Meditation aids?

[Mouseferatu]

It's been suggested that I look into meditation as a means of stress-relief. Thing is, I have no idea what sources are good ones, and I don't just want to order blindly from Amazon.

If any of you have successfully practiced simple meditative techniques, do you have any DVDs or CDs that you might suggest for learning said techniques?

 

[Thunderfoot]

Meditation in the truest sense is the same regardless of your specifc search.

You are attempting to seek the void by clearing your mind of all outside intrusions and focusing on an aspect that you wish to either attain or accentuate. Learning from any book should be but a few simple lines of technique - anything beyond this is hyperbole designed to make the author rich.

A simple how-to includes,
Finding a quiet spot,
Sitting in contact with the ground (a mat is fine)
Crossing your legs
Sitting up straight
Allow your hands to touch your knees
Close your eyes
Breathe in through your nose and out through the mouth
Clear your thoughts
Focus

It really is that simple - and yet, to attain pure void is a goal that masters have taken years to achieve. The origins are in Eastern religion, so unless you plan on embracing said religion, be wary of mantra or outlines that ask you to say "insert phrase or word here" (Ohm/Am/Om) for example is a religious phrase specific to the Hindu). In Western Philosophy and religion, meditation is simply the reflection on goals to be attained, often to coincide with prayer and or fasting.

Hope this helps. Now go calm down.

ATTENTION - the above mention of religion, philosophy and mantra are strictly used for descriptive manner and are in no way an endorsement, derision or aknowledgement of their core beliefs, faiths or purported effectiveness.

 

[bento]

Mouse,

Probably the easiest (to learn) and hardest (scheduling) ways are to find a meditation group. I'd suspect Austin wouldn't be too difficult of a place to find one. Check the bulletin board at your nearby Whole Foods or pick up a local free-be weekly newspaper.

You can also pick up the principles without the dogma at some religious centers. Here in D/FW we have a really good Zen meditation centers, and I've also seen it at Unity and Unitarian Universalist churches.

Different people like different techniques at different times. Sometimes I like a guided meditation, another time some nice gentle music, and another time nothing at all but silence.

Meditation is just like exercise though, it doesn't work unless you do it!

Good luck!

 

[Harmon]

Meditation isn't all about getting into perfect harmony with the universe, its about total relaxation without going to sleep.

Try just laying flat on a comfortable surface, quiet back ground, fingers on your chest, listen to your breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth, and relax from the tips of your toes to the top of your head.

Yoga really helps getting your focus and they teach breathing, which everyone should learn (sounds stupid, but everyone needs to learn it).

Peace

 

[Mouseferatu]

I appreciate the thoughts and advice, and I'll try to follow them. But I really would prefer a DVD or CD to work from. Not only would I like to learn the proper techniques--for breathing, relaxation, and all that--but it helps me to have the active guidance.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Probably the easiest (to learn) and hardest (scheduling) ways are to find a meditation group. I'd suspect Austin wouldn't be too difficult of a place to find one.

Alas, while I can afford the one-time cost of a CD or DVD, I can't really afford an ongoing class right now.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

While I can't reccomend any DVD/CDs on meditation techniques, I can say that I have several CDs I play when trying to relax, including:

Singing Bowls (Tibetan or European Crystal)

Gregorian Chant, Tibetan Throat music, American Indian songs, Japanese flute, etc.

Nature recordings (natural sounds only- without music!) of gentle surf, falling rain, birdsong in a rainforest, a crackling fire, croaking frogs & gators of the everglades, whalesong, or even thunderstorms

Ambient music by modern composers such as Brian Eno or Phillip Glass

Something like that, in conjunction with Harmon's suggestions, would be fairly conducive to relaxation.

One thing to add to the equation- take a warm shower and stretch out (a good stretch, like you were going running or some other kind of workout) before you try to relax. It'll help.

Or you could just grab a few beers at Threadgills!

 

[Arkhandus]

Move to China, join the Xiaolin monastery, find your inner peace and martial arts bad-arsitude, the end.

 

[jaerdaph]

I've always found Chinese meditation balls to be relaxing:

And no comments from the peanut gallery!

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I took a stress reduction program a year and a half ago. It was very good (and I'm sure would be even better if I was more dilligent about keeping up with the exercises on my own). The program was through the Mind Body Medicine Institute. They have a webste with some basics about relaxation located here. If you click on the Store tab, they have some relaxation CDs available. These are guided relaxation exercises. Some have some quiet music in the background, others do not. All have a person speaking, leading you through the relaxation exercise. Which works best is unfortunately a personal decision, so I cannot recommend one. One CD many people in my class loved drove me up the wall whenever I tried to listen to it, which kind of defeats the purpose.