Am I Doing It Wrong? 5 Common Meditation Misconceptions Explained

Am I doing it wrong? Let’s clear up 5 common meditation misconceptions & clarify its purpose.

Meditation is a buzzword but what is it meant to do? What value does it have? Let’s take a closer look at what it can provide and why it’s worth attempting in the first place.

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Is the goal of meditation to stop the brain from thinking?

The goal of meditation is not to stop thought. Our brain’s job is to think. It processes information and sustains patterns of thought and this is not only natural but necessary to maintain adaptability and function within our environment. Many mistakenly think they aren’t “doing meditation right” because they can’t stop the thoughts but meditation isn’t about making the brain not do its job.

What is the goal of meditation?

The goal of meditation is to create a place and time where there can be space for stillness. To take a break from ceaseless activity and to choose to limit distraction. It’s only from here, one can cultivate the skill of pausing and exercising self-control over the thought flow and processes.

What positive affects can meditation facilitate?

The only two things we can control are our actions and our reactions. Mediation can strengthen our ability to realize our choice to act or react. The space that mediation can create allows for an awareness that opens the door for us to choose actions and reactions that are inline, congruent, and demonstrative of our values. This carries with it the subsequent positive prospects to break destructive thought patterns, reject unhelpful generalizations or negative thinking spirals that contribute to passivity or defeatism, and allows us to create constructive changes within relationships. Becoming more cognizant of what is at play allows us to engage from an empowered perspective.

What makes meditation uncomfortable?

Much of the time meditation feels uncomfortable because we don’t engage in it very often. To sit still and focus takes practice and what we perceive as discomfort begins to dissipate when it becomes more known and familiar. Repeated attempts (practice) paves the way to allow for a shift from self-judgment into self-acceptance. This then creates the pathway for different decision making patterns from a place of enhanced awareness.

Why is meditation included in Yoga Teacher Training?

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Wild Thing School of Yoga recognizes the value of cultivating mindfulness, which can be aided by the practice of meditation. We believe that through increasing the tools each student/teacher has within reach, an individual is better positioned to deal effectively with the challenges inside the classroom and outside.

Why have meditation guided by a professional at WTSY?

We want our students to have an opportunity to learn from individuals who are experts in what they do/teach. Rather then try to become an expert ourselves in every aspect and discipline we actively seek out professionals that can bring their strengths and specialties to our classroom. This allows participants to experience learning from a variety of individuals, benefit from diverse teaching methods, get thorough answers when asking complex questions, and also sets them up for a quality experience of the element(s) being presented. As such, our schools guided meditation is facilitated by a passionate, studied professional, Deborah Livingston. To find out more about her journey and qualifications read here.

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For more on what makes Wild Thing School of Yoga awesome, read here.

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Photography Credit: Wild Thing Photography

Model: Deborah Livingston

Arielena Reed