Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune: Meditation is a brain-boosting, stress-busting activity embraced by everyone from the U.S. military to corporate executives. And if you’re living a busy, hectic life – and can’t fathom finding time to sit cross-legged in a quiet room – you’re an ideal candidate too.
“The people who race through their life are usually the ones who could use some focus and serenity,” said Tamara Gerlach, a San Francisco-based meditation teacher.
Every day thousands of thoughts zip through our heads, something Gerlach likens to a jar of dirty water: Keep shaking up the jar and it will remain clouded. But “if we set the jar down, letting the dirt particles settle to the bottom, it leaves clarity at the top.”
Meditation, proponents say, teaches you how to replace the mental chatter in your head with stillness. This ability helps us live more consciously.
Q: What is meditation?
A: It’s the “art and practice of being present for your life,” said meditation teacher Elesa Commerse. The key words here are “art and practice.” Meditation re- quires effort and patience, especially in the beginning. One of the biggest obstacles for beginners is that they get bored or expect Dalai Lama-like results overnight. Meditation can be relaxing, but relaxing isn’t meditation. Meditation is sitting with a purpose.
Q: How does it work?
A: There are many forms, but all involve focusing on a single stimulus, such as your breath, a particular word, or an image. Get your body in a comfortable position. When random thoughts barge into your head, label it as “a thought” and bring your attention back to your chosen stimulus, such as your breath.
“It’s like training a puppy,” Jack Kornfield said in “Meditation for Beginners.” “You say ‘stay,’ but after a few breaths, the puppy wanders away. You go back and gently pick it up and bring it back.” Kornfield says learning to sit still and become mindful is one of the most important forms of meditation.
Q: When should I meditate?
A: Whenever you can. Executive meditation coach Mark Thornton was once chief operating officer for JP Morgan; he found that taking micro-meditation breaks while moving during the day could be just as profound as going on a retreat. “I thought meditation was something you did on your own; in fact it can be an integral part of the day,” said Thornton, author of “Meditation in a New York Minute.”
Q: Can I meditate while I ride a bike or run?
A: It’s possible to practice mindfulness in any activity, said Joseph Goldstein, who has led meditation retreats worldwide since 1974. “It means paying attention to what we’re doing, rather than having our minds wander.”
Q: How do I fight boredom?
A: Actually, boredom is a sign that meditation is working. “It means you’re learning to shift your attention away from your mind, which wants complex puzzles to solve,” said Thornton. If you’re bored, you may have lost sight that every moment in life is unique, Commerse said. “When you’re in the present moment, “every leaf, blade of grass, brush of wind, bird song, baby’s cry, every everything becomes magical, alive, discoverable and infused with the ability to transform your life,” she said.
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