New Meditation Intention Bracelet

Our new Meditation Intention Bracelet

The Inspiration: recently on holiday in Bali, I met a friendly Balinese beach trader who despite the heady heat of the day was enthusiastically plying her wares up and down the beach.  While I was not keen on any more shopping .. I was drawn to one particular sample, a black mala made with a striking jet black stone that I had not seen before.  I found out it was 'local volcanic rock from the Bali eruption' and from that moment I was on a mission to find out more.

Bali is home to a range of towering volcanic mountains that divides the island into northern and southern portions. To the largely Hindu-Balinese, the volcanoes are considered the homes of the gods and therefore sacred, and with numerous eruptions having happened over thousands of years the island is now left with extremely fertile and high nutrient soil .. which you can see everywhere in the rice paddy fields and lush tropical vegetation.

To many travellers however, especially in recent years, the volcanic eruptions represent holiday plans being cancelled or delayed.  Just in the last three years alone, there have been several unexpected eruptions at Mt Raung (East Java) or Mt Rinjani (island of Lombok) causing flights to be grounded both in and out of the country. (I was secretly hoping to be unable to leave .. alas this was not to be).

The stone bead that I found on the beach, is therefore a product of many thousands of years of geological activity; exquisitely formed from the erupted magna that once cool produces a unique texture characterized by little voides left from the escaping gases.  Looking around Bali and Indonesia now, I can see the stone being used in numerous architectural structures, decorative features and statues as the stone is known for its natural beauty, strength, density and heat resistance.  

Meditation Intention Bracelet: Designed to provide a visual trigger to reminder you to stop, take a breath and turn your focus inward.  As you move through your day the bracelet is a gentle whisper to return to the breath and the present moment.  

In this way we keep our intention to meditate shining in our thoughts .. building mindfulness and awareness

Our new meditation intention bracelet has been inspired by our recent journey to the Island of the Gods, and the beauty of these beads created by Mother Earth.

Black Lava Beads: believed to carry a powerful energy that brings strength, determination and passion to those who wear them.  The bead is also considered a protective stone that repels negativity, with a grounding quality that comes from being created within the centre of the earth.

Silver Lotus Charm: the lotus flower grows in muddy water and is closed at night, sinking under the water to wait for dawn when it rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty.  Untouched by the impurity of the muddy water the lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind and represents enlightenment, renewal, transformation and new beginnings.

Meditation Intention Bracelet
$29.95 
Turquoise or Black Tassel

The Science of Meditation: Brain health

'Find the Stillness' guided meditation CD is $20
available at our SHOP online

We all want a healthy brain .. and in recent years there has been a growing library of research in the field of neuroscience and how the brain is positively impacted by the practice of meditation.

Watch this excellent TEDxCambridge video by Sara Lazar (Neuroscientist) on how meditation can reshape our brains .. and Sara also discusses some of the latest research on a recent edition of the ABC All In The Mind series..

and it's all GREAT NEWS!

Professor Sara Whitney Lazar, Ph.D. is the Assistant Professor of Psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital.  One of her studies involved putting a group of non-meditators through an 8-week meditation program (the MBSR program developed by Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn) and scanning their brains before, and after.

“We showed that there is growth in certain brain regions as a result of this meditation practice.”

Lazar says that change was measured in a number of regions of the brain:

the posterior singular cortex, the "number one region that goes in Alzheimer’s disease. It’s a very important part of the brain. It’s found to be involved in a lot of different processes, in particular its main thing seems to be about mind wandering and staying in the present moment, related to memory. And this is an area that seems to be improved by [meditation].”

the hippocampus, also “important for ageing, and Alzheimer’s and memory, and those two – the posterior singular cortex and hippocampus – work together. And so this data has suggested [meditation] could potentially slow down or prevent those sorts of diseases.”

the amygdala the area of the brain associated with stress, anxiety and fear and research showed that it got smaller, with meditators reporting feeling less worried or hassled by their lives, even when their circumstances remained the same.

An earlier study by Lazar's team in 2006 found the first evidence that meditation can alter the physical structure of our brains. Brain scans they conducted revealed that experienced meditators boasted increased thickness in parts of the brain that deal with attention and processing sensory input. The technique used in the study was insight meditation (focusing on whatever is there, like noise or body sensations).

And so, research continues to support the ancient, time-tested value of a regular meditation practice .. and show that you do not have to be a long term meditator to start experiencing positive results.  Lazar commented that ..

“there has been a little bit of research suggesting that even five or 10 minutes a day can provide some benefit. And so at this point we like to tell people just doing five, 10, 15 minutes a day, three or four times a week, you’re probably going to get some benefit, and if you can do more, that’s great.”

