Latest news with #meditation
Al Bawaba
13 hours ago
- Al Bawaba
Celebrate International Yoga Week in Paradise at InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
This summer offers the perfect opportunity to realign mind and body amidst the serene beauty of the Maldives. In celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21st, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort is hosting an immersive five-day yoga retreat from June 20th to 24th. Led by renowned Dubai-based instructor Emilia Métaireau, the retreat is offering a transformative escape from the everyday. Thoughtfully timed for a mid-summer reset, the experience welcomes wellness seekers to disconnect from routine and rediscover inner harmony through mindful movement, breathwork, and meditation, set against the breathtaking backdrop of one of the world's most idyllic island as a signature event for International Yoga Day, this retreat celebrates holistic healing, blending ancient yogic traditions with modern techniques to create a soul-stirring experience. Daily sunrise sessions awaken the senses, while thoughtful evening practices help ground the body and soothe the mind. Guided meditations and energy healing techniques further enhance self-awareness and spiritual instructor for the retreat, Emilia Métaireau, is a passionate advocate for mindful movement and self-care, with over a decade of dedicated practice. Internationally certified in London and having led more than 2,500 hours of classes and retreats around the world, she brings a grounded yet expansive energy to every session. Her approach blends conscious movement, breathwork, and ancient wisdom to guide guests back to their bodies and inner the heart of the retreat lies the ancient yogic philosophy of the five koshas - a powerful framework for self-discovery and holistic wellbeing. According to yoga tradition, each human being is made up of five interconnected layers, or sheaths, known as koshas, which shape our experience of life, spirituality, and self-realisation. These include the Annamaya Kosha (physical body), Pranamaya Kosha (energy body), Manomaya Kosha (mental body), Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellectual body), and the innermost Anandamaya Kosha (bliss body). Each kosha holds the potential to guide us inward - toward balance, clarity, and the essence of who we truly are. Through thoughtfully curated practices of yoga, meditation, and mindful movement, this retreat offers a deeply experiential journey through these five koshas, helping you peel back each layer and return to a place of inner harmony, joy, and embodied Spa, the resort's luxury wellness retreat, welcomes guests to their overwater sanctuary to enjoy signature treatments and wellness therapies, perfect for guests seeking peace and serenity. AVI Spa translates to "sunshine" in the language of its island home, beautifully reflecting the transformative experiences it provides for its guests. The resort's retreat program offers guests a unique opportunity to embark on a deeply holistic journey that nurtures every aspect of your being, restoring balance, enhancing vitality, and reconnecting you with your authentic on the idyllic southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and bordering a juvenile manta ray aggregation spot, the resort is perfectly situated for indulging in a retreat experience. As the first and only all-Club InterContinental resort, guests are truly spoiled with indulgent complimentary benefits alongside luxurious five-star Maldivian facilities such as overwater villas, an adults-only area including pool and restaurant, and a tranquil spa where guests can enjoy guided meditation and yoga sessions to support mindfulness and recentering. With six restaurants and bars and 81 villas and residences, guests have the luxury to choose their hideaway as well as exceptional food and beverage Highlights & Activity ScheduleWhen: 20th – 24th June 2025Day 1 - June 20thTheme: Annamayakosha - Awaken to your bodyDynamic Vinyasa Flow (90 minutes)Time: 9:00 AMDay 2 - June 21stTheme: Pranamayakosha - Cultivate vibrant vitalityYin & Yoga Nidra (90 minutes)Time: 6:00 PMDay 3 - June 22ndTheme 1. Manomayakosha - Calming the mindDynamic Vinyasa Flow (90 minutes)Time: 9:00 AMTheme 2. Vijnanamayakosha - Ignite your intuitionYin & Yoga Nidra (90 minutes)Time: 6:00 PMDay 4 - June 23rdTheme: Anandamayakosha - Blissful stateDynamic Vinyasa Flow (2 hours)Time: 9:00 AMDay 5 - June 24thTheme: Integrating the five koshas: A journey withinYin & Nidra (90 minutes) Time: 6:00 PM © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Woman who went on a ten-day silent retreat shares alarming timetable of strictly regimented day
