Meditation 101
It is likely you are aware of the practice of meditation, given its widespread use in modern life and its soaring popularity.
Meditation is simply the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference.
It can involve focusing on the breath, on bodily sensations, or on a word or phrase known as a mantra.
In other words, much like clinical hypnotherapy, meditation means moving away from distracting thoughts and focusing on the present moment.
It seems that everybody is beginning to understand the possible benefits of meditation, and that’s no fluke or coincidence.
Meditation is rocketing in popularity because, simply put, it works.
More and more people are finding their lives are changed thanks to the simple, peaceful act of stopping, breathing and being mindful of their lives and surroundings.
Meditation can assist in easing chronic pain, anxiety, stress, improve heart health, boost mood and immunity, and resolve pregnancy problems.
Everyone can benefit from meditation in some way, although the majority of people who practice are affected by one or more of the issues above.
People are beginning to identify the potential of meditation in their lives, and I can give you the necessary knowledge on how to improve your meditation practice.
Looking for more gentle, non-invasive and effective healing modalities? Move past your trauma and find the root causes of your emotional blockages today.
What makes me unique
#1 I understand that every body is different and everybody is on their own personal journey through life.
#2 My holistic approach to health, happiness and healing means that I try to view each client life through as broad a lens as possible before starting sessions or therapy.
#3 I don’t believe in a ‘best’ meditation practice, the practice will be tailored to whatever suits you.
#4 I have delivered proven results. You can check out a number of opinions throughout this website in comments from those who’ve benefited from my meditation sessions.
Explore my other services
Hypnosis
I can help you to free yourself from unhelpful beliefs, habits or negative thought patterns with the use of Ericksonian hypnosis. This method allows us to create a script together, using words and phrases that have meaning for you, facilitating a way to loosen blocks you may have to change or to help with pain management. Hypnosis allows us to engage fully with your mind, bringing the underlying causes of relationship dysfunction to your conscious awareness, where we can work towards resolving them.
Individual Relationship Counselling
I have extensive experience and training in many areas of the counselling field, however my speciality is working with individuals who are experiencing relationship pain, whether with partners, or with various family members or even within friendships. Providing insights into the dynamics of your relationship, learn to apply an assertiveness that takes care of both your needs and the needs of your relationship. When relationships become unbalanced, it can be beneficial to attend a session on your own.
EMDR
Developed from Thought Field Therapy by psychologist Roger Callahan, this is an energetic therapy which uses our body’s energy system to release blockages created by negative thought patterns. We release these by tapping on acupressure points throughout the body, rather like ‘do it yourself’ acupuncture, without the needles. I have been doing EFT with my clients for 14 years and many report feelings of immediate relief as well as the reassurance and comfort that comes with knowing you have a tool you can use any time you need it. EFT works especially well for those who have experienced a trauma of some kind
Emotional Freedom Therapy
Developed from Thought Field Therapy by psychologist Roger Callahan, this is an energetic therapy which uses our body’s energy system to release blockages created by negative thought patterns. We release these by tapping on acupressure points throughout the body, rather like ‘do it yourself’ acupuncture, without the needles. I have been doing EFT with my clients for 14 years and many report feelings of immediate relief as well as the reassurance and comfort that comes with knowing you have a tool you can use any time you need it. EFT works especially well for those who have experienced a trauma of some kind
Couples Counselling
I work with couples who are experiencing negative and destructive patterns of communicating and help them develop the skills for forming and maintaining healthy and loving relationships. I also work with couples who have committed to a relationship and want to learn how to make it work as well as they can. Whether you and your partner are arguing more often, find your relationship has lost its spark, or there is a major difference in opinion across cultural, racial or financial aspects, couples counselling can help you reconnect with your partner and in many cases leave with a stronger bond.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy offers you the chance to understand how your current problems stand on the shoulders of your history, in your family of origin relationships and throughout your childhood and young adult life. It gives you the chance to uncover patterns and themes that endure to this day and contribute to the triggers you experience in your relationship with others. Reduce stress, feel better, and work towards achieving your personal goals.
What are you dealing with?
