, Inscape among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for Global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analyst understands competitive strengths and provides competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

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Global Meditation Market Scope and Market Size

Meditation market is segmented of the basis of products, disorders, meditation type, and information sources. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

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Meditation Market 2021 | Covid-19 Impact Analysis and Industry Forecast Report Till 2027 | Simply Better Apps, Smiling Mind, Inner Explorer KSU | The...

A MEDITATION centre in Northwich is running a workshop to help people struggling with these difficult times.

Odiyana Kadampa Meditation Centre is running an online half-day workshop next month looking at how to begin developing deep inner peace.

Julie Forrest, education programme coordinator for the centre, said: We live in difficult times. If we look back on the past few years we have had the threat of terrorist attacks, floods, Brexit, COVID-19 and now a combination of all these things.

One of the biggest things we face is uncertainty. We cant guarantee anything anymore.

But while this sounds bleak, Julie and the team at the centre say there are steps people can take to improve things, which will be the focus of the workshop at 10am on Saturday, March 27.

She said: At present, we try to protect ourselves from stress and anxiety with entertainments. Unfortunately, these entertainments dont improve our mental resilience or our ability to deal with stress. They just provide a timely distraction or a little relief. Also, with these lockdowns, many of these distractions are not available.

What we really need is something that gives us this relief, makes our mind stronger and more able to deal with difficulties, and that cannot be taken away from us by lockdown restrictions.

If we train in inner peace and gradually deepen this peace over time we will develop this mental resilience as this peace becomes more and more stable changing external conditions will start to have less power to knock us off balance until finally we will be able to remain peaceful even in the most challenging situations.

This is what Buddha taught 2,600 years ago. It was relevant then and is even more relevant now in this modern world.

The workshop costs 10 to attend and can be booked by visiting http://www.meditationincheshire.org

Link:

Find peace in troubled times with Northwich meditation centre - Northwich Guardian

Approaching any biopic, an actor prepares with a marriage of research and imagination, LaKeith Stanfield told me the other day.

Judas and the Black Messiah, now playing in some theaters and on HBO Max, tells a true Chicago story, and it doesnt take much viewer imagination to realize the dramatic possibilities. By late 1969, Illinois Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton (played by Daniel Kaluuya) posed a significant threat in the eyes of J. Edgar Hoovers FBI. Now well-documented, the bureaus counterintelligence program targeted Hampton and the Panthers.

Working with FBI agent Roy M. Mitchell (Jesse Plemons), a teenager facing jail time, William ONeal (Stanfield), struck a soul-selling deal with the bureau. Working undercover, ONeal infiltrated the Chicago-based Panther organization and eventually became security captain. He then fed information about the Panthers activities to his FBI contact, providing a detailed sketch of the first-floor apartment of Hamptons two-flat at 2337 W. Monroe St.

Hampton shared the flat with, among others, his partner and fellow Panther Deborah Johnson (Dominique Fishback). On orders from the FBI and Cook County States Attorney Edward Hanrahan, 14 plainclothes Chicago police officers conducted what the local press characterized as a raid for illegal firearms. The early December 1969 gun battle, as the Tribune called it at the time, was in fact a coordinated assassination, with a single bullet fired by one of the Panthers in retaliation.

Filmed in Cleveland in 2019, Judas demanded serious investigation on behalf of its excellent ensemble, in which even smaller roles, such as a Panther party member played by onetime DePaul University Theatre School student Ashton Sanders, spring fully to life.

I talked to four of the actors in separate Zoom interviews recently.

Stanfield (who plays ONeal): A lot of my characters operations were clandestine. The main thing I had to go on was ONeals interview for the documentary Eyes on the Prize. I got my hands on the unedited version, so I got to see what was going on in between some of the takes things he would do, how he would shift in his seat, a certain air of nervousness. At one point he says he felt bad about some of the things he did. And once I saw that conflict within him, and saw he had a deeper understanding of some of the things hed done, I wanted to take that to the forefront.

