Meditation and mindfulness for everyone
Meditation is a simple solution for Maintaining your mental, Emotional and physical health!
Are the worries of the world weighing you down right now?
Are your thoughts stopping you from being able to relax properly and get a decent night’s sleep?
If you’re looking for a non-medical solution to reduce stress, improve your physical relaxation and gain focus, meditation could be the solution that you’re looking for.
People have been practising meditation around the world for centuries to improve sleep quality, reduce stress levels and achieve a level of focus that is otherwise hard to attain.
Whether it be spot meditation, guided meditation, tai chi or other forms of meditation, the benefits can be huge.
At Lifeflow, we understand that in the beginning you may not be seeking enlightenment (nothing wrong with that if you are). Most of our students are normal people with normal jobs who want a simple way to improve their mental and emotional health.
If you’re suffering from constant stress and anxiety, would like to sleep better, have chronic pain and would like a way of self managing your symptoms, meditative practice is clinically proven to lower blood pressure, reduce psychological stress, and offer a range of other health benefits.
The beauty of Lifeflow meditation is that it can be done anywhere and at any time, it doesn’t have to take a long time and you don’t have to believe anything in particular.
Once you have some of these chronic symptoms in check, you can still benefit from meditation practices because of the increased focus, inner peace and other emotional benefits that meditation can bring.
… Mindfulness and meditation at Lifeflow has truly transformed my life, more than anything I’ve ever encountered before. I am more confident, happier and healthier than I’ve ever been…
- DAVID TROUSDELL, HEAD OF AN INDEPENDENT SENIOR SCHOOL (ADELAIDE)
What exactly is Meditation
Good question!
Perhaps it might help to learn what meditation isn’t.
Meditation is not a religious practice. Nor is it a physical practice – although many physical arts have a meditative element to them such as martial arts and yoga.
Meditation is something we could all do naturally and easily as children – we just didn’t know that we were doing it!
To put it simply, meditation is a tool for developing and maintaining mental and emotional health.
Meditation is also a tool for training the mind so you can use it skillfully, creatively and productively and avoid being caught in the emotional traps which can prevent us from living happy lives.
Meditation is a practice which uses a variety of techniques to calm the mind, relax the body and bring the emotions into balance. These techniques include visualisation and focusing on your breath so you aren’t required to hold demanding yoga poses or sit in uncomfortable positions. You typically meditate either sitting comfortably or lying down – (when you learn the Lifeflow way you’ll be able to do it anywhere).
Meditation is learned in the same way you would learn a sport, craft or play a musical instrument.
The key is to be guided by someone who has mastered it, and the more you are able to include it in your life the more benefits you’ll experience.
It’s definitely not an “alternative” art and has been practised daily by many famous people including Oprah, Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs, Paul McCartney, Tim Ferris and scores of other celebrities, artists and business figures.
Most of them claim that the increased focus lets them concentrate better and be more creative when doing their thing. Perhaps what’s worked for them might work for you too!
Types of meditation
The good news is that there are many types of meditation so you’re sure to find a style that suits you.
- Having trouble focussing, there is mantra meditation.
- Find it hard to clear your mind, perhaps you should try visualisation meditation.
- Only have a couple of minutes, try spot meditation.
- Can’t sit still, a movement meditation might be your thing
These are a few of the techniques that you can learn and then benefit from. The key is to try meditating and take control of your mood, your mind and your mental health.
What if you don't have much time?
One common misconception about meditation is that you need to spend hours meditating to get any benefits. Truth is, just a few minutes a day can make a difference.
Our training takes a very practical approach to the practice of meditation and we know that, in today’s hectic world, regularly carving out 30 minutes or more to meditate is simply not practical for everyone.
So we show our students how to relax their bodies, calm their busy minds, to experience a state of balance.
What most people don’t realise is that there are a range of meditation techniques that you can use and, depending on where you are and what suits you, you will learn a number of techniques to help you on a daily basis.
Is Meditation Difficult?
Just sitting down to meditate doesn’t mean you will automatically feel the benefits and reach a good feeling state. Meditation is only a tool and like many things worth doing it needs to be learned properly – going it alone makes it a lot harder and much more frustrating.
If you have struggled with meditation and quieting your mind, finding it very difficult or even impossible to meditate – it’s easy to assume or maybe you were even told that meditation is difficult or that your mind is too busy to feel the benefits of meditation.
We can reassure you that when you learn the skill of meditation – it is a simple and straightforward process that can bring you to a calm and balanced state.
Anyone and everyone can meditate if they know how.
The science of meditation
All of this can sound too good to be true but there have been many studies that have shown the benefits of meditation practices for practitioners so you can rest assured that this is not a placebo effect or an experience based in a religious context.
Major studies (https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth) have focused on the following areas and the systematic review and meta analysis of the data show beyond doubt that meditation can help with:
- Chronic insomnia
- Pain reduction
- Reducing blood pressure
- Mood and wellbeing
- Focus and concentration
Imagine gaining access to these benefits at will whenever you need them – we call it on-demand calm! What could this do to the quality of your life?
“…has almost completely eliminated my insomnia. I am much happier and enjoying life more!”
– MARY, LEARN TO MEDITATE COURSE
The good news is that no studies have shown that meditation will worsen symptoms. This means you can experiment with meditation knowing that it’s not going to do any harm or worsen your overall health.
To find out more, the best way is to experience meditation first hand. Choose from one of the following class options:
Class Options
FREE "Come and Try" Classes
This is the starting point for most people. Join one of our free “Come and Try” classes to get a first-hand experience of meditation and Lifeflow. It’s a no-obligation way of dipping your (mental) toe in the water to see if meditation is something that could work for you.
You are also most welcome if you have had some meditation experience.
See our schedule of Come-and-Try classes.
Learn to Meditate
If you are ready to calm your mind, relax your body and bring your emotions into balance with meditation, then join a “Learn to Meditate” course.
Our courses introduce students to the skill and practice of meditation so they can build up a repertoire of techniques to suit themselves and their lifestyles.
Our meditation practice sessions can be done face to face at our beautifully relaxing studio at Frewville or online in your own space and at your own time.
Our Learn to Meditate courses run regularly so you will always find a course not far away.
I feel calmer, more peaceful and more confident I can meet difficult emotions.
- TERESA, LEARN TO MEDITATE COURSE
DAY AND RESIDENTIAL RETREATS
Enjoy time out on a retreat ...
If you’d like to have a total immersion experience of meditation, we also hold regular retreats at our amazing property at Tara Hills – located in the Adelaide Hills just 45 mins from the CBD.
Not only do you get a few days away from your busy life, which is likely to do wonders for your mental and physical health anyway, but you get daily classes in meditation, delicious food and a beautiful spot in nature to wander and enjoy.
Visitors to Tara Hills will never forget their experience there and it is so much more than a holiday.
‘Thank you so much for a life-changing week at the retreat. I am still feeling the benefits and remain calmer than I have been in a very long time.’
– CAROLYN, 7-DAY RETREAT PARTICIPANT
Next Retreat
Friday 8 July – Thursday 14 July
Cultivating joy - one breath at a time
Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to cultivate emotional wellbeing?
Is feeling happy just an accident, or are there things that can help?
Yes! And this is where the skills and wisdom of meditation come into their own.
In this retreat we will give you the structure and the supportive environment to relax and let go. Then we’ll guide you through exercises specifically designed for cultivating bliss and wellbeing.
This 7-day retreat is suitable for all levels of experience.
Thank you all – was a restful and enlightening experience. Would highly recommend to others. –
