FAQ’s

+ What is meditation?

Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. It is a practice or training that leads to healthy and positive mind states.

+ What is the purpose of meditation?

The purpose of meditation is to slow down your brain waves and turn one's attention to a single point of reference to get beyond the thinking (rehearsing for the future) and the analytical mind (analysing the past). Awareness of peace is achieved when mental chatter is decreased and you are present. Meditation gives the body deep, healing rest.

+ What happens when we meditate?

Meditation trains our minds while also being a structured form of rest. It turns on the relaxation response, addressing the body’s physiological response to stress and changing our body chemistry for the better. When we meditate we lower our levels of arousal and our body produces fewer stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol.

As we close our eyes and begin the meditation process, it makes sense that we are changing our brain chemistry from serotonin to melatonin, and thus our brain waves follow suit. As we sit still and relax our body, we stop thinking because our brain is naturally processing less sensory information.

This is crucial information for those interested in personal growth and transformation. Self-knowledge is the first step to self-improvement. Making changes in your outer circumstances begins first with seeing which thoughts created that which you are trying to change. During Meditation, brain waves shift through different stages. The most common being Alpha waves. Alpha brain waves in Meditation basically cause calming changes in the autonomic nervous system.

The regular introspective practice of this type reverses the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems so that the, normally dominant, sympathetic nervous system takes a back seat to the, normally secondary, parasympathetic nervous system. Win!

+ What meditation do you teach?

I teach mantra (sound-vibration) meditation. This mantra is without a connection to any meaning, idea, spirituality or religious belief.

+ How do you teach?

This easy technique is taught in-person over 3 short-sessions. I provide you with the mantra, teach you how to use it, then you sit in a comfortable position with eyes closed and practice the internal silent mantra effortlessly.

+ Why do you teach meditation?

Because it's incredible! It makes your life better. It improves all areas of your life and allows you to tap into your authentic-self, the better version of yourself. Why wouldn't I want to share that? In fact, I have no choice but to teach meditation.

When clients came to me they all had some level of stress. Stress happens because we have stressful thoughts (leads to stressful physiology which reinforces the thoughts)—if we can break the thought pattern, we can decrease and diffuse our stress. It is possible to actually remove stress from your brain and body at the cellular level. With less stress weighing you down, you’ll be amazed how much more energy you have, how much sharper your brain becomes and how much more easily you can handle the demands of your daily life!

You can prepare yourself in difficult situations or navigate challenges with grace. From divorce, grief, to natural birth, career change, health crisis or even job interviews or sitting exams. This meditation technique will serve you for the rest of time.

I truly believe meditation is the fastest, easiest way to heal, improve health & wellbeing and cope with daily 'life' (emotions and stress triggers). Once you learn, it's like you have a secret weapon in your life toolkit.

Originally I created this meditation course for overwhelmed, overworked parents with busy lives. I wanted to create a simple way to easily integrate a meditation practice into everyone's realistic daily life. My approach is to make meditation attractive, accessible and easy to adopt.

As the mind calms down, you naturally release and dissolve stress and tiredness. Your body is able to heal, rest deeply and you will start to experience increased happiness, creativity and health.

My purpose is to optimise your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing through mantra mediation.

+ There are many forms of meditation, why do you teach mantra?

It’s the easiest to learn and the most effective. My first ‘meditation’ inauguration was in 2001 when I visited The Chenrezig Institute (Buddhist retreat and study centre). After this introduction, I dabbled in various meditation techniques for many years, and nothing stuck!

Several years ago I experienced severe post-natal depletion and several auto-immune diseases. I was navigating a very challenging physical, mental and spiritual transition and invested in learning Transcendental Meditation (TM is a mantra technique), with the hopes it would help calm my mind, nervous system and provide my body with much needed deep rest & healing.

Learning TM was easily the greatest investment I've ever made. Slowly but surely, my holistic health & wellbeing just began to fall harmoniously into place. I've found the 'transcending technique’ or 'mantra', to be the easiest and accessible meditation techniques that anyone can learn (especially if you have a busy mind and have failed at all other meditation practices). I've integrated daily meditation into my life and have experienced first-hand the incredibly profound and subtle benefits, meditation has enhanced ALL areas of my life.

+ Actually, what is a mantra?

A mantra is a (sound-vibration), a word or a phrase that you repeat silently and slowly in a soft, easy rhythm while you meditate. Many find repeating a mantra further calms and quiets a busy mind.

In Sanskrit, “Man” means mind and “Tra,” means vehicle. A mantra literally translates to “mind vehicle,” helping to settle both mind and body to access that space in between thoughts.

+ How will learning mantra meditation make my life better?

Meditation is a powerful stress relieving technique that delivers rest up to 5 times deeper than sleep. It gives you access to a verifiable mental state where the right and left brain work together, allowing you to utilise your full creative problem-solving potential, even in high demand situations. Check out the ‘Benefits’ page on the website.

+ How often do I have to mediate?

Preferably in the morning and later in the afternoon. However, the most important aspect is to find a time that suits your schedule—the key is to establish a consistent practice.

Of course, life can sometimes present obstacles, so even a short session of 5 or 15 minutes is beneficial. I can offer you tips and strategies to seamlessly integrate meditation into your individual lifestyle, making it a daily habit tailored just for you."

+ Can anyone learn?

Absolutely, yes!

If you can think, you can meditate. You simply need to be open, curious and willing to follow some simple instructions.

There are many misconceptions about meditation. This mantra meditation technique is so simple even children can learn. Learning doesn’t require any previous meditation experience. Even those who have tried and not succeeded or feel as though they have the busiest of minds can be easily taught. This is the ideal technique for beginners as well as experienced meditators.

