Calling Cigar Loving Meditators.....

[El Presidente]

It took me 5 months but it was one of my 2018 resolutions to undertake a course on Mindful Meditation.  Di decided to join me and we kicked off last night.  I am looking for a new way to handle ken, while Di is looking for a new way to deal with me 

We really enjoyed it and look forward to learning/participating in something new over the coming months. 

I was wondering if we have some practicing FOH meditators out there? If so, how long have you been practising?   We would love to hear your insights 

 

[thedame007]

I have been using the Headspace app daily for the past two years - it really is a fantastic tool, with plenty of choices of 10-30 day courses if you want a more specific form of mindfulness, or there are unguided options. You can also specify how long you want the session to be - 10/20/30 mins. I find Andy Puddicombe to be a great coach 

 

Certainly the practice of undertaking mindfulness has had a real positive effect on my mental health, and by turn my relationship with people in my life. It has also helped me to be more 'present', which works wonders when smoking a cigar, and the sensuality feedback.

 

I look forward to reading how you all get on 

 

*Disclaimer - in no way am i associated with, or have shares in, headspace 

[El Presidente]

Many thanks for that.  Will certainly check it out. 

........Di really needs it 

[ElJavi76]

I'm always looking for a new way to get better physically and of course mentally. About two years ago I was introduced to yoga and practiced it weekly for about half a year. Yoga in turn got me digging deeper. How to quiet down the noise and bustle upstairs? I found meditation and more specifically guided meditation. Sometimes we sit on a mat or a comfortable chair, close or eyes, and then what? There are many many great guided meditation examples on YouTube, but I happen to gravitate towards a channel called The Honest Guys. You might want to give them a try. Beyond that I've read several amazing introspective books, including Universal Laws by Jennifer O'Neill and The Untethered Soul by the amazing Michael Singer. (He has a video series to accompany the book) The later book will set one question before you, Who am I? 

You'll learn quickly that what we feel can only come from within. Fear, hate, anxiety, and love, to name a few, cannot come from outside of us. We're in more control than we think, or know. I've shared the gift of meditation with my wife whose high powered role in a financial institution has tried to lean its full weight on her. She's in a better place. I'm in a better place. Anytime I feel a little "out of control" the breathing exercises commence. We must keep our minds as healthy as our bodies. 

All the best to you and Di on your ride. 

Cheers

[ayepatz]

2 hours ago, El Presidente said:

I am looking for a new way to handle ken, while Di is looking for a new way to deal with me 

 

I’m just going to leave this here...

http://www.thesmashpit.com.au/ ?

 

In all seriousness, Mindfulness is such a useful way of dealing with high stress loads. It has greatly helped me through the most trying periods of my life.

 

[joeypots]

   I meditate by sitting in a chair with closed eyes and focusing my mind on my breath. People say they can’t do it, their mind wonders. That’s the point. When I realize I’m thinking about something I focus back on my breath. What I learned is that my mind wants to think about almost anything except what I want it to focus on.  It takes practice to disregard every thought that runs through my head except the one I’m using.

   A little meditation has helped me  ignore the “noise” and focus on what I want to focus on.  A friend likes to say that half of his head makes up bullshit and the other half believes it.  Another says that the mind is a terrible master and a wonderful servant.  Meditation helps me  respond rather than react. And, BTW, I’ve read that the greatest masters of meditation can take almost three whole breaths before a thought intrudes. 

[benfica_77]

I commend you both for trying something new. I am still very much a novice but here's my insight that I have found to date regarding meditation:

• It must be done on a regular basis for you to feel its benefits
• Start slowly and grow into it, start with 7-8 minute guided meditations and work your way up from there. I find 15-20 minutes is my sweet spot personally. 
• Beyond guided meditation if the day's stresses are being too much sit in a quiet comfortable place and close your eyes and focus on your toes and feel them relaxing and very very slowly work your way up your body. Focus on making those body parts as relaxed as possible. Focus on nothing else but working slowly up your body. It's a 5 minute exercise but can come in handy. 
• In terms of videos everyone has a different opinion but a great beginner series I suggest would be this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_axz86tYOzM
• Good luck! By the way to deal with Ken you don't need meditation just prank him! Make the next 6 reviews Cuabas  

[ElJavi76]

11 minutes ago, benfica_77 said:

Good luck! By the way to deal with Ken you don't need meditation just prank him! Make the next 6 reviews Cuabas  

Or half/media coronas. Maybe some Petit Robos. LOL

[Guest Nekhyludov]

I've practiced Zazen meditation on and off for the past eight years using this instruction manual, which I've found enormously useful.

