Dear [First Name],
Do you have a favourite time to meditate? First thing each morning? When you get home from work? Whilst lying in bed as you go to sleep? Whenever you remember? And is there a best time to meditate? Personally, I think the best time to meditate is when you're stressed. Though this can be the hardest time to meditate it can also be the most rewarding - and the most beneficial.

It can also be useful to slip into meditation during natural 'down' time. Getting familiar with your daily rhythms - the way your energy naturally waxes and wanes - can help you to maximise the potential of meditation. This month's tip on Ultradian Rhythms explores this further.

In This Issue...

• Meditation Tip
• Free Guided Meditations
• Course Schedule - Final Classes for 2006 commence November 12
• Website of the Month

Meditation Tip

You may have heard of the Circadian rhythm - the 24 hour cycle that regulates our ‘wakefulness' during day and night. This physiological process is the reason that we feel like getting up in the morning (hopefully!) and what causes us to feel sleepy at night.

Another set of bodily cycles are the Ultradian rhythms. Whereas the circadian rhythm occurs once a day, ultradian rhythms recur in physiological cycles of varying lengths. These cycles affect and trigger changes in things such as the temperature of the body, nostril dilation, the release of hormones and our appetite. One interesting ultradian rhythm governs ‘hemispheric dominance' within the brain. 

What this means is that at times throughout the day our body and mind will be primed for linear, logical thought and communication, or left-brain activity - and at other times it will cycle naturally into a more relaxed, creative and meditative state.

Generally, after getting out of bed in the morning, you'll have around 90 to 120 minutes available for clear minded focused attention and thinking followed by a 20 minute period in which the right side of the brain becomes more active. At this time you'll probably find it more difficult to concentrate and you'll be more likely to daydream or feel sleepy. This is often the time that people take a break, grab a coffee or smoke a cigarette, or, if they continue working, it's the time during which they'll make errors or mistakes.

Forcing your mind to continue concentrating at this time is a bit like driving your car when you know it's out of oil. On the other hand, taking advantage of this natural rhythm has profound physical and mental health benefits, so it's much better to do what your brain is asking you to do - Relax!

Hence the creation of ‘power naps' and their adoption by progressive companies. Unsurprisingly, in workplaces where regular breaks are encouraged, productivity increases and rates of sickness drop.

Being able to meditate at these times is a highly efficient way of relaxing quickly and deeply and maximizing the potential of both body and mind.

Free Guided Meditations

On a typical day I meditate for short bursts (5 - 60 seconds) dozens of times. When I find myself with 10 or 15 minutes up my sleeve I'll happily settle in for a longer session - often in the car, a park or wherever I happen to find myself.

At home, however, I often prefer to let someone else 'do the work'. I have a collection of CD's and mp3's that I've downloaded and these provide me with a great deal of variety. They keep my interest in meditation alive and provide guidance and structure which often results in a better 'quality' meditation.

If you're relying just on your own 'beginners luck' I highly recommend picking up a CD or two. Of course, I'm inclined to say that my own "A Taste of Meditation" CD is a great place to start, however, if you want to dive in right now you can download one of four guided meditations from www.mindobserver.com

Course Schedule

The final term for this year will be a 4 week course running from mid November to early December. At just $100 it's a great opportunity to refresh your meditation skills, or to develop a few new strategies for staying calm during the December madness.

Term 6 - November/December 2006

Website of the Month

There are about 54,900,000 results provided by google for a search on meditation. You'd think that the odds would be good that amongst all that you'd be able to find some quality information. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I do this search on google at least once a month - just to see what's hanging around on the Top 100 or so results - and I'm invariably disappointed. One site, however, warrants reading and re-reading over and over again. www.lorinroche.com

Know someone who could chill out?

Do you have friends who are perpetually stressed or anxious, have trouble sleeping or could just do with learning how to relax? Do them a favour and forward this email to them. (Or if this is you, subscribe here.)