Story continues

Fishback (who plays Johnson): Near the beginning, my character mentions shes a poet and asks Fred if he likes poetry. That gave me an idea of her having a journal and a pen she carries around. Fishback, a writer as well as a performer, wrote some poems in character, as Johnson, and director King used them in the film. Now known as Akua Njeri, Johnson was pregnant at the time of Hamptons assassination. Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr., aka Chairman Fred Jr., advised the project and were frequent visitors to the set.

Prior to filming Kaluuya, Fishback and four others met with Njeri and Fred Hampton Jr. in Chicago for a seven-hour late-night summit.

We were all sitting around this table, Fishback says, and Chairman Fred says, I want to go around and hear why every single one of you wants to do this movie. It was a privilege to meet the family that way, and to tell our stories. Daniel said something about approaching the role as a vessel, and Mama Akua said, Well, what does that actually mean? Later, she asked me about (acting), and I said, Well, I like to allow a spirit to kind of flow through me when I take on a role and she said, Well, what if my spirit doesnt mesh with your spirit? Sizing me up, you know. She reminded me of my grandma in that way. At the end of the night I gave her a hug and I said, I hope you know my heart. And she said, I do. I just had to give you a hard time.

Sanders: Researching the slain Panther party member Jimmy Palmer, the only thing I was able to find, really, was his death certificate. So I had to find the world he lived in, working with with our director (Shaka King) and Ryan (Coogler, who produced). I compare Jimmy to a crocodile. Always has his guard up for himself, and for Fred. Hes a protector. An interesting character for sure.

Five years ago Sanders dropped out of DePaul to move back to Los Angeles after filming a key role in Barry Jenkinss Moonlight, which won the top Oscar that year. Its been a wild ride since then. To pursue it, and do it, its been a blessing to be a part of these important projects.

This one, he says, cant help but bring a lot of raw feelings to the surface. Although the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor killings happened after we made the film, it all feels relevant. The world then, the world now its very connected. And its really upsetting to think about. Were just trying to fight for our livelihood, and for our lives, as Black Americans.

Plemons: Four, five days into filming, LaKeith handed me a book that delved into Mitchell and ONeals relationship. It started to skew my perception of Mitchell in a way that seemed like it might not be helpful. I dont know if he was quite as conflicted as he is in the film. Shaka and I talked about that. For the function of the character in the movie, though, (Mitchell) needed to be someone whose primary goal was to do the right thing. And the script was written so well.

Most of Plemons scenes consisted of two-person encounters with ONeal. Im a huge fan of LaKeiths work. When I showed up in Cleveland, we shot all our scenes in the steakhouse. We didnt talk hardly at all when we werent rehearsing or actually filming. Then, finally, we went out one weekend and actually talked. It was such an interesting power struggle to play, back and forth.

Stanfield: It was tough making this one. Definitely the toughest Ive done. Having members of Hamptons family on set, he says, provided a safety net of authenticity, even if many things in the story changed as a result. Chairman Fred Jr. and Mama Akua would talk to the director, and all of a sudden wed find the structure of some scenes shifting. Many scenes, as is usual in moviemaking, didnt make the final cut, including one of ONeal, already having infiltrated the Panthers, encountering a group of police officers. In that scene, ONeal punched out one of the officers in an attempt to show his loyalty to Hampton.

A lot of people assume ONeal was super-close to Chairman Fred, and Fred Jr. said he wouldnt have gotten that close because Chairman Fred wouldnt have trusted him. He did have a position in the party, but he wasnt his personal bodyguard and therefore that display didnt seem to match up with what was likely the truth. Out it went.

ONeals tortured circumstance, with his guilt eating away at his conscience, was not an easy headspace to inhabit, Stanfield says. One thing I realized after doing Judas is that mental health is important. The way you prepare for a role like that is important. You want to do the best you can, so you go into it 110 percent. But you dont always take the proper steps to make sure your mind is in a good space. With that role, I definitely shouldve done some exercises some meditation, and some therapy in order to prepare. And now, moving forward, I will.

___

Judas and the Black Messiah is now playing in theaters, where coronavirus restrictions allow. It premiered Friday simultaneously on HBO Max, where it will stream through March 14.

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LaKeith Stanfield on 'Judas and the Black Messiah': I should've done some meditation, and some therapy, to prepare for something like this' - Yahoo...