I wish I could report that meditation works like a pill (i.e. take 15 minutes of meditation, get relief immediately), but for me it does not. I was told when I began that if I practiced this diligently every day for a very long period of time, then I *might* someday be *slightly* less of an @sshole. I'm still working on it. 

[ImTripN2]

I have been practicing meditation / visualization daily for more than 25 years, and I find it works great for me. It only takes a few minutes twice a day, usually when I go to bed, and again when I wake up, or anytime I get stressed or need a breather.

Ever seen Jason Day before he hits a golf shot? He's visualizing his result before he swings. It's a simple technique and you an apply it to your health, success, happiness, whatever. It is simple to do, and with practice you can achieve calmness and serenity almost instantly.

Good luck.

Here is a great book to get you started.

http://www.oldways.org/documents/headology/creative_visualization_by_shakti_gawain_2.pdf

[Puros Y Vino]

I've found smoking a cigar alone to be enough meditation for me. 

[hedgeybaby]

Something I need to try. Last night demonstrated that more than ever. 

[saintsmokealot]

Acupuncture. After the wife swore by it on the third trip I understood. Now it has become part of my routine body/mind maintenance.  

[Bill Hayes]

Mindfulness techniques have helped me deal a lot with stress from work. The Headspace app is excellent from all reports. My missus has used it before bed and she feels very relaxed the whole next day. I have mostly used the technique of concentrating on the rise and fall of the abdomen when breathing. It's hard to try and breathe normally without controlling the breathing, just letting the body take over. This can help you breathe 'like a baby' from your diaphram and not your chest. The trick is to let thoughts flow through but not take hold. I'm about 50 years away from mastering it but it has helped, especially in the morning before work. It's also good for my other passion, breath hold freediving spearfishing. All the best with it.

[fastkiller13]

There’s a breathing technique called resonance frequency breathing it uses some biofeedback but there are several smartphone apps which use the camera and your finger to measure heart rate and show you when to inhale and exhale. 

Basic jist is around 6 breaths per minute. It lowers heart rate, elevates mood and focus, helps with energy, and can bring me from stark raving lunatic to just plain crazy in one 10 minute session. You can start with 5 minutes once or twice a day. There’s lots of scientific research on the topic and one interesting thing they’ve found is the best athletes actually do it naturally. 

I’ve been meditating for years and the suggestion about headspace is a very good one. It’s a bit gimmicky with the cartoons but I learned to meditate by going through the take series. After a bit of time with that app I think you’ll have a decent idea of what works and what doesn’t for you. Then you can branch out and dig in. It starts with 5 minutes a day which is perfect for most people. 

Just remember meditation doesn’t actually quiet the mind. What it does is allow the stream of thoughts to flow by without me getting caught up in them and drifting away into the past or the future. So basically it keeps me grounded and helps me focus on the present. 

Theres also an app called insight timer. It has guided meditations of all sorts and lengths as well as a system that allows you to set your own time. There’s also a bit of a social component to it which you can use or leave. 

[Auspaul]

19 years use the app called insight timer at the moment  for getting to sleep has links to thousands of mediations. I used to be able to meditate after gym and lose all the pump pain and lactic acid build up after an half an hour of meditation felt like I had not been to gym. Have had some strange experiences

[HoyoFan]

I second Headspace as a great tool and a wonderful “gateway drug” into meditation as Andy makes it easy to follow him along and adds a lot of playfulness to the practice.

