Learn a fresh approach to meditation in the City

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(Free-Press-Release.com) January 28, 2009 -- It is a well known fact that more and more people in the West are starting to meditate regularly. Sports heroes and celebrities, think Tiger Woods and Madonna, openly embrace and recommend the practice.

‘And yet chances are good the man on the Clapham bus considers meditation just another example of non scientific New Age nonsense’, says Vincent Baasch, founder of The Third Factor.

‘And a seriously stressed out friend of mine retorted recently after I suggested that he should try meditation: I don’t believe in running away from my problems’.

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Learn a fresh approach to meditation in the City

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http://www.thethirdfactor.co.uk

Meditation is a practice clouded in misunderstanding and myths. This is understandable, partly because it is true that meditation has its roots in the ancient religion of India, going back over 5,000 years. How could something so ancient, rooted in spiritual practice, be relevant and true in the 21st century? And then of course there is all the waffle, the esoteric talk, the different approaches and the various schools.

‘Our approach is fresh and contemporary. My favourite definition of meditation is very simple: meditation is a practical skill that teaches us to relax our bodies, focus our attention and quieten our minds’.

So firstly, meditation is a learned skill, not some kind of mysterious activity or paranormal experience. We can all learn to meditate with a bit of patience and discipline.

A key aspect of meditation is the totally practical issue of learning to relax our bodies deeply. In our classes we show people how to sit correctly on normal chairs (we don’t sit cross legged on cushions) and through various breathing exercises, we learn to relax all the major muscle groups in our bodies, literally going from head to toe.

‘I am constantly amazed in my classes to see how difficult most people find it to relax. I see people’s knees bobbing up and down uncontrollably and their bodies constantly moving, twitching and sliding around on their chairs.’

‘Just learning to relax can be a deeply empowering experience and is already of major benefit to the person doing it. The benefits of deep body relaxation are well documented and widely accepted, and include stress relief, lower blood pressure and better sleep.’

The next step in meditation is to focus our attention on one thing only. This is a key aspect of meditation and The Third Factor focuses on the breath to achieve this. By concentrating intently on the physical sensation and experience of our breath, we learn to focus and concentrate our attention.

‘The techniques are really simple and can be learned in ten minutes, but this does not mean they are easy to master’ smiles Baasch. ‘One of the big lessons of meditation is that Simple and Easy can be two very different things!’

‘Through patient, gentle and consistent attention on our breath, we create the environment that allows our minds to quieten down. Even if it is only for a second or two initially, the racing thoughts and emotions generated by our minds settle down. Some people describe the sensation a bit like being in a lift that suddenly drops a couple of floors to a quiet and peaceful place. Other people say your mind feels like a tranquil lake; no waves, ripples or wind.’

Hundreds of books have been written about the benefits of meditation and many scientific studies have been published. Most people coming to meditation for the first time do so in order to manage stress more effectively. Athletes speak of enhanced physical performance. Business people speak of increased concentration and mental performance. Artists speak of improved creativity. Others speak of better energy levels, a stronger immune system and a more positive outlook on life and its challenges. And spiritually minded people may speak of a connection to a bigger or deeper consciousness.

‘For me, it’s really simple. Meditation is a skill that teaches us to relax, focus our attention and quieten our minds. Who in their right mind would argue against the obvious benefits of any of these things?’

The Third Factor offers lunchtime meditation classes in London as well as corporate meditation training for teams and key individuals. To find out more, go to www.thethirdfactor.co.uk or contact Vincent Baasch at vincent@thethirdfactor.co.uk.

More information can be found online at http://www.thethirdfactor.co.uk