Milla Lascelles, a member of the UK Health Coaches Association, shares how meditation has kept her calm, rational and present during this pandemic - and it’s all backed up by science!
Milla is determined to make meditation accessible to everyone and help create a daily practice that lasts. She has been studying self-development and holistic health for the last 5 years and now successfully runs international & UK based yoga & wellness retreats as well as 1-2-1 coaching based in London.
Millions of people suffer from stress and anxiety everyday. As much as we wish to ignore our stressors or pretend they don’t exist, the truth is we can’t because we cannot control the world around us. Where meditation comes in handy is that we are not aiming to eliminate our stressors or anxious thoughts but to engage with them differently. Between stimulus and response there is space. In that space is the power to choose our responses. Meditation helps us observe those mind traps that play a role in your stress and your reaction to stress. In my opinion everyone should be meditating in this day and age and reaping the benefits but sometimes it can be misinterpreted, seen as boring or too hard. Research shows that you can improve mood, promote optimism and lower stress responses.
Whats the problem?
When I speak to people about meditating they usually say they are ‘bad’ at it or simply can’t shut their thoughts off, which is what a lot of people believe meditation is: blocking out all thoughts and being blank. Some people find it boring or don’t know if it’s working. Others say they fall asleep and ask how they can stay awake. I want to share what I’m currently learning in teacher training at The British School of Meditation and make meditation accessible and easy for everyone starting from today.
It’s important to go through what meditation is not:
- Mediation is not sitting on the top of the Himalayas humming and chanting for 12 hours.
- Meditation shouldn’t be seen as something you only do if you have copious amounts of time.
- Meditation isn’t shutting down your brain and blocking out your thoughts.
- Meditation isn’t a quick fix, it’s not instant and it is never completed, that’s why its called a practise.
- Meditation isn’t linked to a certain stereotype.
- Meditation isn’t attached to religious beliefs.
Now let's talk about what meditation is:
- Meditation is being in the here and now not worrying about the past or the future, accepting where you are without judgement.
- Meditation is paying attention to your thoughts without engaging in them or judging them.
And what meditation means to me:
Meditation for me is going inwards connecting to myself on a deeper level in the present moment surrendering my need to be in the future letting thoughts come and go as they please but being aware of them and not getting lost in their stories. For me, it’s a chance to visualise myself in the sky floating amongst the fluffy clouds not rearing off into a cloud of thought just gently brushing it as I go by. Meditation is an opportunity to check in with my body every single day and practise self-love and kindness that makes me calm, present and happier.
3 Tips on how to get started:
If you want to learn meditation, it’s good to just begin, right now, without hesitating. You don’t need to wait until you’re ‘ready’. In every moment you are ready.
’To begin, begin.’ - William Wordsworth
1. Identify your spot!
First thing's first, it’s important you assign yourself a space where you’ll be arriving at each day to sit for your practise. Don’t overcomplicate this space, it can be a space on the floor in your bedroom where you sit crosslegged with your back against the bed. The ideal place would be somewhere that is quiet in a corner of a room, with the corner behind you, which will provide a sense of security. Make sure the room isn’t too hot so you don’t become sleepy. Nice touches can be to light a candle or roll-on some OTO Focus CBD oil to kick off the practise.
2. How do I sit?
It can depend on what meditation you are practising but posture is really important because the body and mind are linked. Traditional position is to sit crosslegged on the floor. You can do this by sitting on a cushion or on a chair. Wherever you wish to sit, it's important your back is straight and you are not leaning against the chair. Meditation can be done lying down but I only recommend this when you’re doing a sleep meditation or a bodyscan. If you are sitting on a firm chair your feet should be parallel and your hands should be placed on your lap resting with the palms facing up which is an open posture that enhances listening. When palms are turned down this can be to feel more grounded and go more inwards. I decide before my practise what I feel like I need more of when it comes to how my hands are placed. Neck should be lengthened and face should be relaxed.
3. What meditation should I choose?
Did you know that there are up to 10 different types of meditations which I encourage people to really explore when they begin meditating. Many people I speak to only know about simple guided breathing meditation. That’s why I'm a huge fan of the app Insight Timer which helped me find my style that brings me back into the present moment.