When actor and comedian Wali Collins was in first grade, his teacher, Miss Dunn, would lead the class in a group meditation--except that none of the 6-year-olds realized thats what she was doing. Having everyone close their eyes, Miss Dunn would ask the class to tell her what they heard.

Someone might say I hear birds, and Miss Dunn would ask, Can everyone hear the birds? says Collins. The class would answer, yes.

Other children would add what they heard, such as the leaves in the trees moving from the wind, and Collins says someone would always say, I hear myself breathe. Once everyone agreed that they could hear their own individual breath, she would have the class open their eyes and she would begin teaching.

This woman was a genius; she made a game out of meditating, says Collins. She took a group of highly energized 6-year-olds to a relaxed place so that our minds were clear from distractions and we could soak up all that she wanted to teach us.

Collins, who is a regular on Late Show With David Letterman, uses these techniques today before he performs: I can still hear the calming words of Miss Dunn, he says. If youre feeling crazed, this is the easiest way to relax and clear your mind from stress or unnecessary distractions.

Miss Dunn might not have realized it, but she was teaching what Mike Brooks, an Austin, Texas-based psychologist, calls meditation hacks.

We should all learn to stop and smell the roses, he says. Unfortunately, most of us arent present for most of the day. Were thinking about what we need to do or what we should have done. But if we have one foot in the future and one in the past, were pissing on the present.

Brooks, director of the Austin Psychology and Assessment Center, says our thoughts are like a river. When were thinking about what we need from the store, the river is calm, but when were having negative thoughts--worrying about a presentation, for example--the current becomes more turbulent.

Mindful people--those who live in the present--can step back and stay on the riverbank, watching their current of thoughts and not getting swept away by their content.

Meditation fosters mindfulness, but the practice seems difficult in todays world of constant stimulation: People think the goal of meditation is to empty the mind, says Brooks. Its not about clearing the mind; its about focusing on one thing. When the mind wanders, the meditation isnt a failure. Our brain is like a wayward puppy, out of control. Catching it and putting it back to the object of focus is the mediation.

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Meditation Techniques For People Who Hate Meditation

CAPE CORAL, FL -

When medications fail, some people are turning to meditation for a cure. Eastern Medicine has changed the life of one boy and his Cape Coral family, one breath at a time.

Pulling one bottle after another, Brandi Lawrey counts the pills her 7-year-old takes. "He takes these all twice a day," she said.

Gavin Lawrey has a terminal illness called mitochondrial disease. In basic terms, his cells are not producing enough energy to sustain him. The pain is horrific, and the medication is extreme.

"He also has liquid morphine," Brandi said. But sometimes medication is not enough.

"When he's at a point where he can't have anymore morphine for another half hour, and we just got to get him through," she said.

She turns to a dose of meditation. "Take one more deep peaceful breath in through your nose," she instructed Gavin. "I worry about him constantly and have a hard time sleeping at night because I always think something's going to happen."

She says meditation cures her family's anxiety and helps ease little Gavin's pain.

"How does your heart feel? Is it going fast or slow?" she asked. "Slow," Gavin said.

"What meditation does is that it decreases stress," Dr. Jose Colon, a pediatric neurologist, said. "When it does that, it decreases inflammation." Reducing Gavin's pain.

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Some patients turn to meditation when medication fails

MONTGOMERY A new meditation garden is available for public use as a place of reflection at the Otto Kaufman Community Center in Montgomery.

There will be an opening celebration of the new garden on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m. at the community center. Sahib Singh, a senior at Montgomery High School, who planned and constructed the garden as his Eagle Scout project, will join township officials, including Mayor Rich Smith and other members of the Montgomery Township Committee, in dedicating the space to the public.

Sahib built the meditation garden, which includes a small patio, benches, plantings, and an arbor in a serene natural setting, to be a calm and relaxing space for the entire Montgomery community.

"It is an ideal location to benefit Montgomery high school students, senior citizens and other residents who use the community center," said Sahib.

Sahib was motivated in part by a recent "Huffington Post" article, which stated, "Everyday life brings numerous challenges and stresses. Studies show that meditation is associated with improvement in a variety of psychological areas, including stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, eating disorders and cognitive function, among others. There is also research to suggest that meditation can reduce blood pressure, pain response, stress hormone levels and even cellular health."

