Anyone use meditation?

I tend to get distracted by music or talking when I am meditating, so I don't use DVDs or audio, though I have occasionally been part of a meditation that was guided by a live person. Before I started, I just checked out a few books about meditation and tried the methods that I thought I would like.

I have never really had any specific aim when meditating because when you start dealing with the subconscious it kinda has its own priorities and they come to the top regardless of what your conscious self tries to dictate. So helping with motivation, etc...I am not sure meditation is the right tool, at least not directly. Regarding anxiety, a while back I had some very deep stuff come up in meditation that was unexpected and difficult to deal with and it kind of turned me off of meditation for a while because I did not know what to do with that kind of emotion (it was squished into a tiny box in my heart for a reason). I haven't had anything as intense happen in a long time and ended up stronger by eventually working through some things, but you just never know where meditation will take you.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

I do not use meditation, exactly, but I get some of the benefits it sounds like you are looking for from self hypnosis. For that, there are many recordings you can use. I recommend Erick Brown Hypnosis; he has tons of recordings for sale on iTunes and Google Play and also through his website: http://erickbrownhypnotherapy.com/

These can be very useful for changing habits, overcoming anxieties, becoming more motivated, and building confidence. I have probably around 15 or more of his programs on my iPod that I listen to when I want to work on an issue. It is also really relaxing, and quite safe, as you are always guided. I always feel great after listening to one of the programs. They are anywhere from 20 minutes to a little over an hour.

I started with yoga.
there is also a meditation for dummies book that is really good. starts you off slow and has lots of ideas and tips.
There are also apps that help by guiding you. look at calm.com omvana. Buddhify is good for on the go meditation. Hope that helps

I am looking into meditation and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for where to start? I am looking for something to help with mind, body and spirit. Something to help with my anxiety and possibly change my mindset and help me get more motivated and on track with fitness. I have never done anything like this so I am not sure if I need dvd's or some kind of audio. Any suggestions?

Do you have a Buddhist community anywhere nearby? The one here holds free lessons of sorts. They teach you breathing and posture and give tips on how to really use it.

Unfortunately, I can't do it on my own. I just can't shut my brain down. Exercise IS my meditation.

Forget about DVDs audios or anything else. Find a local Vipassana retreat and go there for 10 days. It is completely free (you donate money only after you have complete one and only if you really want to, no pressure whatsoever) and trust me, it works wonders! It is hard because it's 10 days, 9 of which you don't speak to anyone, but I can't even put in words what you will experience and how amazing you will feel after.

Seconded! I have been practicing Vipassana Meditation for 28 years. Its had an incredibly profound impact on my life. I have attended many 10-day and longer courses, both as a practitioner and as a volunteer. I highly recommend it.
www.dhamma.org
kind regards,

Ben

The best advice I can give would be to get up about an hour earlier and go somewhere that you can relax alone. You just need to take the time to start the day off right. slow and unhurried. Make a cup of tea, put on some ambient music if you prefer... just start things out without rushing, and when you feel like meditating, just do it.

The thing about meditation is that there is no set way to do it. Some people find it best to empty their minds, some find it best to concentrate on a thought, object, text, sound, etc. Some people sit comfortably, others in specific positions, and still others take walks. Whatever it is that focuses and relaxes your mind can work. Just make a habit of it, and remember that the ultimate goal is a mindset change, and that change can help you with any other area of your life.

Good luck!

I do! check out you tube! they have some great meditation videos for free. I like the ones for deep sleep and relaxation. Some can be a little crazy so beware. Heres a link to one that is very good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jyy0ra2WcQQ

Forget about DVDs audios or anything else. Find a local Vipassana retreat and go there for 10 days. It is completely free (you donate money only after you have complete one and only if you really want to, no pressure whatsoever) and trust me, it works wonders! It is hard because it's 10 days, 9 of which you don't speak to anyone, but I can't even put in words what you will experience and how amazing you will feel after.

I'd just like to point out that not everyone can get away for 10 days at a time. So while this is a lovely thing if you can, it isn't helpful advice to anyone who can't.

Some do weekends. The one near me does. It's basically the first 3 days of a 10 day retreat.

I kind of skipped down to the reply button in excitement to answer without reading the responses, so pardon me if I repeat something.

I 5000000 % recommend you get the Andrew Johnson apps. It's like semi-hypnosis semi-guided meditation and he has several themes. I started using them for my anxiety. He has programs for stress, anxiety and panic attacks. He also has programs for weight loss, fitness, public speaking, motivation...you name it. They're a few bucks a piece and they're programmable. You can either listen to it when you want to chill out for 30 mins or you can put it on when you go to bed and he'll put you to sleep. It's VERY effective.

I've been using his apps for a couple years now. I think I have all of them

I started meditating after seeing a Reiki master and experiencing a healing session. It sounds hokey, but she really just helps me get in touch with the emotions and feelings that are affecting my life. She doesn't try to predict my future, rather she brings things to light that I'm not consciously aware of. In turn, she helps me to understand my body and why I get the pains or ailments that I do. In the end, it all comes down to stress and anxiety. By healing our spiritual and emotional selves, we can heal our physical selves as well.

Here is an example: I frequently get what I thought were stomach pains underneath my diaphragm area. I usually associated this with hunger or if I had eaten, assumed that I ate something foul. We were able to work through and uncover that this is where I carry my stress. Now that I know this, I recognize when I am stressed, I start to get those pains. Instead of reaching for the nearest bag of Doritos, I try to clear that bad energy and reduce that stress.

I was introduced to it by a friend who has major anxiety and told me that it was better than any therapy or medication she has ever taken. Let me know if you have any questions about Reiki healing. I'm not a healer, but I can give you the perspective of someone who was initially skeptical, but now go regularly (every other month or so). There are quite a few resources online, but there are also a lot of websites that say it's a crock. It works for me, so I don't really care what others think.

Two good books: Mindfulness in Plain English by Bhante Gunaratana and Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Actually, anything by Jon Kabata -Zinn. Or Tara Brach.

Tai Chi is also a meditative form of martial arts. Yoga is also good.

Simple meditation exercise, sit cross legged and breathe. Just listen to your breath go in and out. Focus only on your breath.

Simple awareness exercise to stay in the moment. Pay attention to and focus on your senses. Ask yourself in the moment, what do I see? What do I hear? What do I smell? What do I feel or touch? Etc.

Good for you. Mindfulness and metitation takes practice. One can get better at it. The positive effects are astronomical. And mindfulness can be applied to eating as well.

My recommendations? These items have helped me tremendously

http://www.amazon.com/The-Mindful-Way-Through-Depression/dp/1593851286 <

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includes a CD with meditations by Jon Kabat-Zinn

http://www.amazon.com/Savor-Mindful-Eating-Life/dp/0061697702/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377784484&sr=1-2&keywords=savor#_ <

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almost anything by Thich Nhat Hahn is awesome

www.self-compassion.org <

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low-budget recordings of guided meditations

I use binaural beat meditation audio which is free on youtube. It calms my anxieties really well

yep, booze makes me meditate