Meditation is for Everyone!

Last summer I had the honour of working with an Olympic Athlete—a Canadian-born snowboarder who was having difficulty with his mind and focus while on the hill and in his personal life. We worked together with meditation, visualization and clearing techniques to create an inner stillness and peace in his presence which translates in everything that he does, including snowboarding!

Here’s an exerp from one of the articles written in the Toronto Star: “Not that Lambert isn't still fretting about that Olympic spot. He's a worrier by nature. It's learning to deal with that anxiety with the help of a "meditation guru" in Toronto this past summer that's helped turn him from someone who had trouble cracking the top 15 to the third-ranked snowboarder in the world in his specialty this season.”
For a full read of the article:
www.thestar.com/sports/wintersports/article/752034--self-control-michael-lambert-s-new-mantra

Meditation is one of those tools that can assist everyone and anyone in all areas of their life. Meditation decreases overall stress and the stress response in the body, regulates blood pressure, eases digestion and clears the condition of the “monkey-mind” that sooo many of us suffer from!

Meditation doesn’t need to be a long process….even a few minutes every day can make a huge difference.

In teaching meditation classes I often tell students to set aside even a few minutes each day….set a timer….and slowly build up to 20 minutes or so. Even a few minutes  will provide an amazing effect on the mind, body and spirit. And to let go of the concept of stopping all thoughts because it is impossible….the mind is a part of us, a part of our very being. It is like an ever-running machine. Imbalances occur when it runs us, which often happens in today’s world. However if can give the mind the right tools and environment, we can learn to have it work with us as opposed to run us. We can still the craze of the mind and the billion thoughts we do have each moment. And can learn to still it enough to feel our own being and center...our own stillness, to begin to hear beyond our ears or everyday perceptions and begin to hear the inner voice...the inner dialogue….the inner guidance of our expanded self.

We begin to receive the answers to the questions we all have. And it’s only in this stillness that we are able to hear clearly, because we are slowing down to listen.

I will also often suggest to students and clients to follow a meditation CD or visualization, something that will give the mind something “positive” to focus on while the body slows down and rests and renews. Then allow some time for just breathing, being and listening to the breath, feeling the breath moving through the body. Allowing the breath to become the mantra.

After a few minutes the body, mind and spirit will synch up, link up and integrate. We begin to feel more grounded and present to life! Which will allows us to feel and experience the fullness of each and every moment!!!