Be honest and ask yourself… what mental picture do you think of when you first hear the word – meditation? Do you flashback to the 60’s when lava lamps and tie-dye t-shirts were the rage or do you imagine a tranquil, Zen-like setting for personal centeredness? Most people have an opinion or preconceived notion of what meditation is but rarely consider its benefits for themselves.
So, let’s set the record straight – meditation is the written or spoken expression of thoughts on a subject, typically intended for the purpose of reaching a higher spiritual awareness. Since the art of meditation can help clear the “mental clutter” that prevents you from reaching your full potential, the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is dedicating our second Wellness Wednesdays session to address the subject.
Set for Wednesday, March 15, at 12:15 p.m., the OAFP’s 45-minute Wellness Wednesdays series is dedicated to teaching different types of healthy techniques and practices that will help you become more focused on the most important patient – you.
Meditative rituals are part of religious practices but can also be done individually to become more self-aware. The inability to stay centered and to spend a disproportioned amount of time on the past and the future can lead to stress, anxiety, frustration, depression, and escapism in unhealthy behaviors.
“It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to meditate and that it can be done individually or with a group. Most people think of meditation in the traditional sense of finding quite time and participating in self-reflection,” said Nelson Heise, clinical director at the Ohio Physicians Health Program and the facilitator of the OAFP’s Wellness Wednesdays program. “This activity can be a great experience for self-discovery and self-awareness but meditation can happen anywhere. Great opportunities to meditate include during your commute to work, while listening to music, while exercising, or simply put, wherever you can give your mind the time to slow down, reflect, and contemplate,” explained Mr. Heise.
Meditation can bring a sense of calmness, peacefulness, balance, as well as new insights and clarity. Some of the health benefits of meditation include reduced stress, improved concentration, increased acceptance, improved happiness, and self-awareness as well as supporting cardiovascular and immune health.
So leave your incense at home and start your meditative journey with us during the Wellness Wednesdays program. Space is still available to participate and is free to OAFP members—register today!
If you have questions about the Wellness Wednesdays series, please contact Deputy Executive Vice President Kate Mahler, CAE, or call 800.742.7327