I recently did a walking meditation with a group of people who meet once a week locally. It defied everything I thought I "knew" about meditation. The truth is, I didn't know much- I could maybe count the number of times I had attempted meditating on one hand. It hadn't dawned on me that you could meditate with your eyes open and your body in motion. It was a great practice. The focus was on being present with your steps- feeling the different pressures of the floor on your feet and being mindful of your body in relationship to other things and people in that space. With one step I'd breathe in and say the first syllable of balance in my head. With the next step, I would breathe out and say the second syllable of balance in my head. This is a word I tend to use often during my practice, since it's what I want more of in my life- a balance between work and play, taking care of myself, living more presently and positively...the list goes on.
It was refreshing to hear that many of the people who had been practicing meditation for years still have random thoughts that float into their minds during their practice. I learned that it's about letting those thoughts come in, observing them without judgement, and returning your focus back to your breathing or intention for the meditation. I left meditation that night feeling tremendously uplifted and ready to take on the world.
Among some of the benefits we have:
Increased immunity
Emotional balance
Increased fertility
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces inflammation
Relieves IBS
Promotes calmness
Reduces stress
(Stephens)
Please check out the links I've provided below for additional information on ways that you can benefit from incorporating meditation into your daily practice!
Food Matters- 7 Health Benefits of Meditation
Natural News- Your Mind on Meditation
Natural News- Meditation Cuts Death Risk in Half for People with Heart Problems
Natural News- Meditation Benefits for Those with Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
Natural News- Meditation Changes the Way Your Brain Processes Emotions
Stephens, Anastasia. Food Matters. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2014. <http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/7-health-benefits-of-meditation>.