An age-old path to well-being

Although an age-old practice, meditation is still shrouded in mystery for some.

The record spoke to alternative health practitioner Chetna Madoo of the Divine Healing practice to get some clarity on the subject and a few practical tips regarding meditation.

Chetna who, among other therapies, conducts group meditations and meditation workshops had the following to say.

“The main aim of meditation is to still the mind. Many of our problems and stresses are a result of the mind being over active and cluttered, and often a solution to a problem is right in front of us. However, because the mind is so busy we do not see it,” says Chetna.

“There are many benefits to meditation. It helps us to relax and be calm and thus remove stress. Once we are calm and relaxed, improved physical health is a natural outcome. We also will deal with life with more clarity when the mind is still and relaxed.

“There are various meditation techniques but the most common is guided meditations”.

“Guided Meditation is almost like a story that I tell to the group. They then have to use their imagination and follow what is being said. Although each individual will be following the same story,  each of them will have their own experience. There are also cd’s that can be used to guide the meditation practitioner,” explains Chetna.

She teaches other techniques in her workshops as well, such as the concentrative method where the emphasis is on concentrating on breathing or a mantra, the latter being a powerful sound or vibration that you can use to enter a deep state of meditation, which often is a repeated word, formula or phrase.

An alternative to the concentrative technique is the mindful technique where the practitioner “lets him/ herself go” This technique has formal and informal methods. An example of formal would be when the person does yoga where the mind is focussed on yoga movements. Informal would be when a person just has a heightened sense of the actions he/she performs no matter how simplistic they might be, for example being mindful of your actions as you clear the dinner table. This could be translated into “being in the moment”.

Chetna also expels the myth that meditation is bound to certain religions.

“Meditation is just a spiritual tool that transcends religion, culture, race or colour. It can be used by anyone believing in a higher power to enrich their spiritual practice.

“I have people from all religions who attend my groups,” says Chetna.

Madoo says it is possible to learn meditation from books but that one needs discipline and advises people to find a teacher or join a group if they do not get it right.

Chetna says one can start with the following very simple meditation technique but again emphasises that discipline is important. The more you practice the better you will get and the more enriching your meditation will be.

• There are different postures in meditation but most important is that the spine is straight to let the energy flow unhindered through your body. One can lie down on your back (but runs the risk of falling asleep if you are a beginner), sit on a chair that supports the back in a straight position or sit in the well-known lotus position (see picture).

• Once in the position, with the eye closed, the person then proceed to concentrate on his/her breathing.

• Breathing should be slow and deep; breathing into the solar plexus.

• The person must concentrate on breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth.

• No minimum or maximum time is prescribed for the practice but the person rather should focus on how long he or she can do it. As with any other exercise the person’s body and lungs need to get used to the practice and the more they exercise the longer they will be able to sit.

For more info Chetna can be contacted on 082 717 6669 or visit her website at www.divinehealing.co.za.