Post: #1

There have been some threads about meditation, and especially how to get started. I had for some time used some of Jon Kabat-Zinn's stuff. They are 20 min. long and is quite good, but I have also found this to be just beyond, what I find optimal. I know that I should not complain about the length, since meditation is all about letting go - but as with everything else - it is all about finding what works for you.

Recently I stumpled upon Headspace which is a website and more importantly an app for iPhone and Android(As far as i know). The concept is a subscription service, where you get new meditation content on a regular basis, and thereby keeps the meditation interesting. It also revolves around a community that you can participate in if interested.

One of the guys behind it is this guy:





This video were the reason why I stumpled upon the app. The good thing is, that you for free, can get a 10-day trial, where each day consists of a new 10 min guided meditation sound-clip. I have completed the first 4-5 days, and there have not been that much new stuff in the guided meditations, from day to day, but my hope is that once completed, I will still have access to the "old" free 10 day meditations and then I can consider whether or not to subscribe. But despite not being that much renewal from day to day, I still find the guided meditation helps me quite a lot. They are even better than the Jon Kabat-Zinn stuff I used from time to time before. And I find that I use them more regularly.

This is a very good way to get introduced to meditation. There are some very helpfull instructional clips in the beginning, that if you are completely new to meditation, helps you on the right path, tells you what to expect from it, and maybe more importantly; what not to expect.

So to everybody that are looking for a way to start meditation, please have a look and see if this could help you along.

Post: #2

I've been doing it unguided for 7-8min/daily.

I wondered about the guided stuff before...does it negate the positive effects of the empty-headness through its guidedness?

Post: #3

I meditate 20 minutes daily. The book Mindfulness in Plain English is the only piece of literature I've read on the subject and it actually helped me a lot.

By the way, if you need an app to keep meditation "interesting" I think you might be approaching the practice the wrong way.

Post: #4

I checked this out yesterday. Did Day 1 yesterday. My impression is that it is very "pop" compared to Zinn's stuff which is more "real" and "intense." My thoughts are that using these guided meditation audio tracks is a good way to learn the basics, but I strive for the unguided. I do this because I've been getting increasing anxiety in a lot of situations and locking into a meditative mindful state during these attacks is very helpful for controlling them as much as I can, and obviously I can't just pop in some earphones to calm me down when other people are around.

Post: #5

I gave it a try... I like it. I've been wanting to get into this ever since I read the book Search Inside Yourself by the Google guy Chade Meng Tan but haven't been disciplined. In that book he grounds all of his assertions regarding the benefits of meditation in science and research.

Also in that book, one of the studies he references leads me to believe practicing meditation can directly improve your game. Two groups were hooked up to an MRI, and listened to an audio track of a woman screaming. One of the groups were seasoned meditators, one was a control group. In the group of seasoned meditators, activity in the amygdala (the fight or flight part of your brain) was minimal compared to the control group. This is part of a broader discussion about neuroplasticity and the concept that the structure of your brain can change even in adulthood, which is contrary to the old beliefs about the brain.

So the game benefit being the ability to maintain a calm and composed attitude when dealing with hot but bitchy girls (or something like that). Thanks for the recommendation.

Post: #6

If you want to instantly relax. Just take your socks off and put on some fresh ones.

Instant chill.

I read it somewhere and it works.

I am guessing your feet are one of those key points in the body when it comes to things like acupuncture.