How to Meditate: An Interview with Sharon Salzberg
There’s a myth that meditation is difficult—an esoteric practice that is hard to master and only available to a few enlightened people. But that’s simply not true.
Meditation can work for anyone. You don’t have to be religious, or own a special cushion, or be able to cross your legs in a classic “lotus” position (though all of these things are fine too!). Meditation accepts you as you are—so relax. With the right attitude and some discipline, you too can have access to the benefits of a regular mindfulness practice, including stress relief, lower blood pressure, better attention, decreased anxiety and depression, improved digestive function, and fewer problems with chronic pain.
Sharon Salzberg has been teaching and writing about meditation for over 40 years. She played a large role in bringing Asian meditation practices to the west in the 1970s, and her books—including Lovingkindness, Faith, and Real Happiness—explain how to incorporate the practice into your life in clear, friendly terms.
Watch the video below to hear Sharon explain the benefits of the practice and offer solutions for commonly encountered problems during meditation.
Interview with Sharon Salzberg
Have a specific question? Skip ahead in the video to hear Sharon talk about…
0:14 – the benefits of learning to meditate
1:03 – how to start a meditation practice
2:21 – what do if you can’t find the time to meditate
4:04 – how to stay motivated when you don’t see immediate results
5:47 – how do deal with a “rushing” mind
7:02 – what to do if you get sleepy while meditating
8:56 – how to tell if your meditation practice is “working”
Visit www.sharonsalzberg.com to learn more about Sharon and her teachings.
Here are just a few studies that show some of the benefits of a meditation practice.
Anderson, J.W., Liu, C., Kryscio, R.J. (2008). Blood pressure response to transcendental meditation: a meta-analysis. American Journal of Hypertension; 21(3):310-6.
Chiesa, A., Serretti, A. (2009). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for stress management in healthy people: a review and meta-analysis. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine;15(5):593-600.
Davidson, R.J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller, D., et al. (2003). Alterations in brain and immune function produced by mindfulness meditation. Psychosomatic Medicine; 65(4):564-70.
Gaylord, S.A., Palsson, O.S., Garland, E.L., et al. (2011). Mindfulness training reduces the severity of irritable bowel syndrome in women: results of a randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Gastroenterology; 106(9):1678–1688.
Hofmann, S.G., Sawyer, A.T., Witt, A.A., Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapy on anxiety and depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology; 78(2):169-83.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., & Burney, R. (1985). The clinical use of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine , 8(2), 163–190.
