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AGING IS A CHOICE Part 14 – Meditation and Aging

By Robert Manni

Throughout my series on aging, I have touched on the numerous benefits of meditation and the myriad ways it helps us in our aging journey. I’ve mentioned how the areas of the brain responsible for learning, memory, self-awareness, and attention are protected through a consistent meditation practice. We’ve identified benefits like increased creativity, heightened intuition, and stronger connection to our inner self. At this point, I don’t think there’s any doubt that meditation can be a helpful, healthy practice at any age, and even better for aging. However, for people who are new to it, or even for those who are simply looking for a change, an overview of some different meditative practices could be helpful and just might entice you to take the leap into the wonderful world of meditation and youthful aging. 

Over the past twenty-five years, I’ve practiced several different kinds of meditation. Each has its benefits and depending on my needs or mood, I will select one to practice each day. Once you start to explore the different types of meditation, you’ll begin to see there is enough variety to suit every personal preference. So, here are a few of mine.

I began my meditation practice quite unintentionally when Alvina, my body worker, recommended the audio cassettes of Dr. Fritz Smith called Zero Balancing. I purchased the cassettes and began quietly listening to the twenty-minute introductory program. It featured a guided meditation built around mindfully constructing a metaphysical pyramid around our physical and etheric bodies. It was intended for body work, but after the second time I practiced while listening to the tape, I realized I was learning how to quiet my mind and let extraneous thoughts pass by like clouds in the sky. In other words, I had begun meditating. After a few weeks, I moved to the longer, deeper meditation on the second tape. Let me tell you, over the years I’ve had to replace my cassette player a few times, but even now, every so often I go back to practicing meditation through Zero Balancing. There’s just something about this meditation that is incredibly grounding and calming. Thank you, Dr. Fritz Smith for teaching me how to meditate.

The second method of meditation I compiled on my own by building on the foundation of Zero Balancing. Over the years I’ve started my day with a series of prayers, positive intentions, visualizations, affirmations I aggregated from books, interviews, videos, and classes. Without listing everything I internally and sometimes externally articulate, I can tell you I focus on God, gratitude, forgiveness of myself and others, mantra-like affirmations, and prayers for my loved ones, humanity, and our troubled planet. This is a lot, so it isn’t for everyone. What I mean is that you can put together your own playlist of what is important and makes you feel you have done something meaningful to start your day. I end each session with a visual spiritual journey filled with things I intend to manifest in my life. The entire process takes about 20-30 minutes. I’ve followed this daily regime for the past decade and have found a difference in my perspective and how my day unfolds. It’s my way of rebooting my system before I head out into the world, and it helps me live intentionally each day of the year.

The third method of meditation I practice is inspired by metaphysical author and teacher, R J Spina. I begin by closing my eyes and shedding everything about myself and the world, so I am reduced to nothingness. Then, I simply “be” and allow whatever passes through my consciousness. I am nothing. I am everything. I am not my body, but much more, yet nothing at all. Sounds crazy but I find it works as a refresher and break from my usual routine. It’s like spring cleaning where I unload and clear out junk I didn’t know I had been carrying around for a while. 

And that brings me to Transcendental Meditation or TM. I will delve into TM next time, because it deserves its own narrative. I believe all my previous meditation training and practices led me here. It’s a powerful, positive game changer and I can’t wait to tell you all about it. Until next time…let’s make the choices to keep aging younger together.