Passions: Spotlight on Meditation
Contributed by Jillian Lavender
Late nights, endless meetings, weekend work, constant packing and unpacking for business trips (and then catching up afterwards), the inbox that never goes down, the reading pile that keeps on growing…
Sound familiar?
This was my world for many years as divisional CEO of a global publishing company. Though the work was exciting and rewarding, I constantly felt tired. My body was straining with the effects of jetlag, my digestion was off because of all the erratic meals and late night business dinners and I had a background sense of being overwhelmed by the never ending grind.
There was only so much of this completely unsustainable lifestyle I could handle – physically and emotionally. I finally reached my limit. The kicker was when I realized I didn’t enjoy the work anymore. I didn’t want to go into the office. I didn’t want to take one more long haul flight. And at the same time my body was giving me some pretty clear signals that it had had enough too.
So I looked around for a way to get the balance I craved. That was how I came to meditation. I had hit the “bad enough” saturation point and I was open (perhaps, desperate) for change.
I went along to an introductory talk on Vedic Meditation. I was so impressed by the teachings and the positive impact that it could have on my life that right after the lecture ended, I signed myself up for the course. The changes were immediate. The benefits affected every aspect of my life, yet it was a natural, easy and highly portable skill, which meant that I didn’t have to turn my life upside down, start wearing saffron robes or sit in a contorted position!
When you practice Vedic Meditation, you sit easily with the eyes closed for 20 minutes twice a day. The beauty of it is you can do it anywhere – perfect for those long haul flights!
Each time you meditate, your body rests deeply – deeper than sleep. You throw off stress and fatigue and actually start to accumulate rest. After I started practicing, I immediately felt more calm, less anxious, my sleep improved and I noticed how much more productive I was. My body responded like a flower that hasn’t been watered for weeks that suddenly gets a drink. My energy levels went up, my back stopped aching and my skin had a glow that I hadn’t noticed for years. And it wasn’t just me who noticed. People around me commented on how well I looked and how happy and grounded I seemed.
Meditation became an invaluable tool for me to deal with the demands of my busy life. Now it’s like brushing my teeth – I simply cannot imagine skipping it for a day.
Over time, I realized this technique was something I needed to share with others. So, after many years of practicing meditation, I left the corporate world to train to become a teacher of Vedic Meditation. I now spend my time taking this knowledge into organizations and corporations to help other executives eliminate stress and regain balance in their lives. And in doing so, I found by own balance.
Jillian Lavender is a co-founder of London Meditation Centre. The centre is based in London and regular courses are offered in NYC. Check out the website to see the upcoming course schedule:www.londonmeditationcentre.com
I’m really glad Jillian’s written about meditation for The Glass Hammer. Coincidentally, I’ve taken her course and found it a lifeline for everyday living, but particularly so during stressful times (as a working mother of four children, I do stressful rather a lot). The actual practice becomes part of your day, and you find yourself looking forward to doing it. When I was working on a project in the City of London, I used to meditate on commuter trains – on the way to work and again on my way home. That way my family got the calmer, more level and serene ‘me’ while I was at home, rather than the exhausted, stressed-out unhappy harridan I was when I didn’t meditate!
This is an excellent article by Jillian on the benefits of Vedic Meditation. I had the pleasure of meeting Jillian on a Meditation Retreat in 2007. I found her to be very personable, with a deep interest in all aspects of meditation and Vedic knowledge. The meditation taught by Jillian is a profound and wonderful practice which is free from religious overtones. It is simple and easy to do and gives immediate benefits. All I can say, is go ahead and learn it, as you will have a lifelong technique that will support you like no other.