Podcast Q & A
Answers to Listeners’ Questions
If you are listening to our Meditation Oasis podcasts and have questions, you can ask them here. Any and all questions relating to the guided meditations on the podcast are welcomed. You can ask about experiences you are having, problems with meditating, how to get the most out of the podcasts, and more.
To ask questions: Use the Comments section at the bottom of the page, or you can email us at:
XXX
(Answers to email questions are below. Continue reading in the comment section for more Q & A.)
Do I get the benefit if I fall asleep while listening?
Question: A lot of times when I listen to your CDs, I fall asleep. Do I still get the benefits of what you are saying through my subconscious?
Answer: Yes, you do! You are registering it subconsciously. You are affected, also, by the vibratory quality of the music.
Music on Episode #6…
Question: Where can I find the music from #6 — Music for Meditation & Relaxation?
Answer: This is actually the fourth (and last) track on our Pure Relaxation CD. That CD has 3 guided meditations with music followed by the music in episode #6. We also have a CD of 10 selections of music called Pure Light, all of which are backgrounds from our CDs and podcasts. The music on #6 is also on that, but only about 5-1/2 minutes of it.
Best meditation for a quiet mind –
Question: Which meditation in your podcast would you recommend to achieve a quiet mind?
Answer: Before suggesting some meditations, I’d like to look at what is meant by “quiet mind”, because often people feel a quiet mind is one without thoughts. We feel the need for peace and quiet, and often feel that the endless thoughts in our minds are keeping us from being quiet. We imagine that a quiet mind would be one without thoughts. But thoughts are a natural part of the activity of the mind. If we try to get rid of them and do battle with them, we actually make the mind more active. On the other hand, if we simply allow thoughts to come and go, we can discover the quietness that is present even in the midst of activity. The mind can be full of thoughts and yet feel very quiet at the same time. For me, the gift of meditation is to discover the stillness that is always present.
Everyone will respond differently to different meditations, so it’s difficult to say which meditation will work best for you to achieve a quiet mind. Probably the best meditations for this would be Relaxation Break, Breath Awareness, Effortless Meditation or Simply Being. Try them and see which works best for you!
Is this experience what’s supposed to happen?
Question: In the chakra meditation, when I had my attention on a particular chakra, a particular experience happened. Is that what it is supposed to do?
Answer: As you focus attention on a particular chakra, you may feel sensations associated with the functioning of that chakra. Putting your attention on the chakras isn’t intended to create any specific experience, however. Whatever happens happens, and it will be different each time you use the meditation. Whatever you experience is a result of the enlivenment of the energy in that chakra. The energy is shifting to create greater balance. (Read more about the chakras.)
Spinning and dizziness during meditation –
Question: I enjoy your meditations, but at times when I meditate I begin to spin and get dizzy. Can you explain this?
Answer: If you become very deeply relaxed during meditation, the body has a chance to “unwind” and release tension. There can be shifts in subtle energies in the body as it moves toward greater balance. You may feel all sorts of things as this is happening, including a sense of spinning or dizziness. If this is happening, be sure to take plenty of time coming out of meditation. If the spinning feels too strong in meditation, you can open your eyes and this should stop the process.
When is the best time to meditate?
Question: I’m wondering if there is a particular time of day that most people choose (find more effective) to meditate. I’ve been doing it right when I wake up a few times a week, not for any other reason than because it’s convenient. Let me know your thoughts.
Answer: Meditating first thing in the morning is a nice way to start the day from a more relaxed, centered place. It’s also really useful to take a break later in the day to relax and “re-set” yourself. Often people do that after work to relax for the evening. Taking a break anytime for a brief meditation (such as our Episode One, Mini-Relaxation Break) can be really helpful as well.
Which kinds of meditation are good for anxiety?
Question: I’m wondering if you would suggest specific types of meditation for some one who has historically suffered from anxiety.
Answer: Any meditation that you find relaxing should help. See which of our podcast episodes (or other meditations) relax you the most. Then the key is to meditate regularly. If you do that, it helps your mind and physiology to develop a new habit, a more relaxed way of being. Try using the Breath Awareness meditation for awhile and once you get accustomed to the process, you’ll be able to use that anytime on your own when you need to during the day. You can even stop to do this for a minute or two to create a more relaxed state.
Also, having a deep, relaxed sleep during the night is soothing to the whole system. Some people listen to our podcasts when they go to bed and fall asleep with that. You’d have to see if that works for you, as there are other people who become more awake from meditation. (We do have a CD, Sleep Easy, especially for falling asleep. You can purchase that as a download here or on iTunes, if sleep is an issue for you.)