+ I can't sit still. Do I have to sit cross-legged on the floor?

Not at all. I encourage all students to sit however they feel most comfortable (yes, fidget if you need to). This may look like sitting on a chair, on the floor with your back against a wall or straddling a bolster. The only thing I ask is that you do not lay down and that neck and head are free from support.

+ I've tried meditation before, my mind is way too busy, I can't do it?

That’s ok! Many people say this before learning, no one can give their mind a command to stop thinking (even Monks). Instead, we use a mantra to induce deep rest which is very healing for the body, mind and spirit.

You don’t have to stop thinking in order to meditate. If you try not to think, you end up thinking more! As long as you're not controlling, focusing or trying to have a particular experience you're practising this technique correctly. You don’t need to do anything. The mantra does it for you.

+ I don't think you understand, I can't clear my mind, trying to meditate makes me feel more anxious.

Can't clear your mind...no worries, feeling anxious...that's ok. It's the bodies natural way of releasing stress. While you're meditating you may experience noisy mind chatter, tons of thoughts, feelings and emotions. This is normal and fine.

When I teach you this easy technique, you will learn how to not to concentrate or control the mind. Just as it is the nature of the mind to be active, it is also the nature of the mind to be still, given the right environment and opportunity. I'll provide you with this.

Also, I say to all my students, meditation makes you less reactive and more creative. Please don't worry about how you feel during the 20-min meditation, notice how you feel afterwards and throughout the other 23hrs and 20mins of your day.

+ How long before I feel the benefits?

Immediately! You’ll feel changes right away. We get you meditating on the first day of the course. Most people report feeling calmer, more energised and more focused after only one session. I've had students experience transcendence during the 3-day course!

+ I don't have enough time to meditate daily!

Ah yes, the most common question. Because this technique is enjoyable and easy to do, you will find keeping a daily practice much easier than anything else you’ve tried. Also, you know when you start working out and you can see the benefits it gives you motivation? It's exactly the same with mediation and training your mind.

The size of the benefits will always be in direct proportion to the amount of time and regularity of your practice. If you practice daily for 20 minutes, you will discover life-changing benefits across all areas of your life. Why wouldn't you want to prioritise that?!

It also helps that you can practise anywhere, anytime!

It takes 21 days to make or change a habit and it is common to have some resistance come up but trust me, it's worth pushing through!

+ I'm not religious, can I still meditate?

Absolutely! This mantra technique is without a connection to any meaning, idea, spirituality or religious belief.

+ Will I have to change my life or diet – give up things like alcohol, coffee or smoking?

No. You don’t have to change your life at all in order to learn. You are not asked to give up anything. It’s true that some organisations teaching meditation do ask you to give up these things because they are asking you to control your mind.

As for myself and many students, I do find you may naturally want to give away habits that are not serving or relative to your new expansive consciousness. This is a natural result of meditation, not a requirement for learning!

That said, some people learn because they want to change habits (stop smoking, reduce aggression, reduce drinking). Mantra meditation will help.

+ I’d prefer to exercise for 20mins than meditate

Exercise is a fantastic compliment to meditation, but it’s not the same thing as meditation. Meditation delivers deep rest to the mind and body, reducing stress from the nervous system. When you train your brain to be alert and relaxed during meditation, you not only heighten your emotional intelligence, you also strengthen your mind. And a strong, resilient mind naturally enhances physical well-being.

+ Want to improve overall wellbeing?

When I ask new students 'why have you chosen to learn meditation now', the most common answers are - I want to relax, be more present and patient with my children, beat the negative effects of stress and /or anxiety, improve sleep or simply quiet the mind – because it’s really busy in there!

Meditation develops certain areas of the brain, such as those that are responsible for memory, compassion, and empathy. Meanwhile, parts of the brain associated with fear, stress, and anxiety (such as the amygdala – the “fight or flight” centre) begin to shrink.

The smaller it is, the less apt it is too reactive emotional responses, especially those of the “fight-or-flight” genre. No wonder we feel so great, our relationships improve and our family/work life is more enjoyable.

+ What are the types of meditation?

There are many styles and techniques, and no one is better than another. You may have heard of many types of meditation - Zen, Guided, focused attention, Transcendental, Taoist, Vipassana Meditation. Basically, they are simply a practice that’s meant to make your mind better. Each serves a purpose and may resonate with a different person.

+ Is there a difference between meditation + mindfulness?

Yes. The words 'mindfulness' and 'meditation' often seem interchangeable, yet are separate techniques. Meditation is the training and Mindfulness is the practice you do in your daily life.

Mindfulness is to be in the present moment, being intentionally aware of your moment to moment experiences (thoughts, feelings, sensations and environment). It’s a directed focus on mental practice. You're thinking and focusing on bringing your awareness into the present, it involves concentration and effort. Mindfulness is a way of relating to whatever is happening: paying attention, counting your breath, visualisation, noticing, not judging, not thinking.

Meditation, in contrast, is training, it’s a thing you ’do’. It’s the way to teach yourself to be mindful. If mindfulness is like strength or flexibility, meditation is like running or going to the gym. Meditation helps to get rid of the backlog of stress from your past. So, every all-nighter you’ve pulled, every unhealthy meal you’ve ever eaten, it’s all stored in your cellular memory.

Mindfulness is not a practice, it is an outcome of meditation. Both practices are life skills that give you the tools to access inner peace and offer a way to increase happiness and wellbeing.

I teach adults how to meditate, and I teach children how to practice mindfulness. I like to think of it simply like this - Mindfulness is the awareness of our outer life and meditation is the awareness of our inner life.