Mindfulness - Meditation
Meditation, deeply rooted in ancient wisdom, guides us to focus our attention, fostering deep calm and heightened awareness. Through this practice, we learn to relax, manage stress effectively, and enhance our overall well-being. By cultivating a healthy perspective, meditation enables us to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering profound self-understanding as we practice being fully present in the moment.
Both meditation and mindfulness are "meta-skills" that can significantly improve our health and well-being. Meditation can literally change our brain. The medial prefrontal cortex responds to stress and anxiety by signaling the amygdala to release the stress hormone cortisol. Meditation disrupts this process by reducing our reaction to stress and anxiety, prompting the amygdala to release less cortisol and helping to maintain balanced stress levels.
A Harvard study revealed that eliciting the body’s relaxation response through meditation could even affect our genes in just minutes. They found that meditating could dampen the genes involved in the inflammatory response and promote those associated with DNA stability. Other short-term benefits include reducing stress and blood pressure and improving attention. Meditation may even help us make smarter choices.
By centering our minds in the present moment, meditation helps us navigate life's challenges. It can alleviate anxiety, stress, and depression, improve sleep, moderate blood pressure, and regulate dopamine, serotonin, and endorphin levels in the brain.
Have Questions?
Please reach out, I would love to discuss how Meditation, Mindfulness and Breathwork may help you and answer any questions you may have.
Meditation and Breathwork coaching sessions are $45 for a 30 minute session. Sessions are in person, over the phone or Zoom.
Buddha was asked, "What have you gained from meditation?" He replied, "Nothing! However, let me tell you what I have lost: anger, anxiety, depression, insecurity, and fear of old age and death."
Breathwork
Breathing techniques help move your body into a more relaxed and stress-free state. Breathwork involves deliberate techniques that center on channeling and focusing on the breath. For millennia, practices in Eastern medicine such as Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine have utilized these techniques to promote calmness of both body and mind.
Breathwork is effective in calming both body and mind, and helps to transition out of the 'fight, flight or freeze' response. To understand its impact, it is essential to consider the autonomic nervous system, which comprises two key parts:
- The sympathetic nervous system triggers the body’s 'fight, flight, or freeze' response, increasing activity during periods of stress or danger.
- The parasympathetic nervous system, known as the 'rest-and-digest' response, promotes relaxation after stress or danger has passed.
While the 'fight, flight or freeze' response is crucial in immediate physical threats like being pursued by a bear or escaping a fire, modern challenges such as work deadlines, a full inbox of emails, distressing news, financial concerns, or relationship tensions can keep many of us in a perpetual mental 'fight, flight or freeze' state, even when physical danger is absent. This vicious cycle keeps stress hormones constantly moving through the body, which can over time, manifest as physical disease.
Our sympathetic nervous system is essential for detecting danger in our surroundings. However, in today's society, many of us find ourselves in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze response, even when there is no actual danger. To counteract this, it is so important activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation and stress reduction.
Breathwork serves as a method to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to de-escalate stress and promote feelings of calm and well-being. Breathwork can help us feel balanced, calm, and ready for the daily challenges we all face.
Breathwork can be combined with meditation to provide immediate stress release and create a deep sense of relaxation.
Personalized
"Feelings come & go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor." - Thich Nhat Han
Do I have to sit cross legged with my eyes closed?
No! As your meditation teacher, I understand that there are many misconceptions about what meditation should be like. Together, we will explore various methods that resonate with you, allowing you to fully enjoy the profound benefits that meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork can offer.
What to Expect
Learning
After a Session
Learning
At the start of each session, we'll spend a few minutes exploring a new concept or technique. Over time, these sessions will equip you with a versatile toolkit to enrich and deepen your meditation practice.
Guided
After a Session
Learning
For the remainder of the session, we'll focus on a guided exercise incorporating breathwork and meditation. This dedicated time will help you connect deeply with your breath, release tension, quiet the mind, and cultivate inner calm. Each session builds on the last, enhancing your ability to integrate these techniques into your daily life.
After a Session
After a Session
After a Session
Depending on your needs for the session, you will either feel revitalized and energized or experience deep, healing relaxation. This tailored approach ensures that each session meets you where you are, providing exactly what you need to support your well-being and personal growth.
Questions?
I am here to answer any questions you may have
