Ever thought of beginning a meditative practice that involves more than just focus? The two options that stand out are Hatha Yoga and Tai Chi. Yoga has seen a massive rise in popularity in the West and is fairly easily accessible in terms of studios, gym classes, videos and books. 




Tai Chi has not seen the same growth, but is slowly becoming more available to the average curious Westener. In most cases, it is less physically taxing than Yoga, and is more meditative in that one does not spend most of the hour or so huffing and puffing and wobbling about. The movements emphasize control and fluidity and it really is a beautiful art. A site that has helped us here at SheerMind is Tai Chi for Beginners.net. You'll find videos, written instruction and a lot of general wisdom.

With Ischaemic Heart Disease (reduced blood flow through the heart) being the leading cause of death in the world (WHO), it makes sense for us to pursue activities that can lead to the strengthening and health of the heart.

While most exercise, conducted in a sensible manner, will lead to a healthier heart, the added component of relaxation and stress management offered by Hatha Yoga - the stretchy type that most of us think of when the word yoga pops up - makes it the perfect option for those looking for a fun low impact, non-competitive way to get fit. For more on how yoga can give you a boost, visit Yoga-Research.com.

A recent review of published studies of mindfulness based therapies and the relative health benefits was carried out by Dr. W. Marchand  the University of Utah. With a focus on Zen Meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), strong evidence exists supporting the use of these therapies for a wide spectrum of issues such as stress, depression, anxiety, various medical illnesses, as well as pain itself.

A nice summary of the study can be found at Science Daily.

It is in itself extraordinary that I have not yet come across results regarding any study of meditation and mindfulness that have been against these practices.

For any reason you may have at all, motivation to meditate never hurt . There are few activities we are fortunate enough to participate in that have so many benefits with more being found as the research continues. In5d.com have posted a wonderful list of some of these benefits,  100 Reasons to Meditate. It may be a great idea to keep a copy of this nearby, the constant reminding will almost definitely change your life.

This comprehensive text, by the Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, is a must read for every person from those even vaguely interested in mindfulness to those who are mastering some of the more subtle aspects of their mind. Dealing with everything from reasons to practice through to philosophy and exercises for practice this will definitely answer any questions the reader may have. The friendliest, yet most thorough read I have yet encountered on the topic of mindfulness. Available completely free of charge as a .pdf or .epub file thanks to Urban Dharma, there is no reason at all not to do yourself the favour and get stuck right into Mindfulness in Plain English. 

From the wonderful site Researchingmeditation.org, we came across this blog about the cross-cultural links of meditation. If you are into breadth of facts and in-depth research that is not excruciatingly difficult to read, this is the site for you. This particular blog talks about the origins and differences between the multitude of meditative practices that are out there, from the more popular Eastern traditions to the less well known Christian practices.

Making meditation fun sounds quite difficult. If you have ever tried to meditate consistently you will know that some days you gravitate towards it out of a sense of duty, some days for relaxation, but very rarely for fun.  This post from Tiny Buddha helps us out with some techniques that can help us stay focused and enjoy every minute. Check it out and enhance your practice!

Earlier this year, the BBC's David Sillito investigated why mindfulness meditation has become so popular. This short video from the BBC website shows the effect of mindfulness meditation on the brain, using MRI scans. Amazing stuff!

We here at SheerMind have recently begun the exploration of Tai Chi, as it is touted as a moving meditation with many health benefits. It has been a wonderful journey so far, with the ten or so minutes of daily practice becoming a necessary daily routine. 




This is a very deep art, with much philosophy and technical knowledge that accompanies its practice. That being said, it is very beginner friendly and is a journey that will captivate you from start to never finishing! This study from the University of South Florida and Fudan University displays research of some of the health benefits that can be derived from this art. Apart from all of that, it is just downright fun!

Have a look at this flash mob meditation held in London in April 2012. This has got to be a wonderful experience!