Alright guys, be honest, who here meditates? Well if you don’t, you’re going to want to try it after reading this blog post.
So here’s my story: I meditated for 10 minutes every single day for 2 months straight and then stopped because of travel. Since then, I’ve been trying to get back into it, but haven’t been able to commit in the same way. When I meditated for 2 months though, I definitely felt some serious changes. I was just more in control of my thoughts and would be able to keep stress levels at bay.
Although I’ve experienced the benefits of meditation firsthand, I’m no expert. Serendipitously, I happened to be invited to Toronto’s first meditation studio, Hoame, a few weeks ago, right when I was getting back into meditating. This place is so zen it’s ridiculous. It doesn’t even look like it’s in Toronto! Anyway, I did a guided meditation class there and felt amazing. So I figured, who better to talk to about meditation than the founders of this gorgeous meditation studio.
Long story short, I hope you guys enjoy this interview with Carolyn Plater and Stephanie Kersta. It basically answers any and all burning questions you may have about meditation (including wtf to do if you fall asleep and/or can’t stop your mind from racing, because, hello, guilty).
Lately, there’s been a lot of interest in meditation, especially with the growing conversation around mental health. Could you get into what exactly meditation is?
As clinicians in the field we are very encouraged by the growing conversation around mental health and in particular around practices such as meditation that are helping to combat stress and on a larger scale assist in the treatment of mental health disorders. Simply, meditation is the practice of taking time to be with yourself and your thoughts in a meaningful way. It is not about emptying your head rather letting thoughts come and go with curiousity and without judgement. More importantly it is about taking time to simply be in the present moment.
If someone has never meditated, what’s a good place to start?
A good place to start is with a short practice. Even taking 2-3 minutes within your day to practice some deep breathing is in essence meditation. One technique we like to use with people new to meditation is to incorporate mindfulness meditation into an activity, such as walking. The next time you are walking somewhere use all of your senses to be fully present on your walk, notice the sensation of the wind on your skin, the sound of the passing cars, the smells you may encounter and the beauty of the sights around you. Be in the present moment. New meditators also often find the can more easily access the practice of meditatoin when being guided by an experienced instructor in a group setting. We created our Essentials class as an accessible introduction to meditation to help beginners.
What are some of its benefits?
The benefits of meditation are many. Literally every part of our body from the tops of our head to the tips of our toes and everything in between can benefit from the powers of meditation. For example clinical research shows that meditation can boost immunity, build grey matter in our brains, reduce chronic pain, decrease blood pressure, reduce anxiety, boost productivity, creativity and focus, and serve as an adjunct treatment to insomnia – just to name a few!
A lot of people catch themselves falling asleep while meditating. What should they do if this happens?
This can and does happen. With our moden fast paced lifestyle many of us are in fact quite sleep deprived. We encourage people to be gentle with themselves – if sleep happens during meditation your body obviously needed it. Over time with more practice it will become easier to slip into a present meditative state without falling over into sleep. In the meantime, if you are prone to falling asleep try meditating first thing in the morning when you have more energy or try meditating in a seated position versus laying down.
How about people who feel like they can’t turn their brain off? I definitely have that issue A LOT. Any tips?
This is common experience for many people – often referred to a blender brain! Or monkey mind! It is normal. We encourage people first to not be critical or judgemental if they can not turn their mind off – meditation takes time and practice. It will come. Some tips we have are to try group meditation as these sessions can cultivate an energy and atmosphere that allows one to more readily slip into meditation. Having a guided practice with more words and statements versus a silent meditation can also help one remain focused during a session. Also try choosing meditations that have specific focus points or purposes such as a body scan, or that really encourage visualization so as to draw your attention away from what was on your mind prior to your meditation session.
What are some ways to integrate mindfulness into everyday life?
There are many ways to integrate mindfulness into everyday life. Starting from the minute you wake – take a moment to focus on being alive in this moment, take time to mindfully stretch and move your body. Transform your commute from a stressful experience to a mindful opportunity. Attune your senses to all that is around you without judgement. During work take a few minutes to simply connect with your breath and just be – fully in this moment. When you are eating take care to eat without distractions. Taste every bite of food fully and with appreciation. When you go home at night take a few moments of reflections – perhaps focus on what you are grateful for in your day or in your life. The opportunities to be mindful are endless!
Hoame is like an oasis in the city. What inspired you to create such a space?
We are mental health clinicians first and foremost and it was our experiences in our careers that really lead us to create Hoame. We both have worked for years in emergency and acute crisis settings and realized quickly that our current model of mental health care is often quite reactionary in nature. We also saw firsthand the truly damaging effects of our stressful lifestyle (ie. overworked etc…) on one’s overall mental and physical wellbeing. So we sought to create a place in the city where we could focus on preventative wellness and encourage people to try the practice of meditation (a practice with countless benefits) in a way that would be accessible. We also wanted to create a home – where we could showcase things beyond meditation that can help improve health and wellness to those living in Toronto.
On top of your amazing meditation classes, you guys also have a salt cave. Could you explain what a salt cave is and what its benefits are?
We do have a salt cave! Salt caves, which are known as halotherapy is an ancient treatment frequented in europe and has many documented health benefits. Himalayan pink salt is naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and has trace minerals and elements that support respiration, skin conditions, and overall mood state. At hoame, we pair the salt cave experience with noise cancelling headphones that play music, nature sounds, and we provide comfy bean bag chairs and warm blankets to further enhance the stress-reducing benefits.
PS: if you liked this post, check out this post on a beginner’s guide to supplements and this one about the 7 things I wish I was taught in school