A woman who went on a ten day silent yoga retreat has shared the alarmingly strict timetable she had to follow there. Stephanie Gavan revealed how each day at the Dhamma Dipa Vipassana meditation centre in Herefordshire was tightly scheduled - with nearly 11 hours of meditation each day. She also said guests have to adhere to a list of rules banning phones, laptops books, writing, eye contact, gesturing, eating past noon and – crucially – talking. Vipassana, which means 'to see things as they really are' is one of India 's most ancient meditation techniques. The practice involves repeatedly scanning the body from head to toe until you feel waves of vibrations charging through your limbs. Ms Gavan signed up to do a vipassana course after she felt swamped with work, dissatisfied with her living situation and navigating a complicated family drama. Although she had 'dabbled' in meditation before it had never been for more than 15 minutes until her place on the retreat was confirmed. Despite working up to 45 minutes of meditation daily before attending Vipassana, when Ms Gavan arrived her hear palms were sweating and her heart was pounding. She has now told dazed digital about her bizarre experience including the regimented routine she had to follow, and how fellow retreat-goers started to disappear. On the first day attendees were rudely woken from their slumber by a loud gong sounding at 4 am. They then brushed their teeth before trudging across a dark field to a large gender-segregated hall where a cushioned space has been assigned for each of them. One each person had taken a seat recordings of S. N. Goenka - the first teacher of Vipassana meditation - was played on speakers. 'No matter how many cushions I used to support me, a persistent ache gnawed at my spine, my knees felt like shards of glass, and my ass became permanently numb', Ms Gavan said. The group sat in the hall for two hours at the start of each day and followed the same routine for the whole time they were at the retreat. Ms Gavan said as the days passed by, more and more empty cushions started to appear in the hall, signaling early departures. The rest of the day consisted of solo and group meditation sessions, meal breaks and question time before bed at 9.30pm. In total attendees do roughly 10 hours and 45 minutes of meditation each day. Ms Gavan said the part of the retreat she found particularly challenging was being silent. She added: 'Being alone with yourself is hard, but it's also revealing. Boredom forces you to pay attention to things you'd usually miss. 'At break, I watched birds slurp down worms like spaghetti and caterpillars making leaves disappear. 'Suddenly, every occurrence is an event, and you begin to appreciate how precarious, profound and funny life can be.' When the group's vow of silence was finally lifted and they were able to discuss their experiences Ms Gavan found most of the women she had been were seeking some kind of healing. This included those battling addiction, grieving, or struggling to find a purpose in their life. For some Vipassana was a positive experience, with one woman going as far as to say,' Vipassana has been the best thing I've ever done for my mental health'. However, not everyone found the retreat to be beneficial, and another attendee said it made her anxious. She also expressed how she believes there should be a bigger health warning for people with prior mental health issues. A spokesperson for Vipassana in Hereford said: 'A Vipassana course is serious, intensive and demanding, and all participants are made fully aware of the demands of the course before they come. 'They are asked to confirm that they have carefully read and understood the Code of Discipline and the Timetable, so they know what to expect.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Yoga and meditation sessions to be held on Brownsea Island
Yoga and meditation sessions are being held on Brownsea Island this summer. The National Trust has announced a series of relaxing events on the island to help people "pause, reflect and reconnect with yourself and with the natural world". The sessions will be held in July and September and consist of yoga, meditation and forest bathing. Participants will be able to enjoy the island's scenery and wildlife while attending the sessions, but tickets are limited and early booking is encouraged. Forest bathing and yoga under trees offer calm escape on Brownsea (Image: National Trust) Participants will follow an instructor as they are guided through gentle yoga postures and breathing exercises. This can be done by all levels of experience. After the practice, a picnic brunch will be served in the grounds of Brownsea Castle. The forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku, will be a "slow, meditative journey through the woods, designed to awaken the senses and foster a deep sense of calm". Participants will be encouraged to notice the small and subtle details of the island, such as the bark textures, the pine scent and the light through the trees. Forest bathing and yoga under trees offer calm escape on Brownsea (Image: National Trust Images/John Millar) A picnic brunch will also be served after this. Rachel Lamb, partnership and projects officer for the National Trust at Brownsea Island, said: "Whether you're experienced in yoga or simply curious about mindfulness in nature, these events are designed to leave you feeling refreshed, grounded and inspired. "Imagine rolling out your yoga mat under a tree canopy, with the sound of the sea in the background. "As you move through gentle yoga postures, guided by an experienced instructor, the stresses of daily life begin to melt away. "These events are an invitation to pause, reflect and reconnect with yourself and with the natural world. "And where better to do that than on a beautiful island where red squirrels dart through the trees and the sea laps gently at the shore?"
