New Author - Mary Pearson
Meditation isn't just for hippies! Mary Pearson, Isbourne tutor and author of new book Meditation, the Stress Solution, extols the benefits of making time for meditation
You may be thinking 'meditation - isn't that just for hippies?' and I wouldn't blame you. For a long time that was exactly what I thought. I grew up in Liverpool during the 60s and 70s and watched the Beatles go to India and learn Transcendental Meditation. I was too busy studying at school and then at university to stop and wonder why they might want to learn something that seemed so alien to their whole way of life.
I became a teacher focussed on my career until 1997 when a whole series of traumatic events made me turn to alcohol to relieve the stress of my daily life. I began to drink every day, usually on my own.
A chance meeting introduced me to the idea of meditation again and the conversation that followed changed my life.
In 2001 I left teaching and became self employed. I now make my living by teaching and writing about meditation.
I truly believe meditation is the antidote to the stresses of 21st century living. I have written this book so you can discover the many wonderful benefits a daily meditation practice can bring.
The book begins with my story and explains how I discovered meditation. It next looks at what meditation is and at the huge body of scientific evidence that has been gathered since the 1970's to show that meditation is much more than 'posh napping' as one of my nieces describes it. The weight of scientific evidence has done much to dispel the idea that meditation is just some airy fairy nonsense. MRI scans can now show that there are significant changes taking place in the brain when someone is meditating. This evidence has become compelling.
The book looks at what meditation can do for you. It looks at how meditation can help you reduce the stress in your life and cope much better with the frantic pace of life today. You will discover how to look younger, feel fitter and even lose weight. The benefits of meditation are truly amazing. To think all this can happen just by sitting still for twenty minutes every day.
The book next explores how you can find both time and space to begin your meditation practice. One of the things people most often say to me is 'I don't have time'. This book aims to show you that you can find time and that time is well spent. As we become calmer we manage our lives better and therefore we don't feel so rushed.
The next section of the book is devoted to taking you through different ways to meditate. There are chapters on breathing techniques, mantras, visualisation and some Buddhist meditations. The CD included with the book contains seven of the meditations in the book, and a deep relaxation exercise. My voice guides you and explains exactly what to do.
The last section of the book looks at the benefits to be found from group meditation. I teach lots of people to meditate and also run on going classes. Meditating with others deepens the experience and I encourage you to look for a local class. There are classes at the Isbourne Centre.
I truly believe that learning to meditate is a real gift you can give yourself and I hope my book inspires you to give it a go.
Mary' Pearson's new book Meditation the Stress Solution will be launched at the Isbourne on Monday 20th December. Why not come along and discover what meditation can do for you?
She also starts a new weekly Introduction to Meditation course (5-week) at the Isbourne starting Wednesday 3rd November.
CHRISTMAS FAYRE
At the Isbourne
MONDAY 20 DECEMBER
Isbourne Holistic Centre
2 Wolseley Terrace, Cheltenham. GL50 1TH
5.00 - 9.00pm
Free Admission
Hand Crafted Jewellery, Candles, Crystals, Books, Clairvoyants
Plus
MARY PEARSON will be signing copies of her book
Meditation, the Stress Solution
be the first to obtain this inspirational book prior to its official
launch on 4th January 2011
Raffle in aid of Help for Heroes