OK to lie down during “Going Deep Within” Meditation?
Question: In your most recent meditation podcast, “Going deep within” you suggest sitting up in a chair. I usually meditate lying flat because my back problems make it difficult to sit comfortably. I was wondering why you suggested sitting for this meditation. Does it really make any difference?
Answer: We tend to be more alert when sitting, which may us more aware of what’s going on in our mind. “Going deep within” directs your attention to the natural movement of the mind inward. This may be more noticeable sitting upright because of the mind being more alert. You can certainly do the meditation lying down if that’s the only way you can be comfortable. It may work just as well that way for you.
Suggestions for grieving –
Question: I just discovered your wonderful meditation CD’s on iTunes. Can you recommend anything else particularly for the grieving process? Or just possibly give me some tips on how to get through this?
Answer: There are all sorts of things we can do to help us through, but there’s no way we can avoid the pain. The only way through grief is to be right in the heart of it, and sometimes the pain is can feel unbearable. The whole process is truly overwhelming. Obviously you are making a priority of relaxation and self-care, and this is essential. You can read about grief on the website which contains most of what I’d write in the way of tips. There’s also a CD called Graceful Passages which was made for people dying, but I find it also very effective for supporting the process of grieving.
Problems with breathing during meditation –
Question: Hello, I recently started to listen to your podcasts and they’re very helpful. However I notice that I’m having a hard time breathing and I was wondering if I’m doing something wrong or if it’s just that I’m not concentrating well enough. I find that I get out of breath when I take deep breaths, if that makes any sense! My heart starts to race and my chest feels a bit tight. I have anxiety and my heart races often. Is it possible that I’m inhaling too far? Do I have to inhale all the way until I can’t get any more air in my lungs, or do I just stop when I feel there’s enough air? The difficulties happen usually when I’m trying to meditate, and also when I’m trying to do the breathing meditations.
Answer: It’s true that anxiety affects how we breathe. It’s very common to be a “shallow breather” and it sounds like you’ve noticed this during the day. By learning to relax, the breath will naturally get easier and deeper over time.
It sounds like you are trying to breath deeply during the meditations. For my guided meditations, it’s better not to try to breath in any specific way. Just let the breath go on its own the way it naturally does. Don’t try to manipulate the breath in any way. With the breathing meditations, the idea is to be aware of the breath, but not to try to change how it goes. Try the meditations without trying to breath in any particular way and see what happens.
As far as “concentrating well enough”, you don’t need to concentrate during these meditations. The idea is not to strain on anything or try to make anything happen.
Love meditation but don’t feel I can take the time…
Question: I have had many awakening moments in meditation and realizations that helped greatly. But there are still things that knock me out of patience and the meditative mind - school-related stresses… I fell behind, and now am struggling to keep up with the pace, and it has created an immense amount of stress for me. I know that all I want in life, especially now, is to rest in meditation and relaxing for life, without putting myself up to any false expectations society throws at me; but I feel like I can’t afford t o relax because I have fallen so far behind - I would much rather relax and fail everything in school than stay stressed and score well. Would you be able to give me any advice?
Answer: It’s interesting that we often feel that we can’t afford to relax because we have too much to do. The opposite is true, if we are stressed and “too busy”, we actually can’t afford not to relax! We are actually able to be much more efficient and productive when we are relaxed than when we feel stressed. We don’t have to feel pressured to accomplish things. When we feel stressed, we often don’t think clearly, do things hastily and make mistakes. Even if you have a little less time due to the time you meditate, the time you are working with be “quality time”. I’d suggest that you take some time each day to meditate. You could use our podcast episode #1 (Mini-Relaxation Break) for a short break anytime throughout the day.
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Hi,
I was on your site and am intrigued about the CD Chakra Dhyana. Is it at all dangerous to use? Have people ever had any trouble with it? I have a regular yoga practice, and use guided meditations often… but a couple of years ago I did have a spontaneous kundalini awakening which included psychosis, channeling, plus my body taking itself through asanas and mudras I had no knowledge of at that time. (I write about my experience on my site, search for kundalini).
Since then I have done a lot of emotional, mental and spiritual work to ground and centre myself. I just wanted to get some more info on the CD before I downloaded it.
Do you know much about Kundalini? Any advice you can give me?
