Meditation for Families

Meditation for Families

By Vidhya Shailesh
SoulCentre Certified Meditation Teacher
22^nd  August 2018

Meditation is called the science of Freedom and Power. It is a science as it is logical, step-by-step and guarantees results when practiced. It is often misunderstood as a practice meant for those who wish to shun their responsibilities or those that wish to live in solitude. The truth however, is very different.

Meditation has been around for centuries and has withstood the test of time for a simple reason – It Works! Meditation is a way of life. The wisdom of meditation not just rewires your mind; it also rewires your life for the better. Why then would it be reserved for the select few? Ancient masters knew and understood the effects that meditation has on the human mind and hence prescribed it in one form or the other to every single person that approached them. Be it a child who wishes to develop deeper focus and concentration, or a teenager trying to manage their emotions or an adult who would like to create their life by choice. Meditation works for everyone, whatever stage of life they might be at or whatever state of mind they might be at.

As families, it is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. Learning to meditate together, or simply following and living by some of the wisdom and teachings of meditation, drastically improves your quality of life individually and together as a family. Meditation helps you develop greater focus and clarity. It helps you become more compassionate and loving. This inner state of wellbeing and peace finds expression even in your external life and in your environment. You find that your relationships become more harmonious. And no matter what happens in your life, you always have a way of handling it well. Meditation helps you become a solution seeker rather than being a problem seeker. Family meditation practices can help reduce anxiety and stress and promote health and happiness in busy parents and children.

Storms are the nature of the sea. Similarly storms in life are inevitable. The wisdom of meditation helps us to keep our balance and sail through the storms with ease. Be it a child, or a teenager or an adult, the wisdom applies to one and all. A family that meditates together is grounded in wisdom and more supportive of each other. Life has the ability to throw us off guard. In all the ups and down of life, it is necessary for us to have the right balance. Meditation gives us the wisdom, tools and the techniques to find this inner balance. It gives us the right mindset to sail through life. Meditation teaches us to keep our focus and have greater clarity on what we would like out of our lives.

Masters live by choice, not by chance. Meditation helps us become the masters of our own lives. When parents are well anchored in wisdom and meditation, they can guide their children well through their growing up years. Conditioning is often handed down from the parents to the children. A healthy meditation practice helps us break down conditioning and beliefs that do not serve us. It helps us instill the right skills and belief systems in our children. Each generation serves as teachers to the next. It is therefore wise to invest in ourselves so we can become better teachers for our children and the generations to come.

Here are a few ways to embrace meditation as a family:

1) Learn and practice together. Even if it is a short practice sit and do it together. Talk about how it feels and your observations.

2) Let your children watch you practice. As they watch, they will get inclined towards practicing it themselves. Talk about how you apply the wisdom on a day to day basis. Be dedicated to an everyday practice.

3) Create a little corner for meditation or set a routine perhaps a bedtime one where you meditate for a short period of time before you fall asleep each night. Simple breathing exercises, reflection on the day gone by, gratitude for what life offers are all great ways to start.

4) Start with short periods of time and gradually increase the time you sit for meditation. Expect some resistance but don’t give up. With some practice, it becomes easier.

At SoulCentre, we teach Meditation at all levels from beginner to advance. Our sessions are short, easy to learn, practical and produce results right from day one. When learnt properly, you will develop a love for the practice as you can see the results unfold in your own life. Learning to meditate is the best investment you can make for yourself.

The next Meditation Made Simple ™ program is on September 11/12/18/19. In 4 short sessions, you can learn several valuable lessons and techniques, which are guaranteed to help on an ongoing basis. To find out more, get in touch with us at info@soulcentre.org or visit http://www.soulcentre.org/events

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

Meditation: My Secret Weapon

By Mary Jo Pokorski

SoulCentre Meditation Teacher, www.soulcentre.org

8^th August 2018

Why did you want to become a teacher of meditation?

           

As I underwent my meditation classes with Vikas, I started realizing how powerful and useful this ancient teaching was. What really was amazing to me was noticing what a profound effect it had begun to have in my own life in such a very short amount of time. I started releasing my fears and no longer lived a life overshadowed by anxiety. As I was finally dropping my burdens and started standing high again, I began noticing how my fellow students were all experiencing a similar renewed passion for life and were achieving a sense of freedom. When I saw how many of us were being brought forward to live our highest life, I realized that I had to share this in my turn and help as many people as possible by becoming a teacher of meditation. 

How did you feel on conducting your first program?

           

I was beyond excited. I was sharing my passion at last. I knew that the program’s content was mind-blowing and that it would change lives.

How has the feedback been?

           

I have always had very positive feedback. People often begin thinking that meditation is something mystical and a little beyond everyday life. After undergoing the class, they look at life through fresh eyes, empowered by wisdom and practical tools that allow them to deal with anything life offers at any time.

Can you give an example of someone who’s life has changed?

One of my most heartening experiences was when a client whose partner had left them came to seek support. They had been recommended to me by another one of my students. This person came in with the weight of their world on their shoulders. Under tremendous emotional stress: overwhelming sadness, anger, worry, sense of loss, you name it. As the sessions progressed, it was touching and inspiring to see this person opening to life as they connected with the ancient wisdom of meditation and benefited from immediate effects that meditation brings. By the final session this person was able to smile and laugh again, knowing that whatever came, they would be able to address it serenely.