The event will take place rain or shine outside of the rear of the building where the meditation garden is located. All members of the public are invited to attend.

Call Montgomery Recreation at 609-466-3023 with any questions.

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MONTGOMERY: Garden available to the public

meditation

Amy Capetta TODAY

Sep. 28, 2014 at 7:56 AM ET

The positive power of meditation has made the news once again. Research from Carnegie Mellon University states that practicing mindfulness meditation for 25 minutes per session for three consecutive days can alleviate psychological stress. An analysis of previous studies compiled earlier this year showed this type of meditationwhich involves paying attention to your surroundings while concentrating on your breathingto be moderately effective in battling depression, anxiety and pain.

One of the most important benefits of mindfulness meditation is the ability for us to more fully live our lives, states Janice L. Marturano, executive director of the Institute For Mindful Leadership and the author of "Finding the Space to Lead: A Practical Guide to Mindful Leadership." We become more skillful at noticing those times when we aren't present for our lives, and, more importantly, we know that we are able to redirect our distracted mind.

And if youre assuming that the act of meditating means needing to clear your mind of every worry, every judgment and every item on your to-do list, think again. Its not necessarily about quieting the mind, because the nature of the mind is to think, analyze and compartmentalize, states Ashley Turner, a California-based yoga and meditation teacher. Its normal for our minds to be overactive, so because youre thinking and taking in the sounds around you doesn't mean that youre doing meditation wrong. It actually means youre doing it right! The goal is to create more focus.

Heres some more soothing newschanting for hours on end is not required, either. Turner advises to start small, at just five minutes a day, and add one minute per week until you reach a time that fits best with your lifestyle. It is better to meditate for a short time each day than it is to meditate for an hour on Saturday, adds Marturano.

And like any other type of challenge, it takes practice. Both Marturano and Turner compare training the mind to working out. Its like flexing any other muscle in the bodydoing a bicep curl or a hamstring curlexcept youre building focus to tone the muscle of the mind, explains Turner.

Heres how to start living in a more controlled yet blissful state of mind:

Get comfortable Turner advises designating a specific area in your home thats just for your meditation practice, like perhaps sitting at the foot of your bed or in a cozy chair. Once your place has been established, find the most comfortable position for your body. There is no need for meditation cushions or sitting in a lotus position, adds Marturano. Sitting, standing and lying down are all options. She also suggests choosing an object (or two) that may enhance your session, such as lighting a scented candle or playing relaxation music.

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How to calm your brain and find peace during a busy day

(PRWEB) September 29, 2014

ChangeYourEnergy.com's newest course offerings of online guided meditations continues its strong support for self-empowerment and healing with Nature Meditation for Healing & Awakening.

This meditation course is taught through a series of 12 guided meditation videos created by energy principles expert and author Ilchi Lee. Enticing students to experience complete relaxation and self-empowerment in just 15 minutes per day, the meditation exercise helps people understand how to effectively use the elements found in nature improve their health and their lives.

With their soothing narrations and vivid nature sounds, the video courses are indeed vehicles for relaxation and awakening the spirit.

This is a beautifully spoken and musically accompanied reflection on the elements of Mother Earth," says D. Rhodes. "The sounds of the elements are so very evocative of being in beloved outdoor places while being in my home. I relaxed into a supportive and nurturing mind/heart experience. At the same time, I was energized and rejuvenated for action in my daily life. I look forward to this guided meditation being part of my self care and enjoyable spiritual journeys.

The course is available to everyone, from beginners to advanced on ChangeYourEnergy.com. The courses are designed to be mobile friendly and all videos, audios and text PDF versions can be downloaded for streaming on a laptop, tablet or mobile phone.

About ChangeYourEnergy.com:

ChangeYourEnergy.com is a wellness lifestyle resource based on energy philosophy and the teachings of Ilchi Lee, a meditation and brain education leader. Changeyourenergy.com offers accessible, around the clock guidance, inspiration and practical online training to enable people to realize and activate their full human potential. The site offers lifestyle tips, health and wellness articles, exclusive seminars and personal development coaching.

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ChangeYourEnergy.com Inspires Deep Relaxation and Empowerment through Nature Meditation