FREE: 7 Day Meditation Video Course
Seven Easy Steps to Meditation
with Linda Hall
Seven Easy Steps to Meditation offers a simple introduction
to learning to meditate. It aims to bring meditation alive
for you as a powerful set of life skills that can support
your recovery, maintain your health and provide you with
an enriching resource which will stay with you for life.
Each
short video lasts about four minutes and looks at a different
aspect of meditation and its relevance to your health
and well-being. Its approach is down-to-earth and non-religious
and presents meditation as something you can easily use
in your day-to-day life. The language is easy to understand
and simply explains what happens during meditation, using
some basic mind/body awareness and simple psychology.
The video course is completely free to
sign up for, and each day for seven days you will receive
a 4-5 minute video.
Click
here to register for the course.
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Are you aware of the benefits of meditation,
but struggle to keep to a daily practice?
Do you roughly know how to meditate, but could do with some
more expert guidance?
And, what difference would it make if you could learn from
someone who not only teaches meditation, but has also recovered
from M.E.?
Dear reader,
Many of our patients at the clinic are only too aware of the benefits
of meditation. And, it is something we regularly allude to
in our treatments, but rarely have the time to teach in any real
detail. For a long time we have been thinking about how we
can help our patients to experience the extraordinary benefits of
meditation, and I think we’ve now found an extremely exciting
way…
What is meditation?
Broadly speaking, meditation is a relaxed, centred state of awareness
and connectedness: a place of being in the here and now. During
meditation, brain wave patterns slow, taking us into a pleasant,
light day-dreaming state which induces overall well-being. Our muscles
relax, digestion improves, heart rate lowers, breathing slows and
deepens and we produce mood-enhancing endorphins.
What are the benefits?
- Meditation is well known to be a really effective way to manage
stress. As we enter this relaxed but aware state of being
in the moment, the everyday thinking part of our brain takes a
back seat; released from the busy chatter of our mind we create
a space for ourselves in which to re-balance and re-charge.
- Meditation provides a gentle means for self-development.
By putting us in touch with our natural resources, we are able
to find balance, perspective and support within ourselves.
We need balance, perspective and support in order to function
healthily – both on a personal and social level. With
these in place, we can begin to relate better to ourselves and
others.
- Whatever our belief system, meditation also provides us with
an opportunity to explore the spiritual side to our nature.
This can be extremely life affirming, and help us to deal with
the psychological and physical challenges that come with ill-health.
What are the benefits of meditating in a group?
Meditating in a group creates a feeling of being held supportively
by others; this is especially important, as M.E. may sometimes cause
us to feel isolated and misunderstood. Also, sharing feedback
can be empowering and enriching, as hearing experiences similar
to our own reassures us and provides us with an opportunity to learn
from each other.
Linda Hall BA, MTI, dip TH Dip.Clin.Hyp.NLP.Coach.EFT
Born in 1952, Linda’s original vocation was as an artist.
In 1993 she moved into the complementary health-care field and trained
in holistic massage. She expanded her skills by training for
several years to complete her diploma in therapeutic healing, followed
by a one year course in counselling. After being made an associate
teacher of the Rowan School of Healing in 2001, she started to teach
meditation in her professional practice as a self-help and self-development
tool. She loves this aspect of her work, and a large part
of her time nowadays involves running meditation courses, on-going
groups and one-to-one tuition. She is in the process
of writing a book called ‘Meditation without trying’,
and her article ‘Meditation – a way of life’ was
published in Positive Health Magazine in 2004. Linda qualified
as an NLP practitioner with the Optimum Health Clinic in 2006 and
completed her diploma in advanced clinical hypnotherapy and NLP
in 2008. She, herself, had ME for eight and a half years,
during which time meditation provided her with a huge source of
support, and was an important part of the picture of her eventual
recovery early in 2007.
