Five places to meditate in Canberra
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Kobe Bryant does it. Richard Branson does it. Jerry Seinfield, LeBron James, Lena Dunham, Russell Brand, Novak Djokovic, Michael Jordan, even Oprah does it! What is it that these successful entrepreneurs, athletes and celebrities all have in common?
They meditate.
All around us, there’s a shift in perception taking place. Increasingly, wellbeing is considered just as important as money and power. In fact, in her book Thrive, Arianna Huffington refers to what she calls the ‘third metric of success’: something we require to lead meaningful and healthy lives. Arianna would know – the founder of the Huffington Post collapsed one day in her office after driving her body to the edge by overworking and failing to look after her own health. She’s now a vocal advocate of sleep, detoxing from technology, taking time to relax, and importantly, meditate.
The effectiveness of meditation in reducing stress and improving health is well documented –there are even studies that show meditation over a prolonged period of time can result in structural and functional changes to the brain.
Given all this, you might wonder why more people aren’t on board the meditation bandwagon, and the answer is simple: it’s hard. Isn’t it fascinating that something so fundamentally simple – taking time to clear your mind and centre yourself – can be so challenging for so many people? Sometimes it seems like the more challenging something is, the more worthwhile a pursuit it can be, and meditation is no exception.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of guidance available in Canberra. Here are five places where you can work on meditation, irrespective of your experience or your budget.
Rigpa Canberra Meditation Centre
The Rigpa Canberra Meditation Centre is in Holder and offers drop-in guided meditation sessions in return for a small donation.
The word Rigpa is Tibetan and means ‘the innermost nature of the mind’. Inspired by this word, Rigpa is an international network of Buddhist centres and groups offering studies on Tibetan Buddhism and of course, meditation courses.
If you’re looking for an authentic Buddhist meditation experience, this is your spot.
The sessions are open to everyone irrespective of experience and the drop in format means that you can attend as often as you like depending on your availability.
the essentials
Where: Level 1A, 27 Mulley Street, Holder
When: Every Friday from 6:00pm – 6:45pm
Contact: Call 6181 7124
Web: canberra.rigpa.org.au
InSync Institute
The InSync Institute is located above Griffith shops and is a beautiful, peaceful place. I’ve been along to the yoga classes offered there and I have to say that the guided meditations were my favourite part.
With over 30 years experience, they’ve taught thousands of people mindfulness and meditation. The courses are led by InSync founder Kieran O’Callaghan and teacher Fabian Lopez who make meditation accessible for people of all levels and walks of life.
They have a focus on calming the mind to experience greater clarity, peace and joy and creating connections between the mind and body.
InSync offer flexible learning, with courses available through a DIY online course, a live online webinar series, or a series of five classes that run for 90 minutes each from the Institute in Griffith. Prices vary and start at $149 per course.
the essentials
Where: 1/14 Barker Street, Griffith
When: Check website for class details
Contact: Call 6181 7124
Web: www.insyncyoga.com.au
Canberra Sri Chimnoy Centre
The Canberra Sri Chinmoy Centre offers free four to six week meditation courses in a number of locations across Canberra.
The classes are designed to give you guidance and practical tips so that you can continue a meditation practice in your home. Topics include an introduction to meditation and chakras, breathing exercises, mantras, visualisations, using meditation as a life skill in problem solving and reducing stress, and more.
If you enjoy the course there is an option to join the continuation program, which is also offered at zero cost, and includes two evenings a week of guided meditations and discussions.
the essentials
Where: Various locations
When: Visit website for course details
Contact: Drop them a line via their website contact page
Web: au.srichinmoycentre.org/meditation
The Great Outdoors
You don’t necessarily have to attend a course in meditation to be able to practice it. Find a beautiful and calm space, get comfortable and get meditating! If you’re not sure where to start, try closing your eyes and focussing on the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body. Practice mindfulness by noticing the sounds and smells that surround you and observing your thoughts without judgement.
If that sounds a bit complicated, there are a number of apps you can download, like Smiling Mind, albums you can purchase or podcasts with guided meditations.
My top Canberra spots for meditating are:
- Commonwealth Park
- The National Arboretum
- The top of Mount Majura, Aislie or Taylor
- Nara Peace Park
- Norgrove Park, Kingston Foreshore.
Home Sweet Home
That’s right, you can set up a lovely little meditation space right in the comfort of your own home.
The best bit is that you can personalise it exactly how you like. Some things to consider are: a comfy place to sit, whether that’s a chair or a floor cushion (make sure it’s somewhere you can sit with your back straight); incense or candles; music or an audio guided meditation; and if you’re really going all in, you might want to add crystals, plants, cymbals or whatever helps you ‘get in the zone’.
Above all, make sure it’s somewhere that’s uncluttered, reasonably quiet, free of distractions and somewhere that you can be comfortable.
Remember that meditation is something that’s personal and requires a little bit of dedication, but the more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it.
Feature image of young woman meditating from shutterstock.com
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