How To: Guided Meditation

By MiNDFOOD

How To: Guided Meditation
Have you ever considered guided meditation? We go through the ins and outs of how to use it effectively.

Much of recent research on meditation has focused on the brain and how its practice can rewire the neural pathways, influencing our ability to deal with stress as well as its impact on our health.

Recent research published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology from Carnegie Mellon University in the US shows that brief mindfulness meditation practice – for example, 25 minutes for three consecutive days – alleviates psychological stress. Another 2014 study, a meta-analysis of almost 50 trials with more than 3500 participants, by researchers at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, determined that meditation can result 
in moderate reduction in psychological stress and so should be considered by practitioners as a therapeutic option.

A new study from investigators at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind/Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that eliciting the relaxation response—a physiologic state of deep rest induced by practices such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing and prayer—produces immediate changes in the expression of genes involved in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion.

“Many studies have shown that mind/body interventions like the relaxation response can reduce stress and enhance wellness in healthy individuals and counteract the adverse clinical effects of stress in conditions like hypertension, anxiety, diabetes and ageing,” said Herbert Benson, HMS professor of medicine at Mass General and co-senior author of the report.

Findings such as these have helped validate meditation, a practice considered by some as, at best, too spiritual. Meditation teacher Jonni Pollard says our advances in science have been critical in shifting meditation from mysticism to mainstream. “Science has played a very big role in providing social and cultural permission to explore the value of meditation in these ancient practices,” he explains. Pollard’s team, based in Melbourne, has created the 1 Giant Mind app to make the practice more accessible.

A similar approach is guided mediation, often available as podcasts or CDs. MiNDFOOD has partnered with Rhondda StewartTrainer of Hypnotherapy & NLP, to record a series of guided meditations, available here

Each CD offers you specifically designed suggestions at an unconscious level to empower your conscious mind with new ways of thinking and feeling more self empowered.

There are two tracks. One is voice driven and you can hear the words clearly spoken. The second is the same as the first, however only partially heard in the distance, so is more subliminally designed to stack the intention of empowerment at your unconscious level. Within every CD are subliminal tones to assist you in having a good night’s sleep. The suggestions given to the unconscious mind are stacked within each CD to help you attain new wisdom that can assist you in achieving your goal.

The design is to settle in a relaxed place (or bed) turn the CD down to a background sound and allow it

The best way of listening to these CD’s is when your able to relax at home, or are in bed ready for sleep. They are designed to be listened to by your unconscious mind, rather than your conscious mind so the best volume level is soft and in the background, which enables you to relax or go to sleep and enjoy the benefits of the CD.

Rhondda reveals her top tips for getting the most out of guided meditation:

This CD is not a meditation or a guided relaxation CD. It is designed to work with your unconscious mind in creating optimal health and wellbeing.

 Instructions for listening:

  1. Do not play this CD in a moving vehicle;
  2. The best time to pay this CD is when you are able to stretch out and relax, best time is when you jump into bed.
  3. Once in bed, put on the CD and let yourself relax to it, without even listening, just allow it to be background sound, as it is designed to appeal to your unconscious mind and help you relax into sleep.
  4. So if you fall asleep whilst listening then it has achieved its purpose. During sleep your unconscious mind will hear everything it needs to listen to and develop all the resources you need to create positive change.
  5. We have found there are greater benefits from the CD if you play it every night, over a three month period. Then put it away, and when you feel you would benefit further, bring it out and play again at that time.
  6. If you have purchased more than one CD from our collection. You can rotate them, play the first CD one night and the other CD the next night. Rotating over a three month period.

This CD is not a replacement for medical assessment/attention and if you are concerned about your health or wellbeing you should consult your Health Care professional.

This CD can assist you to build your internal mental resourcefulness.

This CD is not a meditation or a guided relaxation CD. It is designed to work with your unconscious mind in creating optimal health and wellbeing.

 

 

 

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