From the Salmon Arm Observer:

Our undisciplined minds are running our lives, but with a little meditation, we can shift the balance.

Namaste Yoga and Wellness Centre instructor Nancy Whitticase said the best times to meditate are early in the morning and later at night. She said the hour-long classes being offered Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. will explore several different types of meditation.

“Meditation has been part of the practice of yoga for 5,000 years.”

Whitticase said people can be drawn to meditation because they are stressed, have an overactive mind, are basically unhappy or need help with addictions.

“Meditation helps to slow the mind down,” said Whitticase. “It is simply the accumulation of concentration.”

She said whatever the object of that concentration is, the effect of meditation is the slowing of brainwaves in the mind. Whitticase said the techniques help people to live more in the present. She pointed out when people begin to meditate, they don’t usually realize they don’t have to act on every thought.

“People who meditate on a regular basis tend to be calmer, more happy, they’re less reactive. You can watch your thoughts, and step outside your thoughts. When you’re meditating, thoughts are going to come and thoughts are going to go.”

Whitticase commented she ran into one student on the street not long after the student had begun meditation, who said she did not realize she did not have to believe everything she was thinking.

“We have very undisciplined minds,” laughed Whitticase.

She commented that people are lucky if they can concentrate on a single thing for more than a few seconds. She said our undisciplined minds are running our lives, but what is happening in the world is independent of our thoughts.

“The path to inner peace is inward,” said Whitticase. “It’s not this external quest for happiness.”

She said people have constantly wanting minds that consider they will be happy when they get a bigger house, a different car or a new job. To Whitticase, happiness is a change in thinking and attitude.

“If happiness is a state of mind, then obviously it’s an inside job.”

Whitticase said the classes are new to Salmon Arm, although there are some good meditation groups in town. Namaste Yoga and Wellness Centre is located at 201 - 310 Hudson Ave., and Whitticase can be reached at 250-832-3647.

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