Meditation club

I wasn’t sure where to put this thread in Strategies for Success or Self Care, as I thought it could equally go in either.

As there is already a Gym Club, I thought it would be interesting to have another club, this one is a Meditation Club. A daily meditation practice is a ready good way to calm and relax you, amongst other things.

The idea is basically when you have meditated that day, you can post in the thread, “done meditation today” or something like that. People might want to share the type of mediation they have taken part in as well, like guided meditation, Zazen meditation, Body Scan, Vipassana and so on. You could post questions here too, if you get stuck or need some advice. Ill just a novice, but I'm sure someone could give some advice if someone needs it.

Here is a link to a really good PDF called ‘The Essential Guide to How to Meditate’:

https://www.lionsroar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Essential-Guide-How-to-Meditate.pdf

The guide is really good, and gets you started and has some different meditation styles which are good to try. If you haven’t ever meditated, then give it a try, even for a few minutes. If you find the floor uncomfortable, you can use a chair, the guide takes you through all of this.

Good Luck.

Sat on cushion in half lotus position on mat to do Zazen meditation today. I have problems focusing on my breath, so I focused on my posture instead.

Sat on outdoor bench to do Zazen meditation today.

Wow. If I could sit in half lotus position I would feel amazing. I have so much tightness in my legs that I’m far away from being able to have my butt and my knees on the ground at the same time. I do meditate, but I have to use a special cushion that is only made by one company that almost closed a year or two ago.
I like the idea of watching your posture. I have noticed that when I do find myself lost in mental conjecture, my posture is also collapsed.
I meditated today. Okay I spent about 5 minutes on my breath and 25 planning for lunch, but the fact that I noticed it is meditation.

I usually just set a timer for five or ten minutes, close my eyes, and focus on my breath. When my mind wanders, I gently bring it back.

I have recently stopped meditating, although I used to enjoy it.

I like using Calm for background sounds while I sit with my antique incense burner going—something about the scent makes it easier to stay present. I usually light it just before starting, then let the smoke drift while I focus on my breath. It’s one of the little rituals that helps me settle in faster.

Only just noticed this thread. My nervous system has been in such a state for the last 12 months that meditation has been nigh on impossible with RLS and akathisia from various chemical withdrawals. It's something I used to do a lot, occasionally I would meditate for 5 hours straight and get into some crazy psychedelic OOB states experiencing infinity and all sorts. But I got out of the habit. I must try to get back into it somehow. Best I managed lately is lying down with an audio hypnosis track to relax, but know it's not the same.

Very Nice thread, thank you @Inastorm.
I start my day with Sadhana around 4-5 am. About 2 hours. Meditation is part of this practice along with doing chanting and mostly kundalini yoga, other yoga as well. The style of meditation that is my daily is kundalini taught practice that was initiated in the US in 1969. I do other styles as well.....Zazen/Buddhist forms and at night go to sleep with 432 Hz deep healing music which I was made aware of by the acupuncturists in the past months and sometimes lay down and use during the day as well for 10 or 15 minutes. I have insomnia challenge and have found this sound vibration to be really helpful at times for sleep along with its healing ability. And then there is always the meditation I love of walking in the silence in nature settings nearby which I still do daily when it's not 100 degrees out like now during summer. I was taught it wasn't good to do most meditation practices more than a couple of hours a day....it's too altering and will unground/imbalance most people's mind state and body.
I am also in a weekly meditation group that meets online for a 1/2 hour with the meditation focus of peace and healing for the world and its humans.......live group energy is wonderful too.
I like burning incense and droop at times too. Nag champa is my favorite. I used to burn sage for self and area cleansing but learned a couple years ago that this kind of sage is becoming extinct because so much is being picked and sold so I stopped using it. I miss the smell of it.

I managed 10 mins of zazen yesterday on my mat and completed 2 enso's. I attached 1 picture of it here.
I was aware of the practice of enzo, my ex friend got me a wonderful kind gift at xmas of a artist pad, paint and brush. We both were doing one enso once a day after meditation. I miss my friend so much.

Just put this 432hz on quietly in the background and lie down and listen to it for 10 or 15 minutes during the day or more if you like, even lower volume after getting into bed for sleep..there are many more variations of 432hz available….see what you think about where it can take you, how it can make you feel🫶🏼