Much joy,
Kara-Leah
Hi Kara-Leah,
Thank you for this question and for sharing your experience. I look forward to reading more on your website.
My personal experience with the chakra dhyana meditation is that it works in a very gentle, balanced way. I have experienced some other processes which are much more “forceful” and were too strong for me because my energy moves so easily — a little goes a long way with me. I have never felt that way about this meditation. I usually feel quite balanced afterwards.
I don’t know of anyone having problems with it, but I have not had feedback from a large number of people. I’m sure it’s effect, however, could be very different for different people. If the kundalini energy is starting to move in a powerful way or is on the verge of doing so, perhaps the process on the CD would be too much. It’s impossible to predict how the CD would affect you.
It sounds like you’ve learned a lot about how to take care of yourself and are very self-aware. As time goes on we become better at knowing what we need at different times. Sometimes too much energy is moving through and there’s so much processing going on that we need to ground. At other times, we can do something that stimulates the flow of energy.
I don’t consider myself to be an expert on kundalini. I do feel that “safety first” is a good approach with such a powerful energy.
If you email me through http://www.meditationoasis.com, we could explore it a bit further.
Hey Mary,
Thanks for this answer - it’s perfect. I love your site by the way, I feel calmer just coming to it!
Much joy,
Kara-Leah
I have a general question about my experience while meditating. Lately, I find myself what I can best describe as vibrating. My breathes are slow and relaxed, but I feel myself nodding or vibrating back in forth. Sometimes it’s in sync with my heartbeat. I do not believe I am doing it on purpose. From what I’ve read from other sources, since we are all forms of energy, is this nodding or vibration, simply me tuning into my natural vibration? There were times when I first started to practice meditation that I felt a tugging on my chest and it scared me. I’ve since calmed down and I think this vibrating is the result. Is this a common or normal experience? Or am I doing something wrong?
Hi Rick,
It’s difficult to answer this question without having any background about the kind of meditation you are doing and your experience with it.
I can say in general that when you become very relaxed in meditation, the body can start to release tension and stress. This can cause some movements as the body “unwinds”. The kind of movement you are describing may also be the response of the body to energy which is moving as a result of meditation.
If this experience is happening with our guided meditation podcasts and it is a gentle kind of movement that doesn’t disturb you, then just continue with the meditation not minding the movements. It wouldn’t be an indication of doing anything wrong.
Hey Mary,
I’ve recently been listening to all your podcasts over my exam period. They have made me reduce my stress levels during this stressful time. I do these meditations right before I go to bed, is this the right time to be doing them? And also what meditation do you recommend for me personally who is doing exams and more or less am anxious about the whole thing?
You guys rule thanks
Hi Nick,
I’m so glad the podcasts are helping you! Listening to the podcasts right before bed is a good time as long as they do not energize you and keep you awake. From what we hear, many people listen to them before bed and they help them go to sleep and sleep more deeply.
You can do the meditations anytime. You can try them at different times of day and see what works best. It might be really helpful to listen to a short one, such as the Mini-Relaxation Break (episode 1) when you have a break during the day.
Episodes 1, 2 and 3 are all especially good for anxiety. Try the different meditations and see what helps most. All of them should be relaxing, but everyone has different favorites.
Good luck with your exams!
Thanks Mary you rule! What you do is amazing. Thanks for the advice!
Hi Mary
Thank you for your podcasts. I’ve just found them, and they are exactly what I need in my life right now. I just listened to the first episode, and I feel so much better already.
I’m looking forward to the rest - so thanks again!
Are there any episodes that you could recommend for finding motivation, or regaining personal focus?
You are so welcome, Kylie. Glad you found us and that the podcast helped.
There are no episodes specifically focused on finding motivation or personal focus, but these things should be a by-product of feeling better. When you are more relaxed, balanced and clear, motivation and focus come naturally.
Wishing you well, Mary
Hi,
I very much enjoy your meditations and wish to thank you for the presence, thoughfulness and balance you bring to these presentations.
Like other posters in this forum, I too have many feelings of energy movements when I move inside. May I suggest that the rocking and breathing that occurs with some is very natural and normal. It is also possible to have fairly deep spiritual awakenings or releases occur spontaneously.
One of the reasons I like Mary’s work so well is that the focus is so simple and straightforward that it more or less protects you from getting too distracted by the drama. Inner experiences can be quite large and it is tempting to dive in and hold on to them as if they were some kind of achievement or merit badge.