Linda's website can be found at: www.resourcefulnessmeditation.com
Linda’s approach
Linda has a down-to-earth style that makes understanding the process
of meditation accessible, interesting and fun. Her approach
is a synthesis of Western psychology and Eastern philosophies and
is not aligned to any religion. As well as observing
the benefits of meditation in the management of her own health,
she draws from her many years of experience as a body-worker and
healer. Linda’s knowledge of the body/mind connection
and its link with the nervous system’s stress response is
particularly useful with ME. She sees meditation as a way
to learn fundamental life skills, and importantly, as a means to
develop a connection with our spiritual self.
The Format
The format of this group is going to be especially exciting.
Because patients of the clinic are based in different locations
all over the world, these groups are going to be run via conference
calls. For those of you who are members of www.SecretsToRecovery.com
you will already be familiar with one way of using conference calls.
The difference with these groups is that everyone on the call will
be able to speak, and therefore the groups will be fully interactive.
The groups will run over eight weekly sessions, and some of the
topics being covered will include:
- The importance of ‘grounding’ in meditation, and
its role generally in health and well-being.
- The body/mind connection – the power of suggestion and
the importance of healthy inner dialogue.
- How less can be more – letting go of expectations and
going with the flow.
- Being in the present moment – using natural resources
in the ‘here and now’ to support us.
- The role of the ‘witness’ in meditation, and the
art of mindfulness in daily life.
- Creating positive resources – affirmations and mantras.
- Meditation skills as simple life skills – taking
them into everyday life.
- Setting up a regular practice.
The cost of these sessions will be £120 for eight sessions
(cost of telephone calls is not included, and will be around £3
per session). And, for this price, students will also receive
e-mail support from Linda, along with a number of resources to support
their meditation practice. To ensure individual attention,
and a sense of support space for sharing, groups will be limited
to ten people. Participants will be encouraged to connect
with each other outside the sessions. Sessions will be one
hour and fifteen minutes, and will include a combination of teaching,
guided meditations, and discussions.
Resource
1:
An Introduction to Meditation – A CD interview
with Alex Howard and Linda Hall
In this interview, Linda discusses how meditation is particularly
helpful for people with ME. She dispels some myths about meditation,
revealing that it is a natural practice and does not require
special skills. She explains the practise of ‘mind-fullness’
and its use in daily life, and how all meditation skills can
be used as life skills. She also talks about the importance
of grounding and being in the present moment in order to maintain
health and well-being, and how these two meditation skills
are powerful stress busters. Finally, outlines
what she sees are the three keys to meditation: intention,
awareness and focus and how all meditative states flow from
these simple acts. |
Resource
2:
Meditations for Life – Three meditations on
CD by Linda Hall, to help practice between group sessions
and beyond
Track 1: Connecting to the present moment
Track 2: Connecting with Ground
Track 3: Connectnig with the Whole
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Resource
3: A CD recording of Linda’s Secrets
to Recovery interview, where she discusses the symptoms
of her illness, the main factors attributing to her getting
ill and what led to her recovery. She explains how meditation
not only acted as a primary support during the years of her
illness, both physically and psychologically, but, also, how
it proved a powerful resource in her journey towards healing
her life. |
Resource
4: A free support manual entitled 'Meditation
For Life', which includes : 'The first steps ’,
some simple body/mind awareness exercises to help you understand
how you ‘operate in the world’, and how meditation
can help you establish healthier patterns. |
If you’d like to join the group, please contact Linda directly
at Linda@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com
to confirm the next available dates and times. Groups run both during
the day and early evening.
To reserve your place on the course and for payment details, please
contact Linda by sending an e-mail to Linda@TheOptimumHealthClinic.com
Kind regards,
Alex Howard
P.S. In case you are still not quite sure if meditation is right
for you… here are some comments from previous students that
have attended Linda’s courses:
What a pleasure it is to do a course where you
feel you are getting a massage for your mind, body and soul, the
method of teaching meditation is so accessible. I hadn't
realised what a profound effect it would have on my health:
I am sleeping better, have more energy and my cystitis is 95%
gone. I have gained in confidence, my ability to observe emotions
and not become so attached has increased, and my anxiety has gone.