Anxiety
If you suffer from anxiety, meditation can help to level-out your mind and bring back a sense of peace and normality you may be missing.
This isn’t an instant change of course, but simply grounding yourself and emptying your head of all background noise for a few minutes a day is a great, healthy starting point.
Stress
Stress is bad enough, to make matters worse, chronic stress can lead to many different problems, both internal and external.
Stress can negatively affect your appearance, ageing you, as well as heightening the likelihood of you falling ill in the future.
Meditation helps to manage the chaos of a noisy mind, leaving you feeling tranquil and in control, rather than overwhelmed
Sleep
Have you had trouble getting to sleep recently?
You may find that your entire life is affected.
Sleep is just as vital to our health as food, water and air, and being unable to sleep can have a serious impact on our day to day lives.
Meditating before bed is a great way to clear the mind of irrelevant, unhelpful thoughts, and through quieting our mind, it can lead us gently to deep, fulfilling slumber.
Pain
Chronic pain can negatively impact happiness and our quality of life.
If you are being tormented by aches or pains around your body, meditation can quiet these sensations by allowing you to view your pain as an abstract feeling, separating yourself from it and viewing it in a different light.
While meditation alone isn’t a cure for a condition, it can certainly help you in dealing with a recurring pain.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation has been practised for thousands of years across the globe, the simple act of focussing on one’s breathing and slowing down one’s mind can bring about both mental and physical rewards.
- Learn more about yourself
- Develop the ability to self-soothe and relax
- Reduce your stress and anxiety
- Improve your self-awareness
- Increase your attention span
- Improve your emotional health
- Slow down age-related memory loss
- Improve your sleep
- Learn to control pain more efficiently
- Increase your resistance to addiction
There are many more benefits beyond the ones listed here.
Ultimately, everybody is different, and though the results are always positive, you never know in what wonderful ways meditation will benefit you until you try it.
Learn to meditate in 3 easy steps
Step 1 – Find a comfortable place to sit
Seat yourself comfortably in a quiet spot free from distractions.
You may like to sit with your legs folded and your back straight, or you may prefer another posture.
Your comfort is important, so focus on this at first.
Some people who practise meditation are quite strict and disciplined with their actions and forms, but as you are just starting out, you needn’t worry too much.
It is enough to make yourself comfortable and focus on your breathing.
Step 2 – Gently close your eyes and begin taking a few deep breaths
Close your eyes, and find one thing to focus on intently, leaving behind everything else around you and in your head.
You may wish to focus on an object, a sound, your breathing, or a word.
The item you decide to focus on is known as your anchor.
Step 3 – Do not try and stop your thoughts
As you continue the process, you will find that all sorts of thoughts will come up.
This is totally normal.
At times the mind is very restless and our attention is continually distracted by other things.
Meditation isn’t about suppressing your thoughts and emotions
Rather, acknowledge the thoughts which arise and move your attention away from them by placing focus on your anchor.
In our sessions together, you will be guided through this process and helped to find a technique and practice pattern that works for you.
Even two or three minutes a day has been proven to have benefits for your body and mind.
Have questions or need free advice?
Testimonials
‘To be totally honest with you I used to turn my nose up at meditation! All that yoga stuff wasn’t really for me. I was convinced by a friend to give it a try, however, and after my first couple of sessions at Amanda Woolveridge Counselling, I’m hooked! I practise for a few minutes every day now – wherever I am, I always make time to sit down and watch my breathing. It truly helps level me out.”
Terry
‘I’ve been doing it on and off for a few years now, but it was only recently that I really got serious about my meditation practices. I started a few sessions with Amanda, and she has a wonderful calmness about her that truly helped me to relax and get into the correct mindset. Since then, there’s no stopping me!”
Carly
‘My daughter convinced me to give meditation a try, and it truly has helped me out with all those sleepless nights. I have often suffered from a case of sleeplessness, and it has lowered my quality of life considerably on occasion. Now that I have begun to practise meditation, however, I am finding that more often than not I can drop off to the land of Nod in a jiffy.’
Sylvia
Meditation
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