Meditation

[Draven Chen Zhen]

Do some of you guys meditate before training or just in the day.

 

And if you do so how and why do you do it??

[markusan]

I meditate alone before training and lead a group meditation after class. The idea is to quiet the mind. I use the breath as the meditation object or if I'm feeling very centred a technique I use a technique called shikantaza where there is no subject. Meditation on the breath trains your mind to dwell on one thing. If you can carry that attitude into training you will find you can concentrate on your training and let distracting thoughts pass without disturbing you. If you can take that attitude into your sparring you will be more relaxed and responsive to your opponent's strategy. If you really study what you're thinking in a contest you will notice that it is distracting thoughts that slow your reactions. If you can make your mind a calm pool things go better.

[White Warlock]

I used to meditate regularly. But since 94', after becoming engaged and then later ending the engagement two weeks before walking the aisle, meditation has eluded me.

[Fat Donkey]

My master taught me a type of meditation for getting my body as well as my mind back in alignment. Sit on the floor in the standars lotus, back straight, staring at a spot on the floor about a foot ahead of u. Just breathe but concentrate on every breath as the only thing, in out etc. This posture lets your bones and muscles realign after training and your mind clears itself. U can also do it eating, concentrating on each bite instead of breathing.

[Draven Chen Zhen]

...U can also do it eating, concentrating on each bite instead of breathing.

 

Your food must tast really sweet if you do so

[Reklats]

...U can also do it eating, concentrating on each bite instead of breathing.

 

Your food must tast really sweet if you do so

 

His nick is Fat Donkey after all...

 

After going to a hypnotist once and finding it REALLY cool, I made a tape of myself talking for a self hypnosis type deal. It made me fall asleep in like 2 minutes just about whenever I wanted, but I never took it any furthur, and I got bored with it after a while.

 

Hm.... I should try and find it. It was pretty cool.

[krunchyfrogg]

Are there any sites that will help one learn to meditate better?

 

Sometimes we open and close a class with a short meditation, but I feel like there's a lot more I could get out of learning how to meditate for a longer period of time.

[Draven Chen Zhen]

Reklats have you got a site where we can learn that?

[Reklats]

I was going to suggest googling around for "Self hypnosis," but then I tried it myself, and there's not a lot of good info out there. I got 400 sites selling lame books.

 

THis site that I just found: http://www.epub.org.br/cm/n01/bernik/selftraining.htm

 

It's K I N D A like what I did. I did something like Blocks 1 and 2 with less steps, and then 4A. My first recording was about 10 minutes long, but I later made a shorter 4-5 minute one that worked great.

 

My first hypnosis experience went like this: I remember sitting in a chair listening to the hypnotist getting VERY relaxed. Then I woke up (It seemed like instantly later) laughing my * off, with tears streaming down my face. Apparently over the last 5 or so minutes I had been out, and the hypnotist had alternated making me laugh and cry while my friends laughed.

[White Warlock]

May i please offer a critical suggestion...

 

I seriously recommend you do not 'fiddle' with meditation and/or self-hypnosis. There is a lot of lousy information available on the net and on print about these, and they can get you into trouble. I also do not recommend meditating or performing self-hypnosis anywhere near anyone else, as they could interfere with your process, and devastating results could ensue, including the possibility of injury to yourself or others. I have personal experiences on this, so i'm not merely pulling your leg.

 

My recommendation is to learn meditation and/or self-hypnosis from an expert. Enter 'formal' studies to understand how this can help you, and also how it can hurt you. In no uncertain terms, you're messing with your mind... so don't tinker.