Elaine, Surrey
My mind became a lot calmer. I started to really get
in touch with how my body was feeling and whether a particular
activity was appropriate that day. The mental tennis over
whether or not to do an activity was no longer needed,
I just knew what felt right. The course also allowed
me to learn how to support myself and how to find that inner
strength when dealing with difficult situations around me.
I used to worry about everything and now I am learning how to
go with the flow of life - and it is so much more enjoyable.
The course is has been so much more to me than learning meditation,
it has imparted life skills which I find invaluable on a daily
basis. My recovery has definitely been enhanced and
I have learnt skills which I will be able to use for the
rest of my life.
Teresa Elliot, Warwick
This really is the very best thing I've done (and I've done
lot) in the 14 years ME has been in my life.
Anna Barclay, Yorkshire
Linda has a wonderful empathy and understanding,
not only of M.E. but of the whole human condition.
Jinny Burrows, Buckinghamshire
Linda has a wealth of experience and combines a variety of techniques
and traditions in a way that is deeply healing for those with
M.E/CFS etc. Her voice is warm, genuine and nurturing and she
offers much down to earth wisdom that you can use on a daily basis.
I also made a good contact and 'buddy' through this course so
am even richer for the experience.
Sarena Mason, Somerset
I am able to focus down into my body and
become aware what is going on and allow it to be as it is.
What a wonderful thing! I feel really happy. I am OK with
who I am and where I am in my life. I know that the meditation
has put me in a place of peace and contentment. I am looking forward
to witnessing all the other benefits that may be heading my way
from this daily settling of my mind.Thank you Linda, you have
taught me how to meditate as I can and not as I can't.
Pauline McLeod, London
l feel that it is going to be a significant
part of my healing journey. It has helped me get out of
the constantly anxious ‘tired but wired’ state I had
been trapped in for a while.
Di Good, Sussex
I've finally managed to walk as far as the
village post-box for the first time in years... I've been making
so many improvements since I started your course, and am so much
more relaxed, it's wonderful.
Kate G, Dover
And now for a small miracle.....last Friday
I went to Laura Ashley for the first time ever!!
Carole Balfe, Grantham
I am meditating one to two times a day and
really miss it when I don’t get to. I feel the
meditation techniques have been a huge influence of my recovering
rapidly from ME.
Gary Gill, London.
Once again many thanks for your tuition,
you create athmosphere where it is really easy to be yourself
and learn new skills; skills I can also pass on to others.
Christopher Shorter, Yorkshire
I feel I have learnt new skills and gained
a new perspective which is helping me to feel more able to cope
with life, to feel more confident and stronger. It has also
helped me to get in touch with myself, giving me a greater
sense of being a whole and integrate person
Richard Kaines, Glos
I just wanted to say thank you for a lovely
session today. I found it so helpful, practical wise and supportive.
I could feel my body coming down several notches and that felt such
a blessed wonderful relief, the way you taught the grounding was
just right for me. I thoroughly enjoyed doing the meditation
CD, I particularly like the way you talk about using the natural
resources around you, I find this tremendously reassuring and supportive
Lucy Saunders, Bristol
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the
session – I felt so relaxed afterwards and quite surprised
to feel energised. I cannot relax at all at the moment and
hence the sleep is back to the odd hour. However, there was certainly
an improvement in my sleep last night, and I’ve no doubt it
was due to the relaxation at lunchtime.
Also, we had to leave this morning for a 250 round trip to the dentist
and I was very stressed by the time we left – consequently
the fast driving stressed me even further and I was frightened a
panic attack was imminent. I even thought of asking my husband
to turn back for home ... then I remembered what you told us yesterday
, so meditated on the connection with earth and actually relaxed
myself. I was thrilled to feel better so thank you so much.
I’ve already learned so much. Looking forward to next week.
Ann Hardwick, Hartlepool
I thought the Meditation CDs were great.
I have been meditating for a few years now but have always found
it difficult to quieten my mind, although it has still calmed my
system down. Putting the emphasis on the body rather than
a mantra has really helped me over the last few days to achieve
a greater level of stillness in my mind. Thank you.
Teresa Elliot, Warwickshire
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