I’ve been meditating daily. Every morning for about a year and a half now and I can genuinely feel the difference in myself and see an effect on my life. I’ve been able to let go of things like Facebook, Instagram, needlessly buying things that don’t really make me happy (except cigars)

In terms of books, I highly recommend the following:
- Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss
- Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
- Waking up (forget author)

One of the realizations for me about cigars though has been that smoking a cigar is almost a kind of meditation for me in that I sit and mindfully enjoy the experience of the feel, taste, smell of the cigar. I try not to look at my phone, my mind at first wants to do a million other things but eventually quiets down.

Good luck Rob, genuinely hope you find it useful.

[puromaniac]

Rob, you are a lover of fishing and water, and I advise you to pick up a copy of Wallace Nichols' book, Blue Mind. It has the best sub-title of all time: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do: 

http://wallacejnichols.org/122/bluemind.html

It is akin to the rapidly growing pursuit of "nature therapy." One of my favorite pastimes. Basically, time spent in nature or around water "frees you from the tyranny of the pre-frontal cortex," the part of our brain that houses our exhausting executive functions (like how much time I need to spend in the warehouse and what I need to review and post, etc.).

Simply put, the sights, sounds and smells of nature allow other parts of our brains to start working, ones associated with wonder, empathy, and pleasure, lowering stress, heart rate, and improving general well-being. Similar to the benefits provided by yoga and mindful meditation.

 

[El Presidente]

3 hours ago, puromaniac said:

he surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do: 

I can see how that would work. There are a few people that holding under water would make me feel "happier, healthier and more connected" 

 

Thanks for the heads up. i will download the books this weekend 

 

 

 

 

[Colt45]

Don't forget the palo santo sticks

 

On 5/15/2018 at 10:50 AM, bundwallah said:

I've found smoking a cigar alone to be enough meditation for me. 

Exactly - what's more meditative?

[luckme10]

On 5/15/2018 at 7:06 AM, Nekhyludov said:

I've practiced Zazen meditation on and off for the past eight years using this instruction manual, which I've found enormously useful.

I wish I could report that meditation works like a pill (i.e. take 15 minutes of meditation, get relief immediately), but for me it does not. I was told when I began that if I practiced this diligently every day for a very long period of time, then I *might* someday be *slightly* less of an @sshole. I'm still working on it. 

I too, would recommend this book. It's a great introduction into the world of zazen meditation. At the very least it tells you to emphasize counting and focusing on your breathing. If you liked books by the little suzuki, I recommend looking into the works of D.T Suzuki as well. Meditation was a great way for me to able to slow down and just appreciate the day, until I found cigars.

[luckme10]

Here was a nice Steve Harvey clip comparing cigars to yoga.

 

[tigger]

2 hours ago, luckme10 said:

I too, would recommend this book. It's a great introduction into the world of zazen meditation. At the very least it tells you to emphasize counting and focusing on your breathing. If you liked books by the little suzuki, I recommend looking into the works of D.T Suzuki as well. Meditation was a great way for me to able to slow down and just appreciate the day, until I found cigars.

And I too would recommend it. 

It's one of the first books I read at the recommendation of the folks at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper, NY some 20 years ago.

I once had a very regular, twice daily practice...it's much more sporadic these days.

It brought and still brings a great deal of calm and focus to my life.
 

[LGC]

When it comes to stress and medical issues... I’ve learned recently that it’s important to start with the basics and treat the root cause. You have to clear your “plate” and not just address the symptoms.

If someone or something is occupying your thoughts, address the person or issue directly (part ways if necessary). Carrying excess weight? Address eating habits and avoid drastic diets. Can’t sleep? Avoid drugs and address any sleep apnea and bad bedtime routines. Avoid using caffeine and alcohol as bandaids for sleep issues. They only exacerbate issues. Food, alcohol, and cigars can be good stress relievers, but it’s sometimes a fine line to overindulgence.

As adults, we often turn to quick fixes rather than making difficult changes that we often know are necessary. With kids, work, and medical issues... I found myself ignoring my own physical and mental needs... and spending all my time worrying about work, bills, and just trying to please the kids, wife, parents, and in laws. Sometimes we just have to learn to take care of ourselves...

[luckme10]

Well, we don't want to give them too much help. They might realize that the real stress causing factors are the 24:24 and it may cease to exist.