Vol 2/Issue 3
When it comes down to it meditation is really about choice. If Shakespeare were a meditator, he may have said it thus; To relax, or not to relax. When we're more stressed than we need to be choice seems to be the first casualty. We get caught up in the stress cycle and miss our opportunity to change course. Each time you meditate, you're training yourself to make better choices. You'll find that opportunities to relax become more apparent. Over time, relaxation becomes a decision you make rather than an unexpected outcome. This months Meditation Tip looks at a few choices you may like to make as you stroll along on a walking meditation.
In This Issue...
Meditation Tip
The Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, in his book The Long Road Turns to Joy recommends that you meditate on healthy, instinctive qualities. You may be familiar with his suggestion that you " kiss the ground with your feet" as you walk. Here are a few more of his suggestions. These are simply choices you may like to make throughout the day. You can apply them just to the act of walking, or give them a broader context - make them attitudes that you adopt in times of stress.
- Pay attention with gratitude. Smile inside as you go.
- Be aimless.
- Have sovereignty over yourself. Walk like an emperor.
- With every step you take, a breeze will blow away your sorrow.
- The path welcomes you.
If you like, pick one of these to be your "attitude of the day."
Drop in Classes
If you've completed a meditation course but wish to continue with a weekly practice in a group environment, you're welcome to attend the Simply Silence group in North Melbourne. There will be two groups, a silent sitting group for experienced meditators and a lightly-guided session for people with less meditation experience. Entry is by gold coin donation. Full details.
New Course Information
Intermediate Course
Open to anyone who has completed a basic course, the intermediate course is designed to deepen your practice. It draws on and reinforces materials covered in the basic course, introduces you to additional techniques, encourages you to become proficient with longer meditations, and aims to free you from dependence upon a teacher or guide.
Teacher Training Course
Designed for yoga teachers, health professionals and others wishing to teach or guide meditation the Teacher Training Course takes a behind the scenes look at what's involved in meditation instruction and how best to integrate meditation with other modalities.
Course Schedule
Term 2 - April/May 2006
April 2: 4 Week Basic Course at Glen Waverley (Sundays 7.00 - 8.30pm)
April 3: 6 Week Basic Course at Clifton Hill (Mondays 6.15 - 7.45pm)
April 3: 6 Week Intermediate Course at Clifton Hill (Mondays 8.00 - 9.30pm)
April 5: 6 Week Basic Course at Elwood (Wednesdays 8.15 - 9.45pm)
April 6: 4 Week Course at Melbourne CBD (Thursdays 5.45 - 7.00pm)
April 6: 6 Week Course at Port Melbourne (Thursdays 8.00 - 9.30pm)
April 21: 6 Week Basic (Day) Course at Elwood (Fridays 10.00 - 11.30pm)
Term 3 - June/July 2006
June 19: 6 Week Basic Course at Clifton Hill (Mondays 6.15 - 7.45pm)
June 19: 6 Week Teacher Training Course at Clifton Hill (Mondays 8.00 - 9.30pm)
June 21: 6 Week Basic Course at Elwood (Wednesdays 8.15 - 9.45pm)
June 22: 6 Week Course at Port Melbourne (Thursdays 8.00 - 9.30pm)
Meditation & Yoga/Exercise
We don't often think of the gym as a place of inner peace, but despite the sweat and strain it can be a great place to relax. The repetitive nature of exercise can have a soothing, mantra-like effect and any form of exercise tends to get us out of the head and into the body. Furthermore, our muscles need to be worked fully in order to relax fully.
Not everyone relaxes at the gym though - as evidence by the grimaces and grunts. Some rush through their routine as if they'd rather be gossiping at the cafe, others try to lift their own body-weight on every machine, and nearly everyone holds their breath or tenses up muscles unnecessarily.
Here then, are a few tips to get the most out of your yoga or exercise regime.
- Close your eyes when you enter a posture, lift a weight, do a stretch, or even as you cycle or jog. This usually helps to focus your attention on the body.
- Bring your attention to the active muscles - whatever is being used or stretched.
- Keep your breathing steady and deep - or breathe in time with the actions you're taking.
- Soften the inactive muscles - you can't lift more or stretch further by screwing your face up - and yet this is what we commonly do. Pay attention to areas of the body that you are keeping tense for no purpose.
- Stay centred. i.e. Notice when you strain, struggle or wobble (mentally or physically)
- Pause between each posture or exercise. Sigh deeply a few times and let the body soften.
- Start and stop each posture or exercise consciously. In yoga, the moments between each pose can be just as rewarding as the postures themselves.
- Have fun.
Meditation & Health
Eric Harrison wrote Meditation & Health in order to explain how meditation can be helpful for specific ailments. Backed by accepted medical and scientific evidence the book shows how and why meditation improves the functioning of the body and offers specific applications of meditation for healing both physical and emotional problems, including hypertension, insomnia, pain, fatigue, migraines, panic attacks, cancer and other chronic illnesses.
Meditation & Health is now available as a downloadable e-book for just $12. To find out more or to order a copy visit www.melbournemeditationcentre.com.au
Matt.
p. 03 9531 1607
e. matt@melbournemeditationcentre.com.au
w. www.melbournemeditationcentre.com.au
PO Box 1174
Elwood, VIC 3184
AUSTRALIA
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