In my opinion, it is best if you do just as Mary suggests during her relaxation and letting go exercises. If you have movements of energy that are not acts of will or some big experience happens to you out of the blue - don’t resist it - and don’t effort at it. If you find yourself working hard, that’s sign to just breath and relax and let go.
If it gets strong - let be strong and then move through. Let them come if they come and let them go when they go and move back to stillness.
My favorite part from one of the podcasts is “all comes in compassion” and “compassion is healing”.
Very well done.
Thanks,
LukeJohn
Thanks for commenting, LukeJohn, and adding your perspective. You’re welcome! Mary
Is there a way to donate to help support the site? Howard Reben
Thank you for asking about donations! You can donate by visiting this page on our website. (We have a website named Heart of Healing with a section of pages for Meditation Oasis.)
Dear Mary, thanks for your e mail about how to donate my check. My check will be in the mail tomorrow. There may be others who prefer to donate by check and I think that information should be posted on the blog and your site. Your podcasts are incredible and providing a way to express appreciation is a gift. Howard Reben
Howard,
Thank you so much for encouraging us to make it easy for people to donate. We will add that information on our page and a donation link to the blog soon. In the meantime, I’ll note here that those who want to make a donation by check can make a check payable to “Heart of Healing” and send it to:
Heart of Healing
PO Box 150
Sonoma, CA 95476
Best wishes, Mary
Dear Mary, I feel compelled to share my intrusive thoughts from a just completed listening to your nature meditation. First I wanted you to know that my donation in support of your work was in no means intended as a payment. It was an expression of my gratitude for your unconditional love and sharing through your podcasts and my recognition that the time and costs devoted by you should be recognized. Unfortunately of my appreciation these few words and a few dollars are only a small token but we give what we can. As to the many affects of your efforts it has caused me to consider a radical idea in my role as an employment and injury lawyer. I am considering offering my services to a limited number of clients as an experiment at a cost determined solely by them. This is not an advertising gimmick as I have been an lawyer for 38 years and fortunately can only accept a limited number of requests for my services.
As to the podcast on nature it was incredible. I am fortunate to live on a lake in Maine and wait patiently for the incredible first view of the change from ice to water that is coming soon. Your podcast afforded me the ability to see, touch and experience that moment even before it arrives. Thank you again for your wonderful podcasts. I meditate every morning and have been in your company most days since your discovery by me a few weeks ago. Howard
Richard and I are both so touched to hear of your idea to offer some of your services to some clients at a cost set by them. We are continually amazed by the unexpected impact that the podcast has on different people!
I feel many of us are reaching for new ways to express the “give and take” of life. Your experiment would allow you to reach more people with your unique talents, and they will be different people than you would have reached otherwise. The whole experience of providing your service in that way will be completely different as well. I hope you keep us posted if you go ahead with this experiment!
I just had to say something. I came upon your podcasts at itunes while looking for relaxation music. I downloaded a couple and absolutely love them. I went back and got all I could. I had never heard of “guided” meditation but I had just finished a book called Eat, Pray, Love and the gal in the story had difficulty getting focused as I have also had so I was looking for help. You gave me that help. I use your meditations often. We run a business and I have lots of stressful situations that used to take me to a dark place and now I am handling these cases with much more focus and enlightenment. Your voice is so soothing and calming… I love it! I guess I need to make a donation. Thank you for your work you are building the New Earth!
Tina
Thank you, Tina! Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your experience with the meditations. Running a business IS stressful — we know! We’re so glad that the meditations are helping. When we receive thanks like this, we can only be grateful to those who helped us along the way. We are all growing together! Warmest blessings, Mary
I just recently experienced an anxiety attack and realized that I needed a way to relieve day to day stress. Found your podcasts on iTunes and I’ve now made your guided meditation part of my morning routine. They’re such a great way to start off the day! The Chakra Meditation specifically seems to help me, and I physically feel so good after doing that one.
For a long time now, I’ve been getting these tingling sensations in and around the 3rd chakra. It’s very close to that feeling of belly butterflies, but right after the tingling feeling the whole area gets really tight / tenses up. It happens many, many times throughout the day. Could it be some kind of blockage in energy flow?
Thank you for the work you’re doing. It’s much appreciated!
Hi Tine,
You are very welcome! Glad you’re enjoying the podcasts.
About the tingling at then tightness at the 3rd chakra — One thing for sure is that something is going on energetically there. The tingling is a sign of energy moving. Something causes the chakra to be activated and then we feel the tingling. We all get belly butterflies at times — it could be from something threatening or even something exciting. The chakra gets energized as it’s ready to do its job. When we feel threatened in some way (even unconsciously), tightening and tensing can happen.
