What is the purpose of meditation?
What is the purpose of meditation?
I use meditation to connect with myself and turn inward for guidance.
We spend so much time trapped in our heads spinning stories about what people did to us, what we don't like about ourselves, what's not fair in our lives...the list goes on and on and on, creating constant stress and anxiety in our lives. Through meditation, we can let the mind fade into the background, and begin to come to a more balanced space of peace and calm in our bodies and work on pausing those constant thoughts.
What is Kirtan Chanting Meditation?
What is Kirtan Chanting Meditation?
There are many different forms of meditation. Kirtan Chanting is a practice of connecting to our bodies and the moment through connection to music. Kirtan Chanting uses mostly Sanskrit words, syllables, and phrases (think Om and Namaste from your yoga class) in a repetitive way throughout the song. You don't have to know what the words mean. You're just connecting to the music, the vibration of the words, your body, and feelings that come up. The words and phrases are repeated multiple times, so they're easy to pick up, and you can hum along, sing along, dance, play instruments, or just listen and feel. It's a great way to practice tuning into yourself instead of your mind.
And it's fun!
Before Covid, we chanted in a group in the office and on the beach. I plan to return to group chanting as soon as I feel it is right. In the meantime, ask me about it if you're interested.
Benefits of Meditation
Here are just a few:
Benefits of Meditation
Here are just a few:
Physical
(yes, physical)
Physical
(yes, physical)
*Improves breathing and heart rate
*Increases energy
*Decreases inflammation
*Improves immune system
*Increases longevity
*Improves metabolism and weight loss
Mental
Mental
*Increases focus (by 10 times!)
*Increases memory retention
*Decreases distractibility
*Improves cognition
*Improves focus
*Increases creativity
*Improves information processing
Emotional
Emotional
*Decreases depression
*Decreases anxiety
*Improves mood
*Increases relaxation
*Decreases stress
*Increases optimism
*Helps you feel more connected
*Increases self-awareness
Why you CAN meditate, even if you think you can't.
Why you CAN meditate, even if you think you can't.
Here's the part where you say, "I can't meditate. I can't even get my mind to be quiet for 10 seconds." That's why I love Kirtan Chanting Meditation. Because you don't have to get your mind to be quiet. Your mind is going to think; that's what it does. However, when you focus it on a sound, or words, or feeling in your body, your mind doesn't have to stop thinking. Focusing allows you to settle and gives you the space to center and go inward. And all of a sudden, you're meditating!
What if I don't want to sing and meditate?
What if I don't want to sing and meditate?
There are lots of different ways to meditate, and no one way is better than the other. There are guided meditations, silent meditations, mantras you can use to focus your mind, chanting meditations, chakra meditations, movement meditations, and plenty more.
I will share what I know and help you find what is right for you.
If you can begin to practice for just a minute or two every day, you can use that practice of calm when you're mad, or worried, or upset. If you learn to meditate, just for short periods, then when something happens that would normally stress you, you will be ready to just take one breath, find that place of peace, and take things as they come.
"Chanting is a way of getting in touch with yourself. It's an opening of the heart and letting go of the mind and thoughts. It deepens the channel of grace, and it's a way of being present in the moment."
- Krishna Das
Christy McGurgan, LPC, ACHt
Christy McGurgan, LPC, ACHt
Licensed Professional Counselor
Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist
Reiki Master
Certified Yoga Instructor
Where to Find Me
Where to Find Me
510 S. Independence Blvd.
Suite 202
Virginia Beach, Va 23452