10 different types of meditationand which one is right for you

Self-care can be a key strategy for getting through tough times, such as a global pandemic. Meditation is one practice that has been relied upon by people for centuriesand across various cultures.

Sunday Citizen compiled a list of 10 different types of meditation, using information from health and wellness sites, research studies, and more. One thing to remember when beginning to practice meditation is that mastery is not necessary right away. If you dont meditate, or only do so sporadically, any increase in frequency or duration could have a positive impact. Keep in mind, there is no one way to meditate.

Those who are a bit type A may have trouble slowing downfor them, a meditation practice like kundalini or tai chi that integrates movement may be the ticket. Other types demand quiet and sitting still. All forms of meditation have benefits for mental and physical health. For those who need guidance, theres likely an app for that. Some are 100% free, while others may be subscription-based. Some apps dont stop at meditation, but also offertips and tools for other ways of self-care. You can even connect with a Japanese monk via Zoom for a meditation session.

Meditation may have started as early as5000 B.C., but no matter how long, the practice has become more popular as people look for non-pharmaceutical ways to boost their mental health. Different variations on the practice have been developed throughout the world, including India, China, and Japan. Some are associated with spiritual practices including Hinduism, Taoism, and Buddhism, while others are secular.

Over time, more people were exposed to the practice via the publishing of books including Siddhartha, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, and The Dharma Bums. Researchers started exploring the impact of meditation on the brain in the 50s. Beginning in the late 70s, researchers noted that mindfulness meditation was an effective practice to help manage chronic disease. By the time Deepak Chopra opened his Center for Wellbeing in 1996, meditation was becoming mainstream.

Continue reading to find the type of meditation thats suited to your personality, energy levels, and goals.

Jon Kabat-Zinn created hisMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program in 1979, making this type of meditation one of the newer options available. Because the tactics of the program were adopted outside of the meditation world by therapists and medical professionals, it is one of the more well-known options. By focusing on the present, instead of spiraling into thoughts about the past or future, people who utilize this technique can manage anxiety and concentration virtually anywhere, anytime.

Anyone whos ever dealt with anger or resentment may benefit fromthis practice, which focuses on compassion for and acceptance of self, and then people and/or situations outside of ourselves, including (and sometimes especially) those that aggravate or hurt us. The idea is thatuntil we love ourselves, we cant extend love to others. This type of meditation can also help with anxiety andPTSD.

Even though this practice necessitates a guide, apps and the advent of video calls have made guided meditation available to almost anyone, anytime, via both live sessions and recordings. Anxiety, depression, pain, and insomnia are just a few of theconditions that can be helped via this practice.

Perfect for those who struggle to sit still, this type ofmeditation uses movementyoga, tai chi, gi gong, kundalini, and othersto calm the mind. The practice doesnt require being solitary, and it is often experienced in a group setting. With the recent popularity of Zoom classes, people can join others from their own homes or a community space.

Because there are poses and mantras to learn for this practice, youll want training at first, but once you know the basics, you can usekundalini to manage stress and boost body awareness, in addition to getting stronger and minimizing pain.

Those who struggle with sleep might want to try this practice, which involves scanning the body for areas of stress or pain. Intentionally tensing those parts, then releasing the stress, is often part of the experience.

Because this practice asks that we focus on something externalbreath, sounds, mala beads, or something elserather than trying to empty our minds, this can be an effective option for thoseexperiencing monkey mind,a Buddhist term that describes restlessness or confusion. Success begins with short sessions whenever you have time, making this type of meditation perfect for busy lives.

Picturing an intended resultpeaceful scenes to create calm or success in a specific situationis one possible focus of visualization. Beyond visuals, this practice can include integrating all five senses.

Who hasnt heard the word om, even if you dont meditate? This practice, which has Hindu and Buddhist origins, uses words or phrases to focus attention. Because of the auditory component, this is likely a type of meditation youll do in privacy (though it is done in classes, too), making it a practice you can commit to daily at no cost.