Anxiety is often felt in the 3rd chakra. Some even feel that the 3rd chakra is where we process emotions, although I feel it’s more complex than that. It is known as the power chakra, and it rules our personal power, will, and autonomy, as well as our metabolism.
Without knowing more of your situation, I could only speculate on what’s happening in your case. Since it’s happening many times a day, it could be worthwhile for you to explore what is going on. You could do this by reading about what the 3rd chakra does and the issues it is associated with it. To explore the chakras in depth, I highly recommend Anodea Judith’s book, Eastern Body, Western Mind. She describes in detail the psychology of the chakras, how they develop, and what their issues are.
Good luck! Mary
Hey Mary,
Big love to you for your wonderful podcasts! I use them every day and as a person who can suffer from anxiety often, they really help me just let go and settle me into a complete state of calm. You and Richard truly are gifted for the wonderful experiences you create for us all.
I wanted to ask you… I write music, I currently study composition at university and hope to pursue writing music as a career. Its the thing I love to do most, but a problem I have is that musical inspiration does not come to me often. Inspired ideas are the heart and soul of the music I write, but because these moments of inspiration just appear in my head at seemingly random times it means I can’t write music I’m satisfied with until that god-given idea finally appears. So the rest of the time its like I’m almost sat around waiting for that one idea before I can really get on with writing music.. and obviously this waiting does not help me when I’m on a deadline-driven composition course!
So I was wondering, how can I use meditation to encourage creative inspiration? Is it possible at all?
Thanks for everything!
Sam
-x-
Great question, Samantha, but not easy to answer! As you know, that creative inspiration is a gift that comes upon you. It’s as if your Muse appears in her own time. At the same time, inspiration is more likely to appear in a relaxed, open state of awareness. It springs from the deeper regions of our mind and heart and certainly meditation can open us to that.
It’s really hard to predict, though, how this would work for each person. We are all so different and our creative moments may come in different ways. For some reason we don’t understand, once I’ve created a meditation, Richard is able to listen to it and often the music for it just comes. Sometimes it is a bit more “inspired” than others. We know a painter here in town, though, who creates the most amazing paintings. They put you into a meditative state. In his case, he feels he has absolutely no control over when the inspiration for a painting comes. He does literally sit and wait sometimes to see if the painting wants to come, and he can go for months without painting. I’m sure he could paint wonderful paintings without waiting, but he only wants to paint when it is completely inspired — nothing that’s just so-so to him.
This is a challenge every artist or composer faces in one way or another. I’m sure there’s lots to find about this dilemma if you Google it and I would hope this is addressed in your studies. I think it would be especially hard to be creative on demand. Perhaps in your composition class you are mostly mastering the rules of composition and it’s not so important that what you write be inspired. It’s like someone who is learning the skills of painting. Their paintings in class could be considered practice — they master certain skills so that when the Muse strikes, the tools are at hand.
Well, this is a long answer that probably doesn’t really answer your question. You got me thinking about the creative process and got Richard and I into an interesting discussion about it!
Bottom line is that I think it’s most likely meditation will help. A high school student wrote to me that when she meditated right before her exams, it settled her mind so the answers can come. Meditation can calm and open your mind so the Muse can appear! Meditate regularly and then let go — true creativity is like true meditation — it’s not “your” doing, it just happens.
Hi,
I am just getting started with meditation and your website has been very helpful. Does the music you have in the background of your podcasts have any subliminal messages embedded in it? Just curious. Thanks
Libby
Hi Libby,
We don’t embed subliminal messages in our podcasts. Thanks for asking!
Mary
Hi Mary, i continue to use and benefit from your meditations every day. Thank you so much for all you do.
I am currently working on releasing anger and forgiving specific persons in my past. i have been using the “breath in the heart” meditation for the last week or so. Is there other choices that you would recommend for the work that i am doing?
Because of the wonderful job that you and Richard do and the ease of using the podcasts, I am happy to report that i have been meditating for 4 months….a world record for me. thanks. in love & gratitude, Mo
You are welcome, mo. Great to hear about your meditation record!
Releasing the emotions — anger, hurt, etc. — which keep us from forgiving is key to forgiveness. To release them we need to feel them all the way. Perhaps the Emotional Ease meditation would help. You could also try “Letting Go”.
