Sattva Archives - The Happy Bishop

The Top 10 Places to Meditate

by Laurie Bishop

Thinking about meditation, but not sure where to begin?

As in, really where? Where does one meditate?

You go to the gym to workout, the pool to swim, but where do you go to meditate?

I don’t have a specific meditation room in my home, and I’m guessing you may not either.

So, how do you start meditating when you aren’t even really sure where to go to meditate?

If this stumps you, I totally get it.

I’ve wrestled with this more than a time or two.

Once, I knocked over my water bottle while trying to meditate sitting perched on a high rock sending the water bottle plummeting down a mountain cliff. Then there was the time I tripped and fell while trying to meditate while running. Boy, was that a big mistake!

If you’re like me, trying something new, no matter how great it is for you, takes patience to work through the epic fails.

From my experience of losses to wins, here is The Happy Bishop’s top ten list of places to meditate to get you started on the path to a healthier and happier mind.

10. The beach

Sitting on the beach and meditating can be a fabulous place to explore the innermost recesses of your mind, but only if you happen to be on a private beach.

We are big beach-goers in my family, and I have found that it is challenging to find a time when a beach area is empty.

There always seems to be people around, like the boisterous kids that ghost crab hunt (Those are my kids, by the way), the sunrise turtle patrol who militantly search for turtle tracks (When I’m in my 80’s, that’s so going to be me!), the morning joggers (been there), and the shell collectors (am that person too) to name a few.

When you think about it, there’s a lot of traffic on most beaches and not just the beaches where I am vacationing.

A better place might be a quiet room where you are staying at the beach.

9. The mountains

Sitting on a large rock on a mountaintop also sounds like a fabulous place to meditate.

Be mindful of how far away from hiking trails you are, and that you don’t wander off too far and become lost.

Fun fact, I get lost often during hikes. Many a 1/4 mile hike with me has turned into a rugged 5-mile adventure.

Also, you’ll want to make sure there are no bear, mountain lions, or snakes that decide your choice of a meditation spot is also their favorite spot.

You will also want to make certain that if you perch on a perfect high rock sitting on the top of a steep cliff, you don’t accidentally kick over your water bottle and watch it roll over the side of the mountain, as you yell, “OH MY GOD, noooooooo.” Of course, the yell is met by an echo announcing your folly far and wide.

That might have happened to me.

A better place might be a quiet room where you are staying in the mountains.

8. The spa

Sitting in a lounge chair in the “meditation room” of a spa all bundled up in your soft spa bathrobe and slippers with a cup of cucumber water beside you might sound like a wonderful place to meditate.

It would be if it was just you and not you and a pack loudly chatting strangers bonding over their spa bridal shower.

I might have had that experience as well.

A better place might be your hotel room where you can sit quietly and meditate and not have to worry about anyone trying to engage you in conversation. Wasn’t it obvious to the bridal shower party that my eyes were closed? Why did they keep asking me questions?

7. The lake

The lake is a great place to calm your mind. You can plop your folding chair by the water’s edge, and relax into meditation.

That is until a large group enters the water in front of you, and you feel their stand up paddle boards miss your head by several inches as they run past you. Then, there is that motorboat you saw in the distance that decides that where you are sitting in the sand is a wonderful place to anchor so the kids can splash and swim.

A better place might be in a quiet room in your home before you go to the lake or after you get home.

6. In the car

I have tried to meditate in the car.

No, not while I am driving, but while I am the passenger.

It’s difficult though because your focus has to be away from your daughter’s choice of music (rap), or your husband using profanity, matching the lyrics of the rap music, at the car that just cut him off.

Hey, is that just in my car?

A better place might be in a quiet room in your home before you get into the car.

5. On the train

Trains have a beautiful way of lulling us into a seemingly meditative state, that is until the child sitting behind you starts kicking your seat, or the massive passenger beside you sticks his elbows into what is obviously your area.

It perplexes me why he didn’t move even after I gave him the stink eye.

Public transportation is just that, public.

When you decide to meditate while riding public transit, the person sitting next to you, or behind you, may not be tolerant of stillness.

Maybe a better place would be to meditate before you get on the train in a quiet room while you are at home or when you return from your trip.

4. During your run

Running can bring peace and clarity, with its repetitive movement and rhythmic breathing.

It’s easy to feel like you are in a meditative state.

But you are running, and you have to be aware of traffic. You have to be mindful of where your feet land so you don’t trip.

I might have fallen dramatically on my hands and knees during one run when I let my mind get a tad too zen.

Maybe a better place would be to meditate in a quiet room in your own home after your run.

3. Your backyard

You might find a place of comfort in your backyard.