What can you do?

Try our Body Awareness practice, a mindfulness technique which brings your attention to different parts of the body in turn, starting with your toes and journeying up to the top of your head.  In this practice we shift our attention 'inward' and open and anchor our awareness to the sensations, feelings and movements that we find in the body .. then with each exhalation we relax a little further so that tension and tightness just melt away.

Body Awareness by Sarah, Quiet Mind Meditation

Meditating doorsigns

So very excited to finally share with you .. our beautifully crafted new doorsigns.  Made right here in Australia.

"MEDITATING" 

$21.95 (incl. postage in Australia ONLY this week)

Laser etched and cut into gorgeous blonde 3mm ply, the signs are approx. 20cm x 10cm and we have matched them with an orange or taupe suede thread.

Perfect for hanging on your door to gently remind those around you, that you are meditating .. shhhhh!

Orange or Taupe thread?

Meditation 'Intention' Bracelet

While our intention is to meditate every day and we feel this is a considered, clear and firm commitment .. STILL we face the biggest challenge which is just remembering to take the time to sit and meditate! 

We have found that the most powerful way to create a meditation habit is to find a trigger to remind you of your intention to practice.

This week we have had a funny little run on our Intention Bracelets .. I mean it is totally wonderful to be sharing our bracelets far and wide (mostly far, orders tend to be flowing in from our friends in the USA).  And luckily we have just recently received a new order of charms from our lovely Thai craftsmen.

The Quiet Mind Meditation Intention Bracelets is designed to provide a beautiful visual trigger to reminder you to stop, take a breath and turn your focus inward.  

While you move about your day, work at your desk, drive your car or put out the washing the Meditation Bracelet will be your visual reminder .. a gentle nudge, a quiet whisper .. to come back to the breath and return to the present moment (perhaps even take the opportunity to meditate).  

In this way we keep our intention to meditate in our thoughts throughout the day.  

Bracelet is $20 

The Breath

(Pic: Note To Self Just Breathe by Holly2007)

My first meditation instruction occurred when I was a teenager .. and it was all about the breath. 

Using the breath as an anchor in meditation is what I call a 'foundation practice' .. a good place to start before moving onto other meditation practices.  

The breath is an ideal anchor as it is readily available to us (you don't need to remember to bring your breath with you to meditation class!) and is a great biofeedback tool (so you know how you are travelling in any moment).  Using the breath to balance body and mind is an ancient practice (in yoga called pranayama or breath mastery) and many of our Meditative Exercises that we practice in class are based on these tried and tested practices. 

Incorrect or inefficient breathing makes us feel anxious, tired, foggy in the mind and distracted.

Good breathing (diaphragmatic) makes us naturally feel more at ease at it restores our body's natural regulatory system .. 'feeding' the brain with vital oxygen which is often the reason behind that foggy, distracted feeling.

"Moving your diaphragm when you breathe communicates to every cell of your body that you are 'safe'," says biochemist and author, Dr Libby Weaver.

If you are interested in learning more then you might like our new E-Book : Meditative Exercise: simple and effective exercises for everyday life - simply go to our Shop for instant download ($9.95).

Meditation Coach & Door Sign

Guided meditation is like having a 'meditation coach' .. someone who can step in and take the lead, sharing pathways, pointing out the highlights and challenges on the journey ..  holding your hand.

 

Last year I produced a guided meditation CD ~ "Find The Stillness" ~ that has two longer meditation practices and two shorter meditative exercises.  

 

I believe that meditation is a life tool that everyone should learn.

 

The CD starts your journey by introducing you to Meditative Exercises: brief, simple and powerful exercises that you can immediately incorporate into your daily life so that you have the power to break vicious stress moments and reconnect with a sense of calmness and ease.  Right in the midst of this great, challenging and chaotic life.

 

Then when you have an opportunity to pause a little longer, you can expand your meditation practice with the longer Breath Awareness and Body Awareness practices.

 

The long and short of it.

 

NOVEMBER SURPRISE

 

I wanted to share our new "MEDITATING" door sign .. so if you wish to purchase our "Find The Stillness" CD  then you will get BOTH!  Then we can support your meditation practice in different ways .. by guiding your practice and giving you a sign to shout your intention to the household/workplace ..

 

CD + Door Hang only $20 (plus $2 postage)

SHOP : DOOR HANG

Perfect for hanging on your door to gently remind those around you .. that you are
meditating!

