I think meditation has an air of mystery tied to it. Why do I need to meditate? How does one make it work? Is this the only way?

Leslie Wood is the perfect person to ask. She has attended nearly 1,000 meditation-focused classes with Breathe Together Yoga. She shared her experiences so we can quash those curious thoughts.

Jane Moritmoto: What does meditation mean to you?

Leslie Wood: For me, meditation is about being – especially about being with my thoughts and emotions in the most non-judgemental and compassionate way.

JM: Why do you practice meditation? 

LW: I practice meditation to calm my nerves, shift my negative thoughts, find forgiveness, and joy in the everyday, and see the goodness in people.

JM: In what ways have you benefited from a regular meditation practice?

LW: I regularly practice restarting my meditation practice. It is a begin-again experience for me and I appreciate that it is always there for me.

JM: How has meditation supported you off the mat? 

LW: Meditation has helped my body heal when it has needed to, it has helped me be more present as a parent, it has improved my ability to reframe situations when I get overly negative, and it has helped me find the little moments of joy that happen every day and breathe them in. It also allows me space for the unexpected.

JM: What were some helpful meditation techniques you discovered? 

LW: Grounding and breathwork are techniques that help me meditate. Walking meditations help when I want to feel more connected to and appreciative of my surroundings. When I am feeling negative about situations or people, I use the loving-kindness meditation.

JM: What challenges have you faced while meditating, and how did you overcome them?

LW: My biggest challenge has been developing a sit-down meditation practice that lasts for years rather than months.  I do a good job of using meditation techniques pretty regularly however the dedication and ritual of sitting down and meditating has not happened – I continue to overcome that challenge by beginning again.

JM: What advice would you share with someone who has never meditated? 

LW: Just try it!  When I talk to people about meditating they often say that they can’t do it because they can’t stop thinking about things.  But that really isn’t the point.  There are multiple ways of meditating to help quiet the mind so – give it a go. Over and over again if you have to.