That is not the case where I live, but I have a friend with a very secluded backyard who likes to meditate in her garden.

She once had a bird land on her shoulder as she meditated.

How cool is that?

I think for me, though, that would have pulled me out of the meditation as my mind began to holler, “Oh my God! Oh my God! There’s a bird on my shoulder; there’s a freakin’ bird on my shoulder. How cool is this? Where’s my cell phone? I need to put this on Insta.”

Maybe a better place would be to meditate inside your home in a quiet room.

2. Your home

Have you noticed the reoccurring location for meditation seems to be in your own home?

There is a good reason for that.

Meditation isn’t about traveling to an exotic place to find peace.

It is about traveling within.

The best place to “travel within” is where you are most comfortable, and for most of us, that place is our home.

1. Anywhere safe, quiet, and still

The ultimate place to meditate is where you feel safe. A place where there is quiet and stillness is your best bet.

You don’t have to travel physically to get there, only mentally. The best place to meditate is where you can sit, breathe, and relax.

The best way to start meditating is through guided meditations. If you would like to try guided meditation, try using an app. There are many meditation apps available, but I use the app Sattva.

Do you have some favorite places to meditate, or some epic fails you’d like to share? Let us hear about them!

Fixing Lonesome

by Laurie Bishop

Technology has given us a constant circle of friends. From Facebook to Instagram, we are connected to a world where we can learn about Sally’s son’s graduation and Bob’s broken toe. We are woven together by social media. Chained as one by our cell phones, computers, and even our TVs, we live in a technology-driven world where it’s hard to find a time when we are truly alone.

Yet, it’s amazing how many people are lonely.

Now, I’m not talking about depression or insecurity here. I’m talking about loneliness: without friends, alone. Loneliness can certainly bring out insecurity or depression, but let’s talk about what we can do to fix feeling lonely before it crashes into depression.

Human’s are social beings.

You know that.

I know that.

The founders of social media know that.

Because we are social beings, we like to interact with the world around us. Sometimes our lives don’t work out the way we plan, and we find ourselves sitting on a bench, alone and feeling lonely.

Here are two fixes to help when lonesome comes to call.

1- Live in the Present Moment

That sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not that easy, which is why we often unknowingly open the door for lonely.

It’s so easy to let our minds drift back to the past. Too often when we do that, we aren’t remembering the good old days, but we are stuck on an event involving trauma or sadness. It consumes our minds to the extent that we are unable to focus on the here and now.

It’s not just the past that plagues our minds but also the future. We can become consumed by anticipating events that may or may not happen. All the “what ifs” that clutter our minds keep us away from what is going on right in front of us.

Letting go or moving on from past and future events doesn’t diminish the significance of the events. It allows us to live in the now and live more fully.

How do we let go?

The best way I have found is by calming my mind down through meditation and breathing exercises. Sometimes, a good long run also helps me because I am focused on my breathing and the steady cadence of my feet. If I can’t run, I often meditate or practice breathing exercises.

You can find meditations on the Sattva app and breathing exercises (also known as pranayamas) here.

When we sit on that bench and our mind is in the present, we allow ourselves to experience life more richly.

We begin to notice the person who just walked by us, smiled and said hello as he walked his dog.

We notice the person who sat on the bench with us and talked for 15 minutes.

We notice the birds, butterflies, squirrels or myriad of life that just circled around us.

When we are in the present, we realize we aren’t alone.

Still not feeling connected enough to brush lonesome off? Then, move to fix-it number 2.

2- Go Do Something Nice for Someone.

Have you heard the old saying, “When you give to the well of life, you get from the well of life?”

Helping others is a way to give to the well of life.

When you help others, you certainly aren’t alone, you are helping people. Helping others can elevate your mood as well as the mood of those you are helping. When you help others, you are forced to interact with people in a positive way. Most of the time, positive interaction grows more positive interaction.

But what can I do, you may be asking right now?

Keep it simple, and help where help is needed.

Go help stock food at your local Food Donation Center.

Volunteer at your child’s school, or your local church, synagogue, or temple.

Did someone in front of you at the grocery store just drop her grocery bag? Then, stop, and help her.

Is someone facing a grave illness? Then, take time to lend your ear. Helping isn’t about giving money. Sometimes helping someone in crisis involves showing that there is another person in the world that cares.

When you lift someone else’s burden of emotional isolation that a grave illness can create you become stronger. When you offer help, you are letting that person know she is not alone, which in turn makes you realize, “Hey, I’m not alone either.”

Ultimately, we are all in this technology-crazed, (at times dysfunctional) yet always beautiful, world together. Kick lonesome to the curb by living in the moment and helping others.