We offer meditation in Southend-on-Sea, Essex at The Body Matters. Meditation and mindfulness are available from our clinic based in Leigh-on-Sea. We also offer telephone & online support and remote consultations. Call us on 01702 714968 for more information.
Meditation in Southend at The Body Matters
There are numerous meditation styles, types, and purposes available for exploration and curiosity.
At The Body Matters, we have been practising meditation since 2004 and have explored a variety, some of which have ‘stuck’ and others have been left behind.
Meditation is a versatile and accessible practice that can bring about a sense of peace and well-being: it can also bring personal and spiritual growth. It is important to find the right technique that works for each person as an individual. For example, a busy mum probably wouldn’t be able to find the time to sit and meditate for an hour, it’s got to be something that’s right for you and your lifestyle.
The meditations at The Body Matters are heavily influenced by The Realisation Process founded by Dr. Judith Blackstone, an innovative, experienced teacher in the contemporary fields of non-dual realisation and spiritual, relational and somatic psychology. The practices arose in response to her own need for healing after a career-ending accident.
You don’t have to be religious to meditate, you certainly don’t have to be a Buddhist.
All of these meditations are without doctrine, and non-religious. At The Body Matters, we have great respect for those who follow a spiritual path. Most who have experienced these meditations have found it helpful to integrate these practices with their chosen tradition.
All of these meditations are gentle, very subtle, and yet very powerful.
Embodied Meditation
(for deepening and stabilising in non-dual reality)
In this type of meditation, we learn how to ‘drop’ out of our cognitive mind so they can be present and alive in our body. So that we are conscious and living naturally within our body.
This type of meditation can help heal physical injuries and chronic structural problems. It can also open our body and mind to experience the most subtle dimension of our being. This level of our being is also known as our True Self or Authentic Self. When we open up to this dimension it can also help heal psychological, and emotional issues, habits and patterns that we may have had all of our lives.
There is a very subtle difference between being aware of your body (in mindfulness we use our mind to be aware of your hand for example) as opposed to inhabiting our body. We learn how to be fully alive and present our body. This difference can be more easily felt than explained. It can be compared to the difference between using your head to ride a bicycle (like you do when you first learn to ride) to just being able to naturally and easily ride the bicycle.
We learn to open up, to experience a felt sense of stillness, spaciousness and luminosity to cultivate ease and fluidity, bliss and presence.
Somatic Meditation
Somatic meditations aid and improve the mind-body connection.
We learn how to open up the body, heart and mind through inward contact with the internal space of the body. When learn how to let go of our internal and habitual gripping within our whole body we may experience improved ease, contentment and joy. And our movement with be more fluid, less rigid.
For example, we might feel that our shoulder muscles are tight and held in a contracted state. This can be from stress or anxiety, or as the result of an injury, it could be something that has been copied down through generations. We have all seen how certain postures or ways of being flow through families. When we get to experience and deeply feel the contraction we can learn to gently soften naturally from the inside. To let go. Sometimes emotions or memories come up, and then not judge, not using our intellect or conceptual mind to analyse.
Non-Dual Meditation
This can have different meanings depending on the meditation style. Most non-dual spiritual awakenings work mainly with the mind to recognise and cut through mental thoughts that may limit or distort our perception.
In these non-dual meditations taught in The Body Matters, we learn how to open our body, heart and mind so that the most subtle dimension of our self is revealed to us. This is an aspect of our self that has never been broken, it is in perfect balance. Also known as ‘Fundamental Consciousness’, ‘Self’, ‘Authentic Self’ or ‘True Nature’.
We learn how to experience this subtle level of our being whilst at the same time not giving up our experience of being human and our individuality. We learn not to suppress any aspect of our human experience.
By opening up in this way it can improve our connections to others and our environment.
Interested to find out more? Read The Virtues of Meditation by Louise Reader.
How Meditation & Mindfulness Can Help
Meditation FAQs
Can anyone meditate?
Yes, most people can practice meditation. It doesn't require any special skills or beliefs - just a willingness to sit quietly and focus. Whether it’s to reduce stress, improve mindfulness, or simply relax, there are many forms of meditation to suit different needs and lifestyles. With consistency, anyone can enjoy the benefits of this powerful practice.
What are the benefits of meditation?
Meditation offers numerous benefits, including reduced stress, improved concentration, enhanced emotional well-being, better sleep, and increased self-awareness. It can also promote relaxation and mindfulness. If you look online you can read plenty of articles about the health benefits of meditation, for example, lowering blood pressure and reducing stress levels.
How long does it take to experience the benefits of meditation?
The benefits of meditation can vary from person to person. Some people may notice positive changes after just a few sessions, while others may take weeks or months. Consistency and patience are key.
Can meditation help with anxiety and depression?
Yes, meditation can be a helpful tool in managing anxiety and depression. Regular practice can reduce the symptoms of these conditions and improve overall mental health.
How can meditation and mindfulness improve my life?
Here are just a few reasons that may find you feel the need to calm your mind, and how meditation can help improve your life too.
- Lacking in Willpower – Practicing mindfulness meditation can help boost willpower by regulating the area of the brain that controls our emotions and decision-making.
- Trouble Concentrating – Meditation may help to improve mental focus by altering brain function. Meditators are often better at handling quiet brain activity, often related to mind-wandering.
- School Holiday Meltdown – Are temperamental teenagers driving you potty during the school holidays? Simple meditation techniques, such as deep breathing and relaxation, have been shown to significantly improve unpleasant moods.
- Chronic Pain – Do you find yourself regularly popping painkillers in a desperate attempt to ease your pain? Meditation techniques may help you to regulate your sensitivity to pain.
- Sleeping Troubles – Do you find that insomnia strikes you often? Bombarding you with thoughts that result in anxiety, stress and depression? Meditation clears out the clutter in your mind, which lets you slip easily into sleep.
What does spiritual growth mean at The Body Matters?
At The Body Matters, spiritual growth involves an inward journey of self-exploration, aiming to cultivate human qualities like understanding, compassion, love, inner strength, and peace. This often goes hand in hand with personal development, where we become more aware of our skills, behaviours, and potential. It allows us to break free from habits and patterns that may hold us back, enhancing our ability to communicate effectively, build better relationships, and develop greater resilience in life.
Remote Consultations Available
We continue to use remote consultations to provide our services without physical interaction, if required, by shifting some appointments to video consultations.
Read our Remote Consultations page for more information.
