Meditation
Meditation is a practice stemming from thousands of years of practice. It is amazing how often we forget the power of pausing life and spending a few moments away from the world. Be it on a bus, walking down the street, or in a temple, the practice of meditation is reachable throughout our lives, where ever we go. The study of meditation is an excellent way to achieve this calmness and skill to refocus ourselves and our lives no matter the stress or imbalance we face in life.
Meditation is a disciplined practice, and consistent study and practice helps students to open up their emotional blocks, physical stresses, and to refocus their minds. With a variety of meditation types utilized, the practice not only stays interesting and fulfilling, but also offers a variety of practice tools for when students are not in the group setting.
The benefit of group meditation can be amazing. While meditating alone, it may be easier to control your setting and environment. But by committing to a group and a schedule, you guarantee the practice, and guarantee your future development. Additionally, there is a different feel in the room, with a different level of comfort to enjoy the moment when in a group setting. You'll be less likely to turn on the tv, quit early, or fidget when others are counting on your participation in the class. One of the biggest bonuses to group meditation, besides having an instructor with over 15 years of meditation experience, the discussion, opinions, reviews, and conversations people offer can be a huge building block to furthering your own experience. See what other people are obtaining helps a student understand their next steps, and techniques for overcome roadblocks everyone comes across.
At Spring & Autumn Martial Arts, our practice comes from a unique place, being Daoist Meditation. Many meditation practices stem from Buddhist or Hindu sources. But Daoist Meditation is a combination of pre-Buddhist influenced practices and post. A big sense of this is feeling the changes happening in the body while sitting, and a variety of meditation practices such as Concentration Meditation. These differences should not be enough to put off anyone experienced in other practices, but should be considered an excellent opportunity to learn new breathing techniques, and new ways of cultivating positive effects from the practice.
