Not too long and I don't have a formal practice but looking back I guess I always have in one way or another been doing it. Whether it's listening to music alone or taking the dogs for a walk I think it's important to be in a contemplative state of mind -- not lost in the future or the past but being aware of the present. Constant contemplation is a way of being in the world whereas meditation can become compartmentalised. Of course it still has its benefits.hnrk303 wrote:@del
sounds interesting. for how long have you been meditating? how did you work your way into it? and how often do you meditate?
well autogenic training involves simple relaxation and body awareness exercises. These reduce the intensity of the body's stress response, and replace it with a calmer physiological state in which self-healing naturally begins to occur.
The basic AT exercises focus on various physical manifestations of relaxation in the body: heaviness in the musculo-skeletal system and warmth in the circulatory system. These are followed by awareness of the heartbeat, breathing, the abdomen and a cool forehead.
Advanced AT excercises contain visualisations of object like boxes, triangles etc.
Its said that it takes like a year to learn it.
Those AT exercises you mentioned just sound to me like meditation, if not a more slightly complicated version. I find watching the breath, following it in and out is sufficient (mindfulness with breathing). It almost sounds too easy? Try it. It's not easy but it becomes easier with practice (as does everything).
) I use the Paul Mckenna's hypnotherapy cd's which puts me in a really relaxed state. Considering I become really agitated when I make music it helps quite a bit. I also take breaks every couple of hours or so, but never thought about meditating at those times. Will certainly try it!! 