Peace Through Meditation

Individuals who struggle with conditions linked to stress, such as insomnia, often benefit from meditation. Molly Herbert*, 33, a journalist at The New York Times, suffered from insomnia for 10 years. “My mind is so strong that I can outthink sleeping pills,” she says. “I lie awake thinking and end up drained, strained and more stressed than before.” After just two sessions of meditation, she was able to rate her sleep as eight on a scale of one to 10. “I now sleep more deeply than ever before,” she notes.

So many health benefits stem from the stress-reduction benefits of meditating that instructors and alternative-health practitioners often suggest it as a treatment for illness. It is important to note, Lazar says, that most reputable teachers agree that meditation is considered complementary, not alternative, treatment. “Meditation alone is usually not enough to treat significant diseases, and so should be used in addition to whatever the doctor prescribes,” she says.

How to Begin Meditating

The first step in mediation is creating a quiet space. “It can be helpful to have a small space dedicated to meditation, perhaps just a quiet corner of a room,” says Joseph Goldstein, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society and author of A Heart Full of Peace.“ It can be a reminder to us in the midst of a busy day to take a little time to go inward, to calm the mind and collect the attention.” Imagine inhaling the gentle scent of incense, hearing the sounds of relaxing music and seeing the soft cushions of your sacred mediation space. It can be a whole room or a small corner. Robert O’Neal, 46, an artist from Staten Island who meditates, says, “It’s important to make space, to create an altar, some part of your house that is dedicated to your practice. Every time you enter this place you are reminded, or anchored, to the feeling of sacredness.”

Creating rituals such as lighting incense or a candle, or chanting, can also be of help to people as they begin meditating. “Ritual can be helpful to create a routine, and to prepare the body and mind that this is the time for meditation," says Arjuna Ardagh, author of Leap Before You Look: 72 Shortcuts for Getting Out of Your Mind and into the Moment. He believes that while rituals can enhance the experience, no one should feel they must develop them. Do what feels right for you. Setting up the environment that makes you feel most comfortable and willing to return to the practice is more important than exactly what you use in your space.