Dear Meditator,

Life is short, time is precious. At least, that's what old people tell me. And in the time you've been reading this newsletter so far you could have done a ten second meditation. People are always telling me that they don't have time to meditate, or can't find the time to meditate. Usually, they do have time to watch TV, eat three times a day, go to work, send text messages and much more besides. Time is never the issue. The issue is lack of motivation, inertia or a failure to prioritise meditation. Perfectly understandable. The effects of meditation are subtle. Just as it may take some time to recognise that a sedentary life, smoking habit or poor diet may have an impact on your life, so too, it may take some time before you recognise the effects of meditation. Thankfully though, they'll be positive effects. If you've found meditation hard to implement, remember, you can do it anywhere and at anytime, in any way you like, and even while you're doing something else.

Perhaps you'll find this month's spot meditation useful, or you could download the Mindful Reminder mentioned below. Remember too, sometimes you need to repeat an activity numerous times before it becomes a natural part of your life. I've noticed that students who repeat or try several different meditation courses or classes tend to find meditation easier and more useful. No surprise there.

Remember, if you feel like you need a refresher you can repeat any of our courses at the concession price. The next term of courses starts in August. We've also got a three hour workshop coming up in Elwood on Sunday August 10 and our annual Intermediate Course will run in Clifton Hill from Monday October 6. Great news also for anyone who's been waiting for a daytime course. We're running one from 10.00 - 11.30am in Elwood from Wednesday October 8.

Also, if you've got a few spare minutes feel free to participate in this Monash University research project (online survey) comparing mindfulness and savouring as predictors of Well-Being. The study is seeking people over the age of 18 with different levels of mindfulness experiences, including those with no experience at all.

I hope you enjoy the newsletter. Feel free to email comments, questions or suggestions to: matt@melbournemeditationcentre.com.au

In This Issue...

• Spot Meditation
• Mindful Reminders
• New Guided Meditation CD
• Course schedule
• Forthcoming Events
• Meditation Good For Psychiatrists' Mental Health

Spot Meditation

Meditation on the Move

Next time you're on an escalator (or riding in a lift), let it do the work. Enjoy a short rest. Take the time to stop, physically and mentally, and to tune in — either to the environment, your body, your breath, or to you thoughts, feelings or emotions.

How and where do you meditate when you've only got a minute? Send your own spot meditations to matt@melbournemeditationcentre.com.au

The best suggestion each month will be published here.

Mindful Reminders

One of the first things I tell my students is this: "Meditation is easy — easy to learn and easy to do. What's difficult is remembering to do it." This isn't just my own opinion or my own experience — it's what students tell me time and time again.

What to do about this difficulty is a question I ask myself regularly. Oddly enough, some people just naturally seem to remember to meditate throughout the day. They have no problem finding the time, or inclination to meditate, and very quickly, they start to feel more relaxed and at ease. Others find that a day, or even a week can go by, before they remember that they could have been meditating.

Peter Russell, a scientist (with degrees in physics, psychology and computing from Cambridge) and teacher of meditation finds this to be true in his own life. "I find I easily get caught up in the busy-ness of the day and forget my intention to be more mindful," he says. "So I created this online tool as a way of reminding myself to pause and become aware of some aspect of my thoughts or feelings."

What he's referring to is a little tool which you can visit and use online (or download for offline use). After a random interval, an audio message is played suggesting you pause for a moment and consider some or other aspect of your experience. (There's also another version which periodically plays a sound).

You can find both of these mindful reminders on Peter's website, along with a 3 minute guided meditation.

Meditate08 CD Sampler

If you didn't make it to the Meditate08 Meditation Conference & Expo in June you can still get a little taste of the day. The Meditate08 Sampler CD includes guided meditations and meditative music by Paul Majewski, Garth Stone, Michael Johnson and myself.

We've still got a few copies left and you can order online for just $10.

Course Schedule

Term 5 Courses commence the week beginning August 24. You can register online for any of the following.

Term 5 August/September

Meditation Events

Simply Silence

Get your regular dose of relaxation and calm at one of our Simply Silence sessions in North Melbourne or Elwood. It's a great way to discover and explore meditation in a friendly group environment.

Elwood Schedule:

• July 28 - Kate James
• August 11 - Sarah Fletcher
• August 25 - Kathryn Pace
• September 8 - Ruth Yeatman
• September 22 - Sarah Fletcher
• October 13 - Adam Nicholl

North Melbourne Schedule:

• August 7 - Garth Stone
• August 21 - Rita Cattivera
• September 4 - Paul Majewski
• September 18 - Jenny Petridis

Meditation Good For Psychiatrists' Mental Health

I like to remind myself (and others) that the 'experts' often struggle with life just as much as their patients do, and this article illustrates just that.

Meditation sessions are proving a hit for members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at their Annual Meeting at Imperial College, London - with a growing number claiming they are turning to the spiritual discipline to combat anxiety and burnout.

Meditation workshops, run by the College's 2,000-strong Spirituality Special Interest Group, are overbooked. "It seems to be an indication of the need for spiritual nourishment, something that College members are not finding easily in the outside world," says Dr Sarah Eagger, chair of the Spirituality Group. Read more.

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.)