Meditation

BklynFitGuy

Keep hearing how it’s important to have a meditation routine as it helps clear your head and keep you focused. Any recommendations on some good books, sites, or apps?

gabriellejayde

There's a lot of guided meditation on youtube - just search. I have used a few apps, but I usually just go back to whatever youtube videos work for me. There are some for weightloss btw. I don't know if they've helped me or not, but... I lost 91 lbs this past year, so it probably didn't hurt.

nutmegoreo

I found having a meditation teacher to be invaluable. You should be able to search for meditation classes in your area. I don't know about for weight loss specifically, but I am more calm.

mom23mangos

I haven't done any straight meditation, but I fell in love with Yin Yoga because it pretty much brings on a meditative state. So it's like a two for one. I get the muscle recovery and connective tissue strengthening from the yoga as well as a meditative session.

barbiecat

"10 % Happier" by Dan Harris "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" by Dan Harris

Kandisn29

I find prayer to be incredibly beneficial in clearing my head, helping my focus, and strengthening my self control. Holy Spirit Power by Charles Spurgeon is an amazing book.

BklynFitGuy

Wow, thanks all for the quick responses. Will definitely look into all these options.

laur357

A number of medical facilities are now offering meditation courses - I took a great one through a local teaching hospital as they had done a few research studies involving healing, chronic illness, and meditation. It went beyond guided meditation, so you could practice in any situation without prompts. We looked at a few of Thich Nhat Hanh's and John Kabat-Zinn's books, and participants could make it as spiritual or non-spiritual as they wanted.

I also find that yoga works in a similar way, but still meditation is on a different level. Both are helpful for stress, anxiety, and being more aware of how you interact with the present.

Tacklewasher

I tried. Never got the hang of it. Trying to get the hang of Yoga.

skinnyrev2b

I echo Kandisn29 and Mom23mangos - I love yoga (I use YogawithAdrienne on YouTube) and have just discovered Yin Yoga via Christina Brown's Yoga Bible. I also pray (my username sort of gives that away) and use mantra's in my practice to help me focus on all aspects of my health and well being. I did my first ten minute meditation session today whilst waiting to take a funeral

AnnPT77

Simplest ever, no obligatory philosophical/religious baggage, read one page and you can start:

http://relaxationresponse.org/steps/

ShinyFuture

I like the meditationstudio app - especially when I'm traveling.

goatg

App - headspace

maeganrobinson

I second Headspace- it’s been super helpful for me!

Orphia

Not a fan. Seems to be so much fluff written about meditation. So many words about think / don't think, and none of them can agree. Blah blah blah.

It all seems aimed at selling us things and making us feel bad about ourselves like we're too stressed / not good enough /spiritual enough /hippy enough.

But maybe I don't need it because I'm constantly in zen mode due to lots of walking and running. Then, I can chill out and enjoy my thoughts or zone out.

I'd feel like I'd be wasting time I could be doing such things if I sat and meditated.

amusedmonkey

It's not for me. I tried it, some annoyed me because they had too much hoodoo talk, others didn't, but they all felt like a chore and didn't seem to do anything - I actually nearly fell asleep a few times. If you're interested, you don't have to pay for guided meditation. In my meditation experiment I used an app called "Insight Timer" which has so many meditations on so many topics your options aren't likely to run out any time soon.

Edited to add a link

MichelleSilverleaf

Orphia wrote: »

Not a fan. Seems to be so much fluff written about meditation. So many words about think / don't think, and none of them can agree. Blah blah blah.

It all seems aimed at selling us things and making us feel bad about ourselves like we're too stressed / not good enough /spiritual enough /hippy enough.

But maybe I don't need it because I'm constantly in zen mode due to lots of walking and running. Then, I can chill out and enjoy my thoughts or zone out.

I'd feel like I'd be wasting time I could be doing such things if I sat and meditated.

My previous doctor was a big runner and considered it a kind of meditation when he was out on a run. He told me a story that he got so zen on his runs that when a pair of police had stopped him once on his route it took them quite a few tries to get his attention (he wasn't in trouble, turned out something happened near his route and they were just asking if he'd seen or heard anything). I think it's totally possible to meditate and move at the same time, cut away all the fluff and it's the mindset that matters. Some have to sit, others have to move.

fr33sia12

I started doing meditation at the beginning of the year, more for anxiety than weight loss. It has really helped me be able to calm myself down. There's times when my worries at the start of meditation have completely gone by the end of it. I always thought meditation was for hippies sitting crossed legged going "mmmm" all the time, but that's not the fact at all. You have to put in the effort though.

BklynFitGuy

Thanks all. I just need a way to give my mind a break and clear my head. I find I’m always thinking of a million different things, worrying about some and my mind never gets a break. Figured I’d give meditation a shot.