All the best! Mary
Thanks, Mary,
Your recommendation is appreciated….and actually, i had used this meditation this morning, even before reading your response, and i found it helpful.
Keep up the great work.
In gratitude, Mo
Hi Mary,
I have been listening to your podcasts for a year now, but this is the first time I’ve been to your website. How fantastic that you answer each comment!
I wanted to thank you for your outstanding podcasts and describe what happens to me. I usually listen lying down in bed. When I close my eyes it is just black initially, but after a few moments, as my breathing regulates and I become more and more relaxed I see swirls of colour — reds, oranges, yellows, blues. As I watch these cascades they sometimes form a shape I recognise, most notably the time I was listening to Beyond Pain and saw my son’s face. Is this usual?
You are welcome, Andie.
Experiences in meditation can be highly variable in different people and at different times. This kind of experience is not unusual. When your awareness goes deep in meditation, you may begin to sense subtle energies (often people have experiences like this when receiving energy healing, such as Reiki). As for them taking shape, it’s hard to say if you are drifting into that place between sleep and waking where some dream-like images may appear, or if it is some sort of psychic “seeing”.
There are lots of different explanations of the experiences the occur in the meditative state. I personally don’t pay a whole lot of attention to experiences, I am mainly interested in the overall “ease of being” that comes with meditation.
When I meditate I always see green and purple swirls of light, what does that mean? Also, one time I saw a white light in the center of my forehead and then felt this intense energy all over my body and realized that both of my hands were slowly lifting off the ground on their own. What exactly caused that and what exactly was going on?
Hello Danielle,
It’s not uncommon to see light and color while meditating. We start to experience subtle energies and “subtle sense perception” as the mind goes to deeper levels. Energy pathways can open up and energy may start to move and be experienced in all sorts of ways. (If you check the blog post on sensing energy you’ll see some other peoples’ experiences).
As for your hands lifting, often it feels as if the body is moving. Did you open your eyes and actually see that your hands were lifting, or did it just feel that way?
Mary,
Yes, I looked and my hands were lifted off the ground. I was laying on a wood floor in the yoga studio and felt my skin separate from the floor as they lifted and I had to force them back down. It was very strange.
Interesting, Danielle!
My take on this is really speculation as I can’t be sure what was going on, but I do have some thoughts about what it could mean.
To begin with, levitation is a siddhi (described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras). I can’t describe the mechanics of it, but have had some related experiences in which the quality of the body changes and becomes lighter during certain meditative states.
One way that I understand this is that matter is in “layers”. Take an apple, for example. It is at once the dense round object that we can pick up and feel, and it is molecules, and it is atomic particles and sub-atomic particles and so on. What it is and how we experience it depends on the “layer” of its existence we have our attention on. My sense is that the mind also is in layers. Our attention can be on the gross level or it can go to deeper levels of awareness. At those deeper levels the way we experience things is different. We could even say that the laws of nature are different at different levels. With a shift in our attention in meditation, we may be accessing different laws of nature and that shifts the way the body behaves. In this case, the body isn’t so heavy.
Don’t know if this will make sense to you. I have had experiences of lightness of the body, as I said, from certain meditative practices and states, and this is the way I’ve come to explain it so far. Thank you for sharing this experience and opening this all up to discussion! I’m inspired now to investigate this further…
Interesting, thanks
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for making meditation very easy for me and for lots of people around the globe.
I keep you and all the great people behind this great website in my mind while listening to the gratitude meditation.
Can I use any of your guided meditations as many times as possible in a day (particularly, during weekends)?
As you rightly said, Meditation state are our natural state of mind, I want to be in meditation state as much as possible.
In other words, can I listen to the podcasts many times a day or many times in a row?
Hi Success,
You are very welcome. As for whether you can listen to the podcasts many times a day, there can be such a thing as too much meditation. How much is too much will be different for different people. It also depends on which meditations you are using. Among other things, too much meditation can make you ungrounded or “spaced out”. This would be more likely to happen with the Going Deep Within meditation than the Body Awareness Meditation, for example. I hesitate to make a recommendation for you without knowing more about you and your experiences with meditation.
I know you want to stay in that “meditation state” more. I think you’ll find that just by using the meditations every day, maybe twice a day, you will gradually find that state growing in your life. Part of finding the peace, however, is learning to be OK with times when we do not feel that way.
All the best to you, Mary.
Thanks for the clarification.
I am a beginner in meditations. Please bear with me if I ask you very silly questions.
