Have you tried meditating? Did it work for you? How can you try meditation again – and have it work for you this time – and use “grounding” to deepen the meditative benefits?
In this podcast episode, Lisa Lewis speaks about nature’s healing and meditation for anxiety relief and inflammation reduction with Ann Swanson.
Meet Ann Swanson
Ann Swanson teaches meditation to busy people with busy minds. She is the author of the bestselling book SCIENCE OF YOGA, which has been translated into over 15 languages. Her new book, Meditation for the Real World, illuminates the fascinating science behind meditation with step-by-step practices to find peace in everyday life. However, Ann wasn’t a naturally “chill person,” and meditation didn’t come easy to her. Overcoming chronic pain and anxiety led her to India to study yoga, to China to explore tai chi, and, ultimately, to earn a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy. Now, Ann blends cutting-edge research with ancient wisdom, resulting in realistic techniques you’ll find yourself integrating into your day! Order her new book at MeditationForTheRealWorld.com for exclusive bonuses available to our listeners.
Visit Ann’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
FREEBIE: Order Meditation for the Real World for exclusive bonuses, including science-backed guided meditations with music engineered to optimize your brain waves.
IN THIS PODCAST:
- How meditation can reduce inflammation and anxiety
- Ann’s advice for “I tried mediation – it’s too difficult for me”
- Why it’s important to listen to the body
- The power of grounding
- Ann’s advice to listeners
How meditation can reduce inflammation and anxiety
Before Ann started her career in the science of meditation, she suffered a lot from stress and chronic inflammation, which led to physical pain and discomfort.
All the benefits of meditation can be enhanced, and some of the ways in which we can enhance it is through nature! … If we look at it, that’s what we’re supposed to do, which is meditate in nature.
Ann Swanson
Meditation has a plethora of benefits, such as:
- Helping to improve your immune system
- Reducing inflammation throughout the body
- Reducing cortisol levels
- Lowering the chance of developing chronic illnesses
In essence, a consistent meditation practice keeps you “steady” on all levels, like physical, mental, and emotional.
In identical twin studies, they have come to the conclusion that lifestyle may be well over 90% of your likelihood of getting these … You know, if you can reduce inflammation [through lifestyle changes] and improve your mental health, your genes are not going to express those negative outcomes as often. It helps you on a genetic level, so it’s amazing what we’re seeing in the science of meditation.
Ann Swanson
Ann’s advice for “I tried mediation – it’s too difficult for me”
A lot of people don’t meditate because they tried it once or twice and it didn’t “work” for them as they imagine it should have. People may feel like their thoughts are too much and that they “failed” at quieting the mind, and therefore have failed to meditate.
It’s kind of a misconception of the definition of meditation … We think that meditation is just the act of focusing on the focal point the teacher gives you … Whatever the focal point is, we think that’s the meditation, but it’s actually a cycle.
Ann Swanson
The cycle of meditation;
- The focal point (like focusing on your breath, the sounds around you, the feeling of your body)
- This sustained focus only lasts for a few seconds, and then your mind will inevitably wander, which happens for everyone! This is one of the steps of meditation
- The third step is noticing that our mind has wandered from what we are focusing on, and that is what is important to develop, the ability to notice our thoughts and reactions from a neutral point of view
- Then, redirect back to that first focal point
We’re practicing this skill of coming back to presence – that’s meditation! That’s the whole process!
Ann Swanson
Why it’s important to listen to the body
Many people feel uncomfortable, in pain, or avoid “feeling” their body through a self-awareness practice like meditation when they suffer from anxiety or inflammation since it can be painful.
However, in most cases, the pain is your body trying to send you a signal.
Ultimately, the reason the body is in pain is because it has a message. Ironically, body awareness meditation helps you to listen to it and it changes the pain to sensation, and to awareness, and then you’re able to catch it early on when it’s a whisper rather than a yell.
Ann Swanson
With acute anxiety, it’s helpful to actually focus on something externally for a moment since getting overly self-conscious about your anxiety attack is likely to make the anxiety worse.
Rather, notice what is around you, what you see, or what you hear. Or, you can even use a meditation visualization practice.
The power of grounding
Research studies show that having direct contact with the earth has positive physical and mental health benefits.
It sounded woo-woo when I first heard about this but then I dove into the research and [there] are actually quite legitimate journals exploring this concept because we see profound benefits of people physically touching earth. Like, take your shoes off and do a walking meditation in your backyard … Sit down on a beach towel or on the grass and place your bare feet on the ground.
Ann Swanson
Put yourself in contact with the earth, either by walking barefoot on grass or soil or clay, swimming in rivers or the sea, or lying down outside on your back, any of these and more will all bring you powerful healing and soothing benefits.
It sounds so simple, but it does make a profound difference! Some of the benefits include;
- Less inflammation
- Less anxiety and depression
- A reduction in blood sugar spikes
This is called “grounding” or “earthing” and you can utilize these in your meditation practice.
Ann’s advice to listeners
You CAN meditate! It’s just about finding the meditation system that works for you and in the situation that you are in.
RESOURCES MENTIONED AND USEFUL LINKS
BOOK | Ann Swanson – Meditation for the Real World: Finding Peace in Everyday Life
BOOK| Ann Swanson – Science of Yoga: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Perfect Your Practice
Visit Ann’s website and connect on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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ABOUT THE SENSITIVE IN NATURE PODCAST
So you’ve been told that you’re “too sensitive” and perhaps you replay situations in your head. Wondering if you said something wrong? You’re like a sponge, taking in every word, reading all situations. Internalizing different energies, but you’re not sure what to do with all of this information. You’re also not the only one asking yourself, “am I ok?” Lisa Lewis is here to tell you, “It’s totally ok to feel this way.”
Join Lisa, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, as she hosts her, Am I Ok? Podcast. With over 20 years of education, training, and life experience, she specializes in helping individuals with issues related to being an empath and a highly sensitive person.
Society, and possibly your own experiences, may have turned your thinking of yourself as being a highly sensitive person into something negative. Yet, in reality, it is something that you can – and should – take ownership of. It’s the sixth sense to fully embrace, which you can harness to make positive changes in your life and in the lives of others.
This may all sound somewhat abstract, but on the Am I Ok? Podcast, Lisa shares practical tips and advice you can easily apply to your own life. Lisa has worked with adults from various backgrounds and different kinds of empaths, and she’s excited to help you better connect with yourself. Are you ready to start your journey?