a mediation practice can be done anywhere and anytime

Everybody needs a sanctuary, a place to rest and renew. The beauty of meditation — a proven and profound form of self-care for mind and body — is that almost anytime, anywhere, you can access that place of restorative calm.

Yet for some, meditation sounds mysterious or intimidating, probably because of some common misconceptions: that it’s dry or boring or “too spiritual”; that it’s an esoteric practice for those operating on some higher, more rarefied plane.

Yes, meditation is an ancient spiritual practice — one that cuts across different religions and many different traditions. But what it boils down to — however it’s practiced and whatever form it takes — is this: To meditate simply means to rest in moments of appreciative, exquisite attentiveness. Moments that allow us to savor the experience of living and that make us feel both deeply calm and deeply alert, in tune both with our self and with the world around us. Moments we come away from feeling refreshed, renewed, and engaged. Meditation is a way of communing with spirit.

meditate under tree

We all know how to meditate; it’s an instinctive ability. If you’ve ever been deliciously absorbed gazing at the flow of a river, the dance of a fire, or the twinkle of stars, you’ve enjoyed meditative moments. And you can create those moments almost anywhere at any time. If you have a favorite place in your home in which to meditate, that’s wonderful. But you can meditate just as effectively sitting at your desk or on a park bench, or lying in the grass. The fact is, the juicier and more sensual you let meditation be, the more you will get out of it.

Meditating on a daily basis is easy. Give yourself a space of time — 10 to 20 minutes morning and afternoon, or if that’s not possible, a few minutes here and there throughout the day. Set your Bamboo Zen Meditation Timer for a at least 5 minutes.  Choose a pleasing, peaceful focus for attention — sensations, such as the flow of your breath; a sound you make, such as ahhh; or a visual image, such as waves coming to shore. This is your home base. Lightly focus your attention, and when your mind wanders off, gently come back to home base. Minds wander — a lot. So go easy on yourself and accept the process.

Although meditation can be done in almost any context, practitioners usually employ a quiet, tranquil space, a meditation cushion or bench, and some kind of timing device to time the meditation session.  Ideally, the more these accoutrements can be integrated the better.  Thus, it is conducive to a satisfying meditation practice to have a timer or clock that is tranquil and beautiful.  Using a kitchen timer or beeper watch is less than ideal.  And it was with these considerations in mind that we designed our digital Zen Alarm Clock and practice timer.  This unique “Zen Clock” features a long-resonating acoustic chime that brings the meditation session to a gradual close, preserving the environment of stillness while also acting as an effective time signal.

adapted from Body + Soul Magazine, June 2005 by Lorin Roche and Camille Maurine

Bamboo yoga and meditation timer, designed especially for meditation practitioners

Now & Zen’s Chime Timer and Alarm Clock Store

1638 Pearl Street

Boulder, CO  80302

(800) 779-6383