Mindful Meditation

As a journalist, sociologist and researcher, I have observed profound success and great suffering. It’s not surprising that few individuals know how to find balance in an unbalanced world; learning to surf one’s 65,000 daily thoughts is not an easy task.  

By creating a new relationship with your thoughts can profoundly impact you well-being at every level. By cultivating the mind, regulating energy and information flow, one can learn to to be with emotions rather than fight them. 

Last year, a Time magazine article posited that there is a “Mindful Revolution.” Meditation also has become a popular topic in the business community, with the belief that this ancient practice can help increase the bottom line.  

By introducing these practices to the business world, we are not only seeing increased productivity, but also individuals that are more adaptive, healthier and happier, both in and out of the workplace. By incorporating these techniques into your daily life, you also create more opportunity for wellbeing and peace. 

Today, neuroscientists have produced brain scans that prove that meditation can actually change the size of key regions of our brains, improving memory, making us more compassionate and resilient under stress. These changes impact every aspect of our lives, including how we interact with our work.

Arianna Huffington, editor of the Huffington Post, stated that, “There’s nothing touchy-feely about increased profits. This is a tough economy; stress-reduction and mindfulness don’t just make us happier and healthier, they’re a proven competitive advantage for any business that wants one.”  Apple Computer, Nortel Networks and Google have all already instituted mindfulness training and wellness opportunities on-site.

A Personal Program

After many years of work and research, I created a six-week integrated program that teaches participants the science behind neuroplasticity and Mindful Meditation, introducing the most effective meditation tools, and creating individualized practices for an enhanced mind-body connection. Participants found that not only can we rewire our brains, but we can also change our attitudes. 

Cultivating a personal practice is difficult, and, like with any new skill, you need a teacher that can guide you. If you chose to embark on a program, I recommend you find a skilled practitioner. If you can breathe, you can meditate; it may seem simple, but it is not easy. A daily practice helps many live healthier, more joyful and productive lives. ?

Linda Janasz is the Editor-in-Chief of Lifestyle Magazine, a Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), holds a Ph.D., and has developed a 6-Week Mindfulness, Meditation and Movement (MMM) program. She will teach the MMM Program starting in January at Weston Yoga www.westonyoga.com. For more information programs or corporate sessions, email Linda@lmgfl.com.