Because this type of meditation requires participants to remain silent for10 days, using body scans to stay focused and ignore pain, it requires a much higher level of commitment than others. The benefits of the practice were explored in the documentary The Dhamma Brothers. The film shows how this practice helped incarcerated men at a high-security facility in Alabama face their trauma and past actions. Others have used the practice to help with recovery from substance abuse.

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10 different types of meditationand which one is right for you - Gwinnettdailypost.com

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The ancient art of meditation has firmly entered the 21st century, thanks to app developers everywhere. Now, relaxing in your spare timewhile clearing out stress, negative thoughts, and anxietyis just a click away. Meditation apps might look like just another icon on your phone screen, but they're really a gateway into the mindful practice's storied world, whether you meditate for spiritual reasons or to help unwind after a particularly stressful day. Ahead, the best meditation apps for newcomers and pros alikebecause everyone can benefit from more self-care right now.

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1 Calm

You already know this app is going to be well-loved with a name like Calm. Click through the different meditation topics, find a length that works for youwhether that's three minutes or 25then start unwinding. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

2 Insight Timer

If you have trouble finding a guided meditation track that works for you, then we'd like to introduce you to Insight Timer, which boasts 75,000 of them. And as the name implies, the meditation timer is a great perk if you're on an odd schedule (or your lunch break). Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

3 Breethe

With a ton of different guided meditations to choose from, as well as relaxing audio that'll make you think you're taking a nap in the middle of nature, Breethe helps you, well, breathe again. Then go right to sleep. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

4 Meditation for Sleep and Calm

You probably know Down Dog best for its cult-favorite yoga app, but go ahead and download its meditation app, too. Thoughtfully titled Meditation for Sleep and Calmyou'll never miss it on your home screenthe app releases a new meditation each day, and you get to pick the voice and language. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

5 Atom

Atom's premise is simple: It offers a 21-day, habit-forming meditation "journey" that begins with two-minute sessions. That way, you can slowly build up your ability to tune out the rest of the world. Available on Google Play.

6 Mesmerize

Mesmerize is different from the rest. It focuses in on guided audio-visual meditation that'll catch the eye and mind of even the busiest, most distractable person. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

7 Headspace

Just as much made for mindfulness as it is for meditation, Headspace is a great intro class in slowing down and focusing on the good stuff. It includes guided meditations, as well as mini meditations that are two to three minutes long. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

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The Best Meditation Apps to Download Right Now - HarpersBAZAAR.com

DBMR has released out a new research study on Global Meditation Market 2021 by Top Competitors, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2027 which integrates crucial insights on the market. The report reveals what the market definition, classifications, applications, engagements, and global industry trends are. The report puts light on the entire market trends and analyses the market structure along with estimations of the various segments and sub-segments of the market. A comprehensive Meditation report gives details about historic data, present market trends, future product environment, marketing strategies, technological innovation, upcoming technologies, emerging trends or opportunities, and the technical progress in the related Meditation industry. The report endows with market potential for each geographical region based on the growth rate, macroeconomic parameters, consumer buying patterns, their preferences for particular product and market demand and supply scenarios.

Meditation market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to USD 9.0 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 10.40% in the above-mentioned forecast period.

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The Major players reported in the market include:

Meditation Market Segmentation:

By Product (Meditation Programs, Yoga Centers, Apps, Websites, Books, Online Courses, Workshops)

By Mental Disorder (Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders)

By Type (Focused Attention, Open Monitoring, Self-Transcending Meditation)

By Meditation Type (Sophrology, Kundalini Yoga, Mindful Fitness Surges)

By Information Source (Books, Newspapers, Internet, DVDs, Articles)

To generate Global Meditation report, goals are set and primary and secondary segments are decided to get the grips with the kind of information required to achieve effective results. The solid foundation required to accomplish the variety of business challenges that come along can be provided by this market report. The report is very concise and accurate which is straight to the point and also dont omit any essential information. All the collected market data is cleaned and organized before formulating an excellent market report. The complete Meditation market research report has executive summary which explains the general idea of the report.

MAJOR TOC OF THE REPORT:-

Continued..

