For those who are not familiar with meditation, it sounds like some esoteric or new age practice. In true, practice of meditation simply is a moment of pause we take for ourselves to help reduce stress and enjoy a happier life. When part of your daily schedule, meditation is an easy and fabulous way to improve your well being.
Journalist Eugénie Francoeur is passionately attracted to healthy living, meditation and leading weekend workshops on meditation at Spa Eastman. “A human being has an average of 85,000 thoughts a day,” Francoeur said. Let me spare you the calculation: that’s approximately one thought every second or so, including sleeping time.
“Meditation is not the act of having no thoughts at all,” Francoeur said. “It’s not a matter of thinking of nothing nor is it to empty our mind. Think about meditation as traffic control of your thoughts.”
Therefore, meditation may just be an opportunity to reduce the flow of our thoughts, mainly the negative ones that represent 80 percent of our total thoughts. By negative thoughts, I mean useless thoughts like anger, nostalgia of the past, and worries for the future, etc. Efficient traffic control can be achieved for as little as 10 minutes of meditation every morning and every night.
As it has already been said, stress is known as having disastrous effect on overall health. Reducing the flow of our negative thoughts certainly helps in reducing stress, therefore improving our overall well being.
So, meditation is mostly a matter of slowing down the speed of our thoughts and being aware of the difference between the positive and negative. Being aware will help to gently let go of the negative thoughts without nourishing them.
When Francoeur starts her weekend workshop at Spa Eastman, she explains the suggested sitting position for meditation, talks about the use of a cushion and the atmosphere given by candle light and incense. Then she tells everyone that she usually meditates sitting on a square chair, with her eyes open, without music and no matter the lighting
You must find your way. Aim for comfort in a peaceful surrounding that makes you feel good. That's the most important secret.
The Dalai Lama is both the head of state and the spiritual leader of Tibet. His image comes up as one of the first references to anyone thinking or talking about meditation. In fact, the Dalai Lama's first commitment, in his words, is “to the promotion of human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. Every human being long for happiness and does not want suffering. Even people who do not believe in religion recognize the importance of these human values in making their life happier.”
In his book The Art of Happiness, Dalai Lama explains: “Now for instance, hatred, jealousy, anger, and so on is harmful. We consider them negative states of mind because they destroy our mental happiness; once you harbour feelings of hatred or ill feeling towards someone, once you yourself are filled by hatred or negative emotions, then other people appear to you as also hostile.”
“So as a result there is more fear, greater inhibition and hesitation and a sense of insecurity. These things develop, and also loneliness in the midst of a world perceived as hostile. All these negative feelings develop because of hatred. On the other hand, mental states such as kindness and compassion are definitely very positive. They are very useful,” Dalai Lama adds.
It’s no doubt that for the Dalai Lama the practice of meditation can bring happiness. Books of the Dalai Lama are a good start to adopt meditation in our daily life.
One of the best known and most respected Zen masters in the world today, poet, peace and human rights activist is Thich Nhat Hanh. Nominated Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr., he founded Plum Village in 1982. Plum Village is a Buddhist community in exile in France, where he continues his work to alleviate suffering of refugees, boat people, political prisoners and hungry families in Vietnam and throughout the Third World. He has also received recognition of his work with Vietnam veterans, meditation retreats and his prolific writings on meditation, mindfulness and peace. He has published some 85 titles of accessible poems, prose and prayers with more than 40 in English, including one entitled “Peace Is Every Step”.
Thich Nhat Hanh’s key teaching is that, through mindfulness, we can learn to live in the present moment instead of in the past and in the future. Dwelling in the present moment is, according to Nhat Hanh, the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’s self and in the world.
In his teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh suggests easy meditation trainings. A ringing telephone becomes an opportunity to take three deep breaths and be present at the moment, getting ready to be fully present to the conversation. While driving, a red light is a precious moment to practice mindfulness. One of his specific training is his walking meditation.
“Wherever we walk, we can practice meditation,” Nhat Hanh said. “This means that we know that we are walking. We are present with each step. If we wish to talk while walking, we stop our movement and give our full attention to the other person, to our words and to listening. Let us walk as a free person and feel our steps get lighter. Let us enjoy every step we make. Each step is nourishing and healing. As we walk, imprint our gratitude and our love on the earth.”
Before getting into spa business, back in early 70’s, I lived in India for almost a year at Sri Aurobindo’s Ashram. Months of intense practice of meditation gave me the taste and feel of pure serenity, beauty, peace and healthy living. When I came back home to Canada, I knew I wanted to create a vacation setting that would help people achieve a healthier and happier lifestyle.
Some 32 years later, Spa Eastman has become this special place. Since 1977, many activities and services have been added to the daily program, but one I cherish particularly has been offered every day since the opening: the anti-stress meditation walk.
Through the years, this 20 minute experimentation of mindful walking, close to Thich Nhat Hanh's walking meditation teaching, has given thousands of people the opportunity to feel what meditation really is all about. I still do the anti-stress meditation walk with our clients once in a while and I am always amazed of its impact, mostly on those who never considered meditation. At the end of the walk, their surprise and their wellness show on their face. Some of them relax so deeply, they even look taller. In some cases, it lights something in their eyes that would make them try it again.
If you are curious about meditation and feel like you would like to start practicing, I recommend you read at least a book from Thich Nhat Hanh or from the Dalai Lama. You will find inspiring thoughts that will help you start your practice. You may also want to participate in meditation workshops or listen to guided meditations.
With the success of Elizabeth Gilbert's bestseller Eat, Pray, Love, meditation has gently entered the home of over 7 million people worldwide. In her brilliant writing, she shares the story of her meditation route through Italy, India and Indonesia.
Jocelyna Dubuc is President and Founder of Spa Eastman, the first destination spas in Canada created back in 1977. Early on, having obtained a teaching degree in history and geography, Dubuc became interested in alternative medicine and psychology. During a stay in India in the 70s, she pursued her studies in meditation and yoga. She has acquired knowledge in naturopathy, applied kinesiology, gentle exercise, dream work, healthy eating and psycho synthesis. From her years of personal development, she has a genuine focus on well being, both in mind and in body. Innovator in the concept of health-vacations in Québec, Jocelyna joined forces with influential industry members to found the Spa Association “Relais Santé” a body to promote, inform and standardize the industry. Since 1977, Spa Eastman offers a concept of integrated health vacations where every opportunity to enjoy life is offered. To contact Jocelyna Dubuc visit www.spa-eastman.com or email jocelynad@spa-eastman.com