How has meditation helps you personally?

Meditation has been a life-changer for me. I used to be overwhelmed by emotional ups and downs. I was especially prone to crippling anxiety for years. Meditation finally gave me an effective way to free myself from all of these inner stressors, and allowed me to create inner peace, as well as a sense of freedom and stability I was craving for.

Anyone and everyone can learn Meditation.

Our Next Meditation program is on 14/15/20/21 August and our next weekend program on 29/30 September.

At SoulCentre we teach all the way from Beginner to Advanced level and many of our students decide to become Teachers of Meditation and to share the wisdom.

Please do connect with us to start your Meditation journey. You are in great hands at SoulCentre.

Click here to register on Meditation Made Simple http://www.soulcentre.org/events
Or drop us an email at info@soulcentre.org

-->

Meditation Calms my Monkey Mind

Meditation Calms my Monkey Mind

By Kenneth Ng, www.soulcentre.org

SoulCentre Certified Meditation Teacher
16th May 2018

Our minds are super machines that don’t quite rest! Once we are awake from our sleep, thousands of thoughts, both positive and negative, start flooding our mind, like a tsunami throughout the day. No wonder then, that the meditation masters refer to our mind as the ‘Monkey Mind’, that’s constantly restless, agitated and frequently exhausted too!

Thus training the mind to be peaceful and positive becomes very important. The question is, ‘how?’ Personally, meditation is the way to go for me, as it transforms the mind, making it clear, positive and liberated.

I am a trained counsellor and an avid blogger, who writes articles about positive living and life musings (talesofthepomegranates.wordpress.com). I believe that mastering one’s mind, through meditation and mindfulness practices, is an important ingredient to living life positively. However, before I started learning, I had a misconception that meditation was a religious practice, and since I am not a religious person, when I wanted to learn meditation, I decided on SoulCentre after searching extensively online, as it seems to be reliable and reputable.

True enough, SoulCentre did not disappoint me. The lessons were fun, engaging and captivating. My teacher Vikas Malkani, made every lesson (and in fact every moment) inspirational. Vikas let us learn and experience his teaching and lessons in our own way and was always there to answer our most difficult questions about life.

There were so many 'ah-ha' moments in his lessons and the wisdom Vikas taught became my reminders or even anchors in my life now. And as for Vikas, he is huge! He is full of compassion for his students and his BIG smile can comfort you in the most amazing way! (http://www.soulcentre.org/founders-details)

The more I learnt and practiced meditation, the more I came to realise that it has been grossly misunderstood. Meditation is simply a scientific and systematic practice to tame one’s mind. Meditation is a form of mind exercise, and the way to a positive and liberated mind. It should be seen as a practice tool. And when practice is anchored to wisdom, our minds become calmer, more positive and liberated. With that, we make decisions more soundly and confidently and become healthier individuals as well.

I have been practicing meditation for more than a year now and I am already experiencing the many benefits – happier, more positive thoughts, better sleep, a greater confidence and a more complete awareness and sense of self.

Being inspired by Vikas, I completed my training to become certified as a Meditation Teacher with SoulCentre.

Meditation has certainly given me a renewed appreciation of life. If you want to learn what true meditation is, and enjoy its many benefits, connect with me at:

Kenneth Ng

+65 90610716
Kenneth.ng66@gmail.com

talesofthepomegranates.wordpress.com

Meditation Teacher Training at SoulCentre

Meditation Teacher Training at SoulCentre

By Sally Forrest
Managing Director of SoulCentre, www.soulcentre.org

14th March 2018     

Sally took the opportunity recently to interview Robin Liu about his meditation journey with Vikas Malkani at SoulCentre.

She asked Robin 3 questions and his answers are very enlightening.

1) Why did you want to learn meditation?

3 years ago I was troubled by something in my life. A little voice in my mind posed a very simple question that moved me to act. That voice asked, “How’s your life today?"
I was perplexed! I started doing a soul search and realised that whilst I was doing well in my job and almost all areas in my life, something seemed to be missing. I was stressed, worried and experienced anxiety. This felt just not right and I was neither happy nor feeling fulfilled at all. That is when I embarked on a spiritual journey.

I used to meditate when I was a teenager, but somehow the everyday life had taken over and I stopped meditating. Remembering that peace and serenity that I have when I meditate, I decided to go back to the practice.

It was also around that time that I decided to visit Bhutan. That trip changed my life for good: I understood what it means to feel contented and live in balance and harmony with yourself. On one of the trips a simple quotation on the rear windscreen of a mini bus struck me at the core: “If you want to know your past, look at who you are today. If you want to know the future, look at your mind today.” It was strange, just like that little voice that asked about my life today! I knew I had to do something at that moment and discipline my mind. I knew meditation was the way to go but I also knew that what I was doing was not enough and I should learn more about meditation from a teacher to truly benefit from it. That is how I landed at SoulCentre and I immediately clicked with what Vikas taught during the preview session.