Browse Meditation Market Research Report with detailed TOC at:https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-meditation-market&AS

Competitive Landscape and Meditation Market Share Analysis

Meditation market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies focus related to meditation market.

The major players covered in the meditation market report are Simply Better Apps, Smiling Mind, Inner Explorer, Inc., Committee for Children., Stop, Breathe & Think PBC, Breethe. Life , Simple Habit, Inc., Calm. HEADSPACE INC, MINDSET Brain Gym Toronto Inc, Inscape among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for Global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analyst understands competitive strengths and provides competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

Important Information that can be extracted from the Report:

Global Meditation Market Scope and Market Size

Meditation market is segmented of the basis of products, disorders, meditation type, and information sources. The growth amongst these segments will help you analyse meagre growth segments in the industries, and provide the users with valuable market overview and market insights to help them in making strategic decisions for identification of core market applications.

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Regional Analysis

Furthermore, the report comprises of the geographical segmentation, which mainly focuses on current and forecast demand for Meditation in U.S., Canada and Mexico in North America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Rest of Europe in Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific (APAC) in the Asia-Pacific (APAC), Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, South Africa, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa (MEA) as a part of Middle East and Africa (MEA), Brazil, Argentina and Rest of South America as part of South America.. The report further focuses on demand for individual application segments in all the regions.

About Data Bridge Market Research Private Ltd:

Data Bridge Market ResearchPvt Ltdis a multinational management consulting firm with offices in India and Canada. As an innovative and neoteric market analysis and advisory company with unmatched durability level and advanced approaches. We are committed to uncover the best consumer prospects and to foster useful knowledge for your company to succeed in the market.

Data Bridge Market Research is a result of sheer wisdom and practice that was conceived and built-in Pune in the year 2015. The company came into existence from the healthcare department with far fewer employees intending to cover the whole market while providing the best class analysis. Later, the company widened its departments, as well as expands their reach by opening a new office in Gurugram location in the year 2018, where a team of highly qualified personnel joins hands for the growth of the company. Even in the tough times of COVID-19 where the Virus slowed down everything around the world, the dedicated Team of Data Bridge Market Research worked round the clock to provide quality and support to our client base, which also tells about the excellence in our sleeve.

Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe.

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Excerpt from:

Meditation Market In-depth Research Covering Share Analysis, Industry Overview and Forecast | Key Players Simply Better, Apps Smiling, Mind Inner...

If youve tried meditation and hated it, theres good news: Youre normal. Many people find that their experience with meditation doesnt match the blissed-out expressions of the meditating models on magazine covers. Many of the people Ive treated in my clinical practice wanted the benefits of a regular meditation practice but found it to be so unpleasant that they couldnt bring themselves to do it.

Common negative reactions to meditation include:

To be honest, it took me a long time to warm up to the practice. I still find it a bit painful at times. But I can tell you from personal experience that we can grow to enjoy and benefit from meditation, even if we tried it and hated it.

The key for most of us is to understand what meditation is and what it isnt. I like to think of it as a circle with three phases:

Notice from this description that at no point does your mind stop having thoughts. Its what minds do. So if you think of meditation as clearing your mind, youre going to be extremely frustrated, and youll probably blame yourself as you vow that meditation isnt for me.

If youve struggled with meditation but would like to give it another try, here are some approaches that can make the practice more engaging.

Experiment with different types.

There are countless forms of meditation, some guided, some unguided; some body-focused, others breath-focused; eyes open, eyes closed. Find a variation that seems like it might be a good fit for you. Just be sure to practice it enough times to really explore it before trying a different type, so you have a good sense of whether its right for you.

Get comfortable(ish).

You dont have to sit on the floor with your legs crossed to meditate. You can sit on a chair or a couch, or anywhere you can be comfortable for a few minutes -- but not so comfortable that youre slouching or likely to fall asleep. Choose a posture that embodies a sense of alertness without being tense or rigid. Let your hands rest where they naturally fall.

Keep it short.

It only takes a moment to find mindful awareness. Begin with brief sessions. Three to 5 minutes is a good starting point.

Let go of expectations.

