What Is Meditation?

03:16

What Is Meditation?

by Allison Kathryn Swarts

Rated

5

Type

talks

Activity

Meditation

Suitable for

Everyone

Plays

6

Many people believe meditation means having a completely quiet mind, but that isn't the goal. In this gentle introduction, we explore meditation as a practice of awareness, presence, and developing a new relationship with our thoughts. A reflection on meditation as a pathway back to inner calm and deeper connection with yourself.

Meditation Awareness Presence Inner Calm Nervous System Self Observation Non Judgmental Awareness Grounding Inner Peace Nervous System Regulation Breaking Autopilot Grounding Technique Presence And Awareness

Meet your Teacher

Allison Kathryn Swarts

Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Meet your Teacher

Allison Kathryn Swarts

Chapel Hill, NC, USA

Transcript

Hi, I'm Allison. I'm a licensed professional counselor, Meditation guide, And registered yoga teacher. And every day I help people just like you soften their nervous system, And reconnect with the version of themselves that feels grounded, Whole, And authentic. Today, We're talking about What is meditation? One of the biggest myths out there about meditation is that to practice it, Correctly is to have no thoughts. I hear this all the time as a yoga teacher, Meditation teacher, People say, I can't meditate because I can't stop my thoughts. And the response to that is, Well, Good. That would be so weird if you could do that. So, Meditation is not about not having any thoughts at all. It's about evolving your relationship to your thoughts. Meditation is about slowing down. Long enough so that you can start to observe what's happening within your mind. We observe what's happening without judgment and with compassion. Essentially, It's an opportunity to step out of autopilot. And take on this role of I'm observing now. I'm not just moving and doing and being. There's this other part of me that can watch everything that's happening within me. Naturally, We react. We worry. We plan, We rush. Meditation is this pause so that we can just be. It's no longer our job while we're meditating to do all of these things, And sometimes we do need to do them, Right? Often, We're living human beings out in the day. We have to go and do things, And sometimes that requires rushing. But when we're meditating. We're just there. We're just watching what's happening in the mind. We don't have to react. So a pretty obvious benefit is that we feel more grounded, We feel more regulated, But often the big question is, Okay, How do I do that? What do I do to get there? That's a deeper question that if you're watching these videos, We will answer. For the answer to just What is meditation? Meditation is a tool for living life with greater intention and greater presence and awareness. Beneath all the noise there is a quieter, Calmer more ground in Wiser. Lighter version of you, It's true. It's so true. And meditation creates the space, The atmosphere to move all the noise to the side so that we can get to know that part of ourselves. And there's so much magic there, But don't take my word for it. Try it yourself.