2) How has it benefited you?

Meditation has effectively calmed me down and “re-conditioned” my mind to be more focused. It is also through meditation that I have learnt to be more open minded. I choose my response to any situation instead of just reacting to it.
I have not only gained more confidence, but I also live a happier life. I have overcome my stress, worries and fears.
Through meditation, I learnt more about myself than any personality and psychometric tests I had ever taken. Meditation allows me the space and security to reach into my deepest consciousness and be truthful to myself. It makes me a better person, knowing my strengths, weaknesses, deepest fears, beliefs and desires. Through meditation, I have learnt to harness these aspects of me to achieve a balance in both my inner and outer world.

Hence, meditation has benefited me in 3 ways,

- Control my emotions and thoughts;
- Choose to respond and not react; and
- Contentment that allows me to know I am blessed, to be positive and to have a happiness that emits internally.

3) What qualities do you have as a teacher that you want to share with your students?

Having gone through that period of soul searching an encountering that life changing question “How’s your life today?”, I am now able to identify and understand what most of us are going through in life. My life has changed because of this question. Richness in life is not only about material wealth, but also about inner peace, fulfillment and happiness. 

Having achieved the 3 “C”s, Control, Choice and Contentment, through the wisdom that was taught by Vikas, I know with certainty that the system works and it will work for you too.

As a teacher in meditation, I will be able to guide and provide that support you need to grow and achieve that balance in your inner and outer world. My passion is to make a difference and see that my students will be confident to answer the question “How’s your life today?” with a strong affirmative and positive answer.

Thank you Robin, true words of wisdom.

I am confident that you will inspire many more people globally now that you are a Meditation Teacher at SoulCentre.

It’s great to see that Robin “walks the talk” and inspires everyone he meets with his calmness and wisdom.

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation & Mindfulness, and many students (and teachers) from around the world have learnt with us. We have taught over 25 different nationalities, and so we know the training and processes work across all cultures.

Vikas Malkani is the creator of our unique proprietary meditation programs, and he will personally train students to become a certified teacher.

Vikas is one of the world’s leading teachers of wisdom and meditation, who has taught leading companies and personalities, and anyone will be fortunate to have him as a guide. He is sought out by people from all over the world. 

We love to work with people who are passionate to be with us, and we grow as a wisdom family. 

If you are interested in becoming a Certified Meditation Teacher at SoulCentre, please connect with us at: info@soulcentre.org

Happiness Begins With Me

Vikas Malkani

13th September 2017

 

Every morning is special, because the past is gone, and the future is yet to happen. Only today exists. If you choose to, you can make today an opportunity to be happy, consciously, no matter what!

There is plenty of evidence to show that happiness is beneficial for health. Happiness produces endorphins within the body, which strengthen the immune system and result in overall well-being.

 

So give yourself the gift of happiness today; both your mind and body will thank you for it. Happiness is simple, when you know how.

 

Here are 5 simple tips to help you.

 

1) BE AUTHENTIC

Ask yourself some key questions - What makes you happy at work? What makes you happy at home? What do you love to do? What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?

 

You'll find that by putting your answers down on paper, they'll become clear more quickly and the actions you need to take more obvious and easier to initiate.

 

2) COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

 

We usually tell ourselves the story of what we lack, what others have that we don’t. Instead, begin every day by consciously counting your blessings and knowing the fact that you are in a better position than the majority of our world. Stay focused on your full-ness, not your empty-ness. This one practice will turn your life around.

 

3) STOP JUDGING

 

It's impossible to experience happiness when you're always judging others. Accept the truth that we are not here to judge one another. The next time you find yourself getting upset, ask, "Are you judging?" Judging others is often an unconscious habit that can be changed the moment you decide to stop doing it.

 

4) RAISE YOURSELF

 

Many people silently talk to themselves very negatively, yet they would never accept the same from a stranger, friend, or loved one. So become aware of your self-talk and if it’s negative, try this - For one week, simply commit to saying "stop" whenever you think a negative thought.

 

Carry a notepad and make a mark each time you catch yourself thinking negatively. And then, think of something you enjoy doing, something positive. You'll find that as the days go by, your negative thinking can quickly be reduced.

 

5) FOLLOW FUN

 

Fun is good. It's what children do naturally. Why do we stop pursuing fun as we get older?

 

Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a few weeks of vacation each year, while the rest of our life continues to be drudgery. And it shouldn't be squeezed into the last chapter of your life either, when you "get to" retire. Fun should be a daily experience!

 

But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life. The wise know - happiness and fun are the reasons for living, not the symptom of it. Fun deserves to be a part of your life today, and forever.

 

Adopt this as a new rule – Follow Your Fun!

 

In my best-selling book The Little Manual of Happiness, I write “Happiness is now, or never!” Well, you can be happy now, as you read these words, or you can wait.

 

This is the perfect moment to be happy; in fact this is the only moment you’ll ever have. Happiness is a choice, and it begins with you.

 

So why delay? Choose to be happy today.

 

SoulCentre is Asia’s Premier Centre for Meditation, Mindfulness & Stress-Management.

 

For details & dates of our meditation programs, connect to www.soulcentre.org/events