Fit & Proper: Meditate to keep yourself calm

Vinod Sharma, 34, corporate communications manager, suffered from agonising headaches during the day. As he would shuttle between meetings, the stress would also make him ill-tempered and impatient. A session on meditation introduced him to ways of maintaining a steady reservoir of physical, mental and emotional energy, while remaining calm through stressful situations. He has been meditating for a year and feels peaceful.

In its simplest form, meditation works with the mind to calm its activities, to enable it to focus on one object or an idea for an extended length of time without the mind flitting from one thought to the other. All spiritual faiths and philosophies accept that the mind is difficult to control and bring to a level of calmness. It is the very nature of the mind to jump from one thought to the other, to dwell on the past or the imaginations of the future, taking us far away from the present moment, and far away from experiencing true reality. It is this behaviour of the mind that leads to stress and unhappiness in our lives.

Many techniques of meditation have been developed over the years - meditation on silence, mindful meditation, 'Om' meditation and meditation on a particular object or idea. But all techniques work towards the common goal of ceasing the fluctuations of the mind, which can help normalise heart rate and blood pressure and result in complete rejuvenation.

Beginners who have never tried meditation should find a good teacher near their home and dedicate a fixed time to practice yoga. It is good to be realistic with the time commitment, so that one is able to stay on schedule. Sleep is a very good stress and fatigue reliever and meditation further enhances the benefits of deep sleep by relaxing the mind and body for harmony and balance.

Regular practice of meditation has been found to have tremendous benefits at all levels. Besides reducing stress, it brings more joy into our lives, it improves our relationships and brings equanimity of the mind, where we are not constantly swept by emotions. Mediation can also boost the body's immunity to fight infections and chronic illnesses.

Meditation can be practised at any time of the day so long as your stomach is empty and you are not rushing for time. The ideal time is early mornings or in the evenings, and there should be a gap of two to three hours after a meal. The best way to sustain the practice is to develop the right conditions in your life for it. This is a combination of right thoughts and actions, appropriate eating habits and being around like-minded people, who will help create an enabling environment to sustain meditation in your life.

QUICK TIPS

• Start with allocating a reasonable time slot for meditation and be realistic with it, so that you can keep up with the schedule. Four to five days a week is a good target to begin with.
   
• Find a teacher near your home, so that you don't spend too much time in commuting.
   
• Give the practice utmost priority and be patient with the learning process.
   
• Keep to a lighter diet on the day of the practice.
   
• On the day of yoga practice, do not rush to do multiple activities after the meditation.
   
• Be persistent and give it at least a couple of months of commitment.

Rahul Bansal
Yoga expert, New Delhi