You have gifted us 20+ different meditations. Some of them are specific to some situation. Meditations like emotional ease, beyond pain, meditation for grief. These cannot be used on a daily basis.
Others are not specific to any situation. I think they can be used daily. Examples: Effortless, gratitude, aliveness, relaxation, etc. I find all such ‘daily ones’ really good. I find it difficult to select one and persist with it. Do you suggest any chart/schedule/plan which will cover all the meditations for a given period of time? I have given below my suggestions.
* Listen to only two podcast episodes a day
* Everyday: end the day with #27 (Deep rest) - just before retiring to bed.
* Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Morning - Effortless meditation
* Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Morning - Gratitude meditation
* Persist with this plan for 4 weeks (one month) and try out a different plan.
With a plan like this, we can cover many of the episodes in a period of 6 or 8 months.
Please let me know your comments.
Once again, I am really sorry if this concept looks very silly. I think I am treating the list of meditations like a hotel menu and planning to try out everything. However, I feel each one brings in a different experience and we should try out them.
There’s not a best way to go about this, Success. Everyone is different — we all have different needs and sensibilities. Simplest thing is to listen to the meditations and see how they affect you. Then you’ll be able to choose the one that suits you needs at any given time. It’s OK to listen to any of the meditations repeatedly, whether or not they have a specific focus. Someone who is grieving might want to listen to the grief meditation frequently, for example. There are not hard and fast rules!
It’s great that you are planning to use the meditations on a regular basis! Good luck, Mary
Is there any time where we should not do these meditations? for example, immediately after a heavy meals, after a very tiresome journey, after a very heated argument with someone, etc.
You can listen to them anytime really. Try them under different conditions and notice how it works for you. That way you can develop your intuition about what is best for you at any given time.
There may be some times when you might not want to listen. If there are meditations that make you more alert and energetic, you probably wouldn’t want to listen to those right before bed. Often it’s said that it’s better not to meditate right after eating a full meal, but that only applies for certain kinds of meditations that take you very deep.
Thank you for sharing your podcasts. Is there any way to tell, before beginning a podcast, how long that particular meditation is?
I am forever grateful to you and Richard for your podcasts. They were recommended to me by a psychologist when I was being treated for panic disorder and major depression. Your calming voice, the simple and loving words of your meditations and Richard’s beautiful music helped in part to bring me back to life.
I continue to use meditations every day to maintain balance and perspective - or just to relax and have some “me” time!
In the year that I’ve been meditating with you and Richard, I’ve found more self-confidence, creative energy and compassion than ever before.
Whenever a friend seems to be in need of relaxation and peace, I always suggest they try your podcasts. They’re simple and easy for beginners to understand, yet very effective.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
HD
You are welcome, Tammy. If you listen on iTunes, the length of the episode is shown. However, the time does include the time of the music which goes on after the meditation part is finished, sometimes for 10 minutes. We’ll see if we can add the times on this website.
You are welcome, HD — from the bottom of our hearts! I can’t tell you how moved we are by hearing your experience with the podcast. We’re grateful that you took the time to comment. Best wishes, Mary & Richard
Hi Mary,
With reference to the 1st question on this page (Do I get the benefit if I fall asleep while listening?), I would like to ask you the following:
I understand the answer you have provided.
I do fall asleep while listening. However, I get into a dream state and get totally absorbed into that dream state. Once this happens, the guided meditation instructions are totally ignored by me. Later, somehow I realise that I fell asleep and try to get out of the sleep and dream state. And continue the listening. Is this kind of non-continuous participation does not bring the full benefit? Am I doing it incorrectly?
Please note the dream state I refer is very strong and it is as if I had entered into a different world.
Hi Success,
Whatever happens in your meditation is just perfect. The words in the guided meditations are not instructions that are meant to be followed strictly. You don’t need to follow or even hear all the words. Your mind will pick up on whatever it needs at the time. They are just there to facilitate the natural process of meditation for you. If you slip into a dream state, that’s fine. That’s what your mind-body needs at that time. “Taking it as it comes” gives best results, and it sounds like you are doing just that.
Hey Mary,
thanks for the amazing work you’ve done on these podcasts. I’m only 16, but teenage life has been stressing me out to the limit constantly. I found your podcast on iTunes and have recommended them to people around me as a great way to relax and ground.
Here is my question: Do you recommend a certain episode or anything else for destressing and combating depression? It’s nothing worth going to the doctor with, but sometimes it does get in the way of thinking.
