Years ago, in a simpler time when my joints were happier and my energy much less exhaustible, I began practicing kung fu. My goals were very concrete: I wanted to get into the best shape of my life, learn to protect myself should the need arise, and, above all, to look like a character from a kung fu movie while doing both these things. I wanted the moves, the great hair, and eventually the flowing robes and flying skills.

With these priorities, it shouldn’t be too surprising that the meditations we did at the beginning of every class didn’t interest me much. I tried, I truly did: I sat still with everyone else, trying to focus on being, you know, meditative. Serene. I didn’t even fidget… much. But my mind was always scurrying around, getting into things. I’d think about the oil change I had to remember to get later that day, then wonder what was going on right that second in the Bermuda Triangle. Then I’d think how nice it would be if I could fidget more. In short, I was terrible at meditating, which frustrated me, which made me want to do it even less. After months of meditation failure, I basically considered it a waste of time. I was just going through the motions until I could start working on my kicking skills again. Kicking looks cooler and burns a lot more calories.

But according to my instructors, meditation was supposed to be an integral part of kung fu. This is a martial art that was developed by monks, after all. We didn’t just meditate every class, students would have to meditate for a set amount of time as part of their “belt tests”, to advance to higher levels. Before getting your black belt, for instance, you had to sit completely still for an entire hour. If you moved, you failed. All that this made me realize was that I was never getting a black belt.

But now, years later and without any particular “shoulds” or “supposed to” involved, I’ve started to become interested in meditation. I’m not even sure why, but suddenly and out of the blue one day it seemed like a good idea. It wasn’t because I wanted to reap the clinically proven health benefits, or the (admittedly true) fact that I need to learn how to focus better, or any other logical reason. For the first time in my life, it has just felt right. Maybe deep down I know that it’s finally time for me to get to know myself better. Maybe it’s something else. But it’s different now. Now I want to meditate for me.

Child of the information age that I am, I went straight to the internet to find youtube videos and websites to give me tips on how to do it right. Remembering back on my previous attempts I knew I could use all the help I could get, even with my new motivation. I decided to start with one of the simplest methods I could find: consciously relaxing, then counting down from one hundred to zero and intending to be in a meditative state when I hit the bottom.

This was about a week ago, and I’ve been practicing every day. So far I’m still not good at meditation. Sometimes I lose count and have to start over. My thoughts still wander to the mundane and the ridiculous every time, but I’m getting better at acknowledging them and sending them on their way. I think that’s a good beginning. I guess this just proves that we can never grow until we’re truly ready to do it for ourselves.

Do you meditate? If so, what do you feel it does for you? And, the all-important question: Do you have any tips for a newbie?

By:  Ellyn N. Gray

This week I thought I would introduce a Sanskrit word because we teach yoga classes here at Irene’s and also because yoga has a metaphysical component that on a personal level, I think should never be divorced from its physical practice.

The word is Titiksha.  Titkisha on the surface means discipline. It also means patience, endurance, forebearance, evenmindedness or equanimity.  By bearing whatever comes your way, without letting it sway your mind, body, or emotions in one direction or another you are practicing titiksha.

I usually practice the physical aspect of Titiksha by going out in the cold weather with lighter clothing on and conditioning my body to be as comfortable in the cold as it is in the warm summer months.

Mentally/Emotionally I practice titiksha by doing the following: when someone says something that would normally be upsetting to me I don’t respond negatively and I just let the mind rest in whatever they say.  Then, I do a mental check list and ask myself is any of what they said true, and are there changes that I need to make in my behavior or character.  On the flip side, I do not allow myself to be elated by praise any more than I am upset by blame. By doing this your mind and body are calm, both of which the practice of yoga encourages.

Yoga when practiced in its fullness can offer you a new way of dealing with the challenges and triumphs of everyday life.  Yoga can help free you from emotional upheavals and mental stress in a way that is natural non evasive and as inexpensive as a few really good books and good meditation techniques.

Try practicing titiksha, with effort and determination, I’m sure you will see the benefit of this practice in many areas of your life!

Book Suggestions:

The Bhagavad Gita By: Paramahansa Yogananda

specifically read  pages 200- 205

The Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali By: Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher Isherwood