When we expect meditation to produce some desired result -- relaxation, peace, focus -- were bound to be disappointed. We cant really focus on our intention when were measuring it against a goal: Am I relaxed yet? What about now? Why dont I feel more at ease? Instead, let each meditation session be what it is.

Dont try to clear your mind.

As described above, its pointless to try to stop thinking. Instead, see the thoughts clearly when they come. Keep your perspective on them, knowing the thoughts are there without getting lost in them. Let your breath be the music on stage and your thoughts the restless rustlings of the audience. Keep coming back to the music.

Keep it light.

Mindful presence isnt a heavy obligation or an overly serious pursuit. Bring a light touch. Let a slight smile grace your lips.

Do it with a partner.

In the past couple years, Ive enjoying doing medidates with my wife, where we sit in silence together or follow a guided meditation. Some people find it more meaningful to practice with a partner, and committing together to regular practice can provide a helpful measure of accountability.

Expect that you wont feel like doing it.

You might really want to meditate, and yet somehow you keep not finding time for it. How can I not find 5 minutes a day to meditate? you ask yourself. I waste way more time than that on Instagram every day.

The obstacle might very well be that your ego doesnt want you to meditate. Ego here means the part of ourselves thats overly attached to its identity as a separate being, distinct from everything else. The ego constantly wants to enlarge its small self by dividing everything in the world into for me or against me. Its the doing, striving, judging part of ourselves that we usually think of as me.

While meditation is an expansion of awareness and a spiritually enriching practice, its also a painful death for the ego. Meditation requires a pause in the constant activity of the ego mind, and the ego doesnt easily give up its throne. So expect a part of you to put up some resistance. It will probably offer plenty of reasons why now isnt the right time to meditate: Let me just do these dishes. Or send this email. Or make this phone call.

Try to consciously side with the part of yourself thats drawn to meditation. Perhaps more than anything, a meditation practice allows you to discover a you thats deeper and truer than the superficial ego -- one that knows connection, and love, and peace. Use the time to come home to yourself: body, breath, spirit.

See what happens when you approach it from a different angle. And remember that meditation isnt about getting good at it. Its all observation and learning. Be very friendly with yourself. Find the stillness within you that doesnt hate meditation, or anything else thats part of your experience. Make room for all of it.

WebMD Blog

Read this article:

How to Start a Meditation Practice if You Hate Meditating - WebMD - WebMD

It is a known fact that meditation heals the mind. It helps alleviate stress, leaving you in a calmer and more focused state. While adults have one too many reasons to meditate, children are encouraged to participate in this healing process, too. It is immensely beneficial for the child, especially in their growing up years when there is a lot of peer and performance pressure. Meditation can calm their nerves before an exam, boost their immunity, make them more patient and help them to sleep better at night.

Here are five meditation apps that can help them process their emotions better. Read on.

Smiling Mind

This app offers many mindfulness activities for children of all ages. Besides breathing meditations, the app also has sensory exercises like listening to music. The app keeps track of when kids meditate, too. Smiling Mind was created by a nonprofit with the mission of improving mental health in Australia. So the app uses voices with Australian accents. It is available to Android, iOS users for free.

Breathe, Think, Do With Sesame

This free app is for kids ages 4 and up. Breathe, Think, Do With Sesame helps them to learn skills like problem-solving, self-control, planning and task persistence through interactive activities. Your kids can also Breathe With the Monster to practice taking deep breaths whenever they need to calm down.

Mindful Family

Mindful Family can help parents raise kids with the right tools for processing emotions. It has both free and paid versions, and there is something for every family members needs.

Three Good Things: A Happiness Journal

This app helps build mindfulness. Kids have to write down three good things that happen to them every day, which make them feel happier. The app is easy to use. Kids can use it to set a reminder to write each day, and they can also look over their past journal entries. It is available for free for iOS users.

Wellbeyond Meditation For Kids

This app is built for kids aged 4 and up. It offers five free guided meditations to help with sleep, relaxation, focus, concentration, managing feelings, and more. There are also nine additional meditations available as in-app purchases.

Meditation is the need of the hour today, and this is a good time to initiate this practice in your kids.

The rest is here:

Five meditation apps that can help your child to relax - The Indian Express