Teenage life IS stressful. You are welcome and I’m so glad the podcast is helping. The best thing is to try out the different episodes and see what works best for you. Meditations like Simply Being, Letting Go, Emotional Ease and Relaxing into Healing might be good ones for destressing. Also, our Pure Relaxation CD (also available as an MP3) would be especially good for that.
As for combatting depression — if the guided meditations are helping with that, you may need to do some other things. What about going to a school counselor? Sometimes some counseling can help a lot with depression. I don’t know what you mean when you use the word “depression” and how strong it is, but why not get all the help you can with it!
Thanks for the podcast. Any suggestions for meditation posture? When I meditate sitting up, with a meditation bench, my upper back begins burning after only a few minutes, and seems to overwhelm my attention. When I meditate lying down, I fall asleep. Should I stick with sitting up in the hopes my back will get used to it? Sounds a lot like “effort”, though…
You’re welcome, Mike. Sitting in a way that makes you uncomfortable definitely interferes with meditation!I suggest that you try some other ways of sitting. Perhaps it’s a strain using the meditation bench for you. Try sitting in comfortable chair or whatever way you can find that allows you to sit up and yet be comfortable and relaxed.
Related blog post — You don’t have to sit yoga style to meditate.
Hello,
I was just wondering if you had a podcast or would point me towards a good direction for Anger and Stress. I love the guided meditations that you have on I-tunes, I just recently started studying buddhism and have discovered how to meditate and this podcast has helped me a lot. I thank you and greatly appreciate you for bringing this podcast to us.
You are welcome, Carla. Glad you are enjoying the podcast. Others have requested a meditation for anger and I’m considering creating one (if just the right inspiration comes along). You might also try the Emotional Ease meditation which is designed to help you flow with your emotions.
I’m sure there are guided meditations available for anger, but I’m not aware of any I can recommend. Good luck!
I love your podcasts and keep them in my iPod library, bringing out each meditation as it affects my life at the time. I am puzzled, however, by the fact that I often fall asleep as Mary is talking…only to awake refreshed but not remembering anything she has said. What is going on? L
Glad you are enjoying the podcast, Linda. Sounds like you are becoming deeply relaxed as you listen to the meditation. If you’ve accumulated some fatigue, the body takes the opportunity to get some deep rest by falling asleep when you are relaxed. It’s a different kind of sleep, very deep and refreshing. (Also the words are going into your subconscious as you are asleep.) Hope this makes sense and rings true to your experience.
I have just discovered your podcast and am truly thankful to have found such a fantastic resource. I have listened to a few already and will move through them over the coming days and weeks!
I like to take 15 minutes every morning to meditate. I wonder if you might have any plans for a morning meditation? Something geared towards starting off the day?
Thanks so much for what you are doing! It is really great!
A morning meditation is a great idea. I’ll add it to the list, and I think there’s a good chance I’ll create one. You are very welcome. We’re so glad you are enjoying the podcast.
Hi Mary,
I work in a highly stressful environment. It is not physically stressful for me as it is a sedantary work life.
I work in front of a computer in a noisy surrounding with lot of people around me. Many times, I feel very pressurized due to stress and noise around me. My job requires me to think a lot.
Currently I destress myself by consuming lots of coffee/tea, reading sensational news websites, etc. However, I know these are not right ways to destress.
Can I use any of the podcasts in such a noisy workplace to calm and destress me? Please advise.
I particularly like the new podcast “Relief from Stress and Pressure”. But i am not sure if i can use it in my office whenever I feel stressed.
Regards,
Success
Hi Success. Drinking coffee, reading sensational news and so on is stimulating and diverts our attention from the feeling of stress and stressful emotions. Unfortunately, these things ultimately add to our stress. You can definitely listen to the podcast in a noisy situation. Treat the noise the way you do thoughts in meditation — don’t try to push it out, just let it be there. Perhaps listening with earphones can help block out the other noise which is in itself irritating. Good luck!
Is this available in a Blackberry apps? Or can i load it and transfer it to my BB? If so how?
Thx
Bruce, we don’t have a Meditation Oasis Podcast App for Blackberry, but some referred to getting the podcast on her Blackberry in a Facebook comment. She said she got it as “a podcast on Viigo for my Blackberry”. Hope that helps.
Am I able to download any of your meditations onto my MP3 player? Sorry this really isn’t a comment….
Yes, Maggie, you can download them from the Listen to Our Podcast page or from iTunes. On our website, you would right click on the link to the episode you want and choose the download option from the menu.