In a world where people are constantly connected, multitasking and stressed out, it’s difficult for people to just stop for a few minutes and be present.
Meditation is a practice where someone will focus on an object, thought or activity to help settle their mind from the day-to-day rat race.
It's a practice that has played an integral role in many religions and is now becoming more mainstream, less about religion and more about helping people live a more calm life.
“We’re living in an epidemic of stress,” said Bob Roth, an expert in transcendental meditation, on The Ellen Show. “We can’t ignore it. It undermines our immune system. We get sick because of stress, digestion, memory, the ability to sleep. It literally, too much stress over time, kills us. Now more than ever, it’s not a luxury. We look for quiet, for stillness.”
There are many different types of meditation, which include mindfulness and transcendental. Transcendental meditation, or TM, is a practice where you sit for 15-20 minutes a day, twice a day, repeating a mantra that’s assigned to you by a certified TM teacher.
The David Lynch Foundation, which is led by Roth, is a program that teaches TM to children and adults around the world. They are actively working with schools, prisons, and veterans living with PTSD to teach them the practice.
Another type of meditation is mindfulness meditation, which helps you live more present by understanding what’s happening in your body and in your surroundings.
Local
Non-secular meditation studios are popping up all around the country. In South Florida, Innergy Meditation on Miami Beach is bringing mindfulness to everyone.
“I always imagined meditation to be a religious, sanctimonious thing that you did to pray to the gods,” said Paul Silitsky, the Chief Chill Officer of Innergy Meditation. “This was all in my head, not really what it is. Meditation became part of my every day. If I missed a day, I felt different.”
Many people say they can’t meditate because they can’t sit still or they don’t have the time. But reaching your inner zen is actually more attainable than you may think.
“The best tool you have is your breath,” said Michelle Berlin, the Curriculum Advisor at Innergy. “If you take two to five minutes a day, and just take a deep breath in and a long breath out, that’s really your best meditation teacher.”
With meditation studios, complimentary community meditation workshops and a plethora of smartphone apps, meditation is accessible to nearly everyone.
Modern Om, a local company which credits itself with bringing mindfulness to the masses, offers free neighborhood meditations all over South Florida. For example, Modern Om offers free communal meditation classes at Brickell City Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. You can find more neighborhood meditation offerings here.
Innergy Meditation is located at 1560 Lennox Avenue on Miami Beach. They are currently offering a free week of unlimited meditation in honor of their one-year anniversary. You can find more information on how to sign up by clicking here.
There are several teachers who are certified to teach Transcendental Meditation in South Florida. To find out how you can get involved, click here.