The Guardian
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
The one change that worked: meditation cured my insomnia – and transformed my relationships
In the run-up to Christmas 2018, wobbly with delirium on a station platform packed with partygoers, I nearly fell under a train. Insomnia – not the 'I woke at 3am for a bit' type, but the brutalising 'I might have dropped off for a fretful 45 minutes at around 6am' kind – will do that to a person. I have rarely slept well. But this particular stretch of insomnia was, almost literally, a killer. I'd tried every snake oil on the market. A Harley Street hypnotist gave up on me after two sessions. Prescription sleeping pills stopped working. As a last resort, I tried the eight-week NHS cognitive behavioural therapy course for insomnia. It involved a tedious sleep diary, increasing 'sleep pressure' by forcing myself to stay up until 2am and strengthening the 'bed-sleep connection' by sacrificing my bedtime read. Far from helping, these strategies ramped up my frustration. Then I found one thing that did work – something I had dismissed as the preserve of man buns and pseudo-spiritualists: meditation. With help from an app, I started turning my maddening night-time thought loops into innocuous clouds that passed through the sky of my mind. I discovered that mentally scanning my body from head to toe while focusing on each part without judgment could ease my ever-present tension. And by noticing how thoughts vanish as quickly as they appear, I came to realise this crippling phase would eventually pass. With my cynicism on hold, I started following the standard advice of meditating during the day, rather than reaching for it as an emergency sleep aid. Nothing hardcore. A simple 10-minute bolt-on after brushing my teeth. Over time, I started dreading bedtime less, found it easier to drop off and stay asleep longer. Sometimes for as long as six hours. Horror for some. Bliss for me. So the sleep diaries got binned, but the meditation did not. By regularly stilling my mind, I was able to step back and appraise problems from a distance. 'Respond, not react', to use the correct meditation parlance. In fact, I was able to look at my entire life from a distance. This clarity helped me see that my marriage was beyond repair. Divorce soon followed, a stressful but ultimately positive process made more manageable by daily meditation. Then came the lion's den of dating. I honestly don't know how I would have survived dating apps without meditation apps. They helped me stay grounded, observing the chaotic thrills and rejections with detached awareness. Best of all, meditation has made me a better parent. With patience not being one of my virtues, I had a habit of snapping at my child. Throw my menopause and their teendom into the mix, and you get something more explosive than fireworks on New Year's Eve. But meditation helps defuse things. If I let the habit slip, the tetchiness – and insomnia – creep back in. Meditation has not only calmed my mind, but also expanded it, making me more open to the things I once dismissed: vulnerability, therapy and perhaps even spiritualism. It's been such a salve that I'm (almost) grateful to my sleepless nights for forcing it on me.
Entrepreneur
09-06-2025
- Health
- Entrepreneur
Burnout Fix: Five Morning Meditations
Burnout happens slowly, usually without us even realising before we find ourself exhausted, overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode. However, even just five minutes to yourself in the beginning of the day can really help bring you back to you. Morning meditation is a powerful way to regain a sense of control by tending to your own needs- before the world demands your attention. Here are five simple, but extremely helpful morning meditations to help you beat or prevent burnout and to start your day energised, positive, empowered and balanced – and show up exactly the way you want to be as a leader. 1. Morning Intention Meditation This meditation takes between 2-5 minutes and will help with clarity, empowerment and calmness. By setting a clear, heart aligned focus for the day you will feel anchored and secure: living life from your own centre. Practice: Find a calm spot and sit down, placing a hand over your heart. Take a deep breath in asking "How do I feel"? Hold for a moment Exhale and let the answer land (can be a colour, a word, or an image - stay open to how you receive the answer). Repeat a few times until you have a clear sense of how you are truly feeling. Then breathe in deeply asking "How can I best support myself today"? Exhale and let the answer land (again stay open to how the answers may appear) Finish by thanking yourself for the making time to check in with you. This meditation brings you back in touch with your values and reminds you what truly matters to you today- beyond work or the never ending to do list. 2. Calming Breath Meditation This five minute meditation will help to regulate and calm your nervous system. Start your day by deeply connecting to the stillness of the ever present moment. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths. With each inhale, feel the fresh new oxygen fill your body with positive energy. With each exhale, completely let go and release any tension and stagnant energy. Practice: Inhale for 5 counts Hold for 5 counts Exhale slowly for 8 counts Repeat this cycle 5–10 times noticing your body settling down, breath by breath. Slowing our exhales helps to regulate our nervous system creating a balanced mental, emotional and physical state. 3. Be like water meditation Burnout often comes from feeling like we are carrying the world upon our shoulders- mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. This 5-10 minute simple meditation helps clear the mind, release emotional tension, and allows you to create space for the new positive ideas, feelings, experiences and people that the new day will bring. Practice: Sitting or lying down, close your eyes and visualise yourself floating in a beautiful healing pool of water. Take a few conscious deep breaths in and out, and see if you can "mentally step out of the way" and just notice how life is breathing life in and out of you. Every time you notice yourself mentally drifting back into the past, or ahead into the future come back to the feeling of floating: The water holding and carrying you. Life abundantly breathing life into you. Recognise that in this moment everything is taking care of. If a stressful thought comes up, gently exhale and release it into the water and watch it drift away. Welcome all thoughts, emotions and sensations and let it all flow through you. This practice of detachment builds over time and can be very helpful in dealing with everyday challenges. 4. Cultivating compassion meditation Burnout often leaves us feeling depleted to the point where we have no emotional resilience or space for empathy. A lack of forgiveness in our lives can also mean carrying a lot of pain around with us. This practice is important for cultivating compassion as a leader for yourself and others and enhancing feelings of kindness and forgiveness. Practice: Repeat the following silently:"May I be safe." "May I be healthy." "May I be happy." Then extend these wishes to others: Someone you love, a neutral person, someone you're struggling with, and then to all beings. This meditation practice reminds our mind what our heart already knows: that we are all human beings sharing the experience of being alive at this moment, in this timeline, doing the best that we can with the tools that we have. It reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, but that we are all in this together. 5. Journey through the senses meditation Our bodies will often notices burnout way before our mind accepts it, so carrying out a daily body scan is a powerful way to recognise the signs before burn out happens. A simple 10-15 minute meditation can help you tune into your body and notice how you are feeling. Practice:
