THE ART OF BEING MEDITATIVE
Breeeeeeeeath…….! Dont think …….!
The fine art of being meditative……
by libby mitchell
PUBLISHED IN LOCAL ORGANIC FOOD MAG...


You are what you eat…
You are what you think…..
If you are reading this article its more than likely you also eat a wholesome , mostly organic diet……For a lot of people this makes a great deal of sense as Science proved a long time a go that organic produce makes you healthier and happier…..

Science has also proved as far back as the 1970’s that meditation can also make us healthier and happier, offering us a longer and more vital life.

So why aren’t we all jumping out of bed to meditate for 20 mins before eating our organic, wheat and gluten free breaky cereal……?

“Cause its too hard..!”
“I Haven’t got the time..!”
“With the kids screaming?...are you serious?!”
“It’ll make me late for work….!”
Etc……………
But the most obvious reason I believe is that people don’t fully understand the value or the benefits or regular meditation…or being meditative regularly.

If one does decide to learn to meditate they may find it very difficult….as ‘meditation is the absence of ordinary thought’……’turning off’ ordinary thought is easier said than done….in fact some folk really struggle, as did I….

I was taught to meditate 7 years ago…..i was told to simply not think!!!!!!...what a struggle I had…the harder I tried the less successful I was….
It took me 5 frustrating years to figure it out….during which time I have developed a few very simple techniques….techniques that allowed me not only to meditate for a length of time successfully, but also to observe the landscape of my mind, thus learning what habitual thought patterns were supporting health and happiness…and what habitual thought patters were making me un happy.

Ultimately I believe that our mind is like a computor….
Our thoughts are the software……we can choose to change the software at any point in time…..



Who needs to meditate or to be meditative?

Stress is endemic in our culture….thus I believe we should all learn to still the mind….or meditate….
I believe the people that experience the most stress are the least likely to meditate as they are very busy…..A mum who is sleep deprived, with three devine kids under 5 …..is unlikely to prioritise meditation……

A commuter…travelling 3-4 hours each day ….
The corporate business woman/man……etc
None of these good folk can find the time to actually sit and meditate…….

Until they get sick….!

By the time some of my students reach me at yarra valley yoga school they are exhausted, on the verge of a breakdown / break through…..their G.P. has told them they need to de-stress…or else….!!

We push ourselves to the brink every day…its true we are a very adaptable species but we are also a society that undervalues rest …and worships hard work…..we are considered a couch spud (organic) if we spend the weekend on the coach…..!
As a culture I believe we need to not only embrace doing less…but we also need to intergrate being meditative into our busy lives…..…
What’s the difference between meditation and being meditative….?

The most obvious difference is that when you sit and meditate you need time…and ideally peace and quiet……but when you are meditative you are using extremely simple breathing techniques whilst you are busy doing what you do…..

When you are meditative the only thing you are doing is being aware of you breathing…..

Yep…that’s all it is……Easier said than done though……
Let me show you how easy it is……

Whilst you are reading this bring your attention to your breathing…

Are you breathing via your nostrils?
Close your mouth……don’t speak for a few minutes…..just breath…

Breath in for about 2-3 seconds, and then breath out for the same amount of time…
No it’s not rocket science…
It is 5000 yr old yoga breathing….or PRANAYAMA aka CONTROLLED BREATH…or DE-STRESS BREATHING

Too easy you say…..??

Now see if you can sit and JUST BREATH for 5 minutes…….
In through the nose and out through nose….
Listen to your breathing…feel your abdomen gently rise and fall…let your tummy be soft…fill it with air…….pretend your lungs go deep into your belly….allow each breath to gently and slowly fill the lungs…..then allow the diaphragm to squeeze the air from your lungs…..
Whilst you are doing this loosley imagine the gentle flow of the ocean tide coming in and out…..

This ancient breathing technique is one of four , extremely simple meditation skills I teach in every yoga class
*de-stress breath….
*body awareness….
*creative visualisation…
*affirmation….




Our mind is hardwired to enjoy lots and lots of stimuli….thus most of us are great multi taskers….
As I sit and write this blurb, I’m also printing advertising flyers, making my teenager daughter breaky, as well as listening to her chatting about last nights party……but I am also connected to my breath…I rarely loose connection to my breath……this is being meditative


Interesting, yet alarming statistics

*One in 23 adults suffer from moderate to extreme stress.
ABS National health survey 2001

*Stress related workers compensation claims have risen 40% in ten years.
Work cover.Vic

*Payout costs have doubled in the last 6 years.
Work cover, Vic.

*The total cost of Australian work place stress is estimated to be 1.2 billion per annum.
Work cover, vic. 2006.

According to Dr Caroline Leaf author of’ ‘ WHO SWITCHED OFF MY BRAIN’, 87% of all illness is caused by negative thinking…while diet, life style and genetics contribute to only 13 %....!!!!
Her web site is worth a look….lots of food for thought…..