Printed on a beautiful pearlized cream stock, laminated for protection and hanging from a black silk thread
                            

SHOP : "Find The Stillness" CD

* the perfect introduction to meditation

* ideal for beginners or those seeking to nourish their practice
* guided meditations .. easy to use at home or work whenever it suits you

Guided meditations are a great tool for assisting us in our practice .. sometimes it is just nice to 'let go' and allow another voice to guide us.  There is also an element of being respectful and paying attention, and for a short time the mind will let go of its need to be the one in the driving seat.

Gently led by Sarah Fletcher from Quiet Mind Meditation against a background of stillness the CD contains two short meditative exercises for everyday stress relief and two longer guided practices for deeper and more restful stillness.

"I just wanted to give you some feedback on your FANTASTIC CD!!!! Your voice is just perfect for it .. listening to it was so incredibly soothing and calming, really absolutely brilliant! You have such a natural gift" ~ Claire

The Gift of Peacefulness

I have been busy sending out Gift Vouchers this past week .. what I consider the ultimate gift for Christmas .. peace and stillness, and the opportunity to learn the life skill of meditation!

We can make up a Quiet Mind Meditation Gift Certificate for any amount, or a particular class or workshop, or private meditation coaching .. and these can be taken up anytime during the year (till Dec 2011). Each certificate comes beautifullly presented in a gorgeous envelope and a small gift for the season.

I also have some delicious wheat bags (organic lavender, pretty fabrics, amazingly effective for keeping warm at night and alleviating sore, tired muscles : $24.99) .. a natural and healthy heating alternative.

.. also the eye pillows (gorgeous silk fabric that is cool to tired eyes, organic lavender, and great for settling 'busy' eyes, during yoga or just at times of rest : $14.99)

If you would like to order a Gift Certificate, wheat bag or eye pillow contact us here .. and we promise to beautifully wrap and send your package to you immediately (Melbourne only at this stage).

Sharing the gift of meditation : Gift Voucher

SHARE A LIFE SKILL ... SHARE THE C-A-L-MChristmas is the perfect time to gift the life skill of meditation.

Meditation is the process of deeply relaxing the body, calming the mind and awakening the senses. Meditation allows us to find the ‘pause’ button in our busy, noisy, non-stop world. Learning to relax the body when we want and in any situation is the starting point for learning meditation .. and both relaxation and meditation are invaluable skills for managing stress, supporting our health, inspiring creative thinking and developing greater focus and awareness.

A Quiet Mind Meditation Gift Voucher can be individually prepared for any value, and for any one of our scheduled programs, workshops or classes, as well as the option of a private one-on-one meditation consultation. What better gift this year than learning some tools for self-managing stress, and experiencing the wonders of stillness and calm!

Our Meditation Gift Voucher is fully transferable and available for a full year (12months) to ensure that the recipient of your precious gift has the best opportunity to join us at one of our two bayside locations .. by the beach or resting between the palm trees.

*All Meditation Gift Vouchers come beautifully packaged with a complimentary cylinder of Ganesa Incense .. the incense we use is all our classes .. made in Noosa Australia each water hyacinth container holds 20 large incense sticks with dozens of different styles available.

PURCHASING A GIFT VOUCHER
You can order a Meditation Gift Voucher by calling us on 0417 403 714 or emailing us at quietmind@dodo.com.au.

Please contact us via email or phone if you would like to discuss how we can personalise your gift voucher for the ideal Christmas gift this year : quietmind@dodo.com.au

Daily offering : Ganesa Incense

"Dawn breaks, gold and red colour the sky as the mist lifts from the valley floor. A conch sounds, a lamp is lit, the fragrant smell of incense drifts on the early morning air. Once again the universe is created, and an offering is made to the inner self of all. Ganesa incense is not just a nice fragrance, when it is lit an offering is made".

I love this incense so much that I have bought a whole basket full! .. I received a few months ago a gift from a girlfriend of this beautiful incense, wonderfully packaged in a water hyacinth container, it was 'Rainforest' .. "fresh and green uplifting and at the same time calming" .. and when I suddenly found that I had finished it all .. I just knew I had to get some more.

So today arrived my purchase of 40 containers to share with all my friends!

Keshars Special : A delicate uplifting oil to lighten the day.

Shiva : Northern Indian temple oil, Ideal for meditation.

Kathmandu : Promotes inner contemplation and peace.

Nag Champa : a classic meditation blend, inducing peace and clarity, stillness and unity. Combining 172 different oils.

Tibet : sacred incense, particularly expensive and exotic oils promoting deep meditation.

Frangipani : Soft as a ray of morning sunlight, a romantic oil, from the Islands.

Made in Noosa Australia if you would like to purchase some email me at quietmind@dodo.com.au and I will arrange to send to you. Each beautiful container holds 20 incense sticks and is $10 plus postage. Wonderful gifts to self or those you love!