What is meditation?

Meditation is a natural human activity in which we take time to notice the way our mind works and contact our hearts. It offers a practical way of becoming more calm, clear and alive to our moment-to-moment experience. Through the practice of simple meditation techniques, we can cultivate awareness, happiness and confidence. At our Brockwell Lido meditation classes we teach the Mindfulness of Breathing, Metta Bhavana (loving kindness) and Walking meditations. These simple but profound practices are rooted in the Buddhist tradition and were first taught over two thousand years ago.

The practices we teach

Mindfulness of Breathing: This meditation practice uses awareness of our natural breath to calm the mind and relax the body. It can be easily learned and practiced and is suitable for anyone who feels that they could benefit from an increased sense of spaciousness and tranquillity in their lives.

Metta Bhavana: This meditation practice helps us to contact our hearts and encourage a feeling of loving kindness towards others and ourselves. It is a meditation that engages our imagination and offers a different perspective on how we relate to ourselves and the world.

Walking meditation: Walking meditation teaches us how to bring an increased awareness into our everyday activities. It is particularly useful for those who have a busy mind and feel restless when they try to practice sitting meditation.

Recommended books

Change Your Mind, Paramananda (Windhorse Publications).

A Deeper Beauty, Paramananda (Windhorse Publications).

Meditation: the Buddhist Way of Tranquillity and Insight, Kamalashila (Windhorse Publications).

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Shunryu Suzuki (Weatherhill Inc.)