Feb 14, 2012

Book Review/Teaser: Everyday Meditation by Tobin Blake

Teaser Tuesdays asks you to choose sentences at random from your current read.

"Think of meditation as rest, not work. It is sacred time you set aside each day to step back from the world and all the busyness and stress of daily life, and to sink into quietness for a little while....

I rest in gentleness, I rest in gentleness, I rest in gentleness.' Let this message fill your consciousness as you meditate today." (Day 58)

Title: Everyday Meditation: 100 Daily Meditations for Health, Stress Relief, and Everyday Joy by Tobin Blake
New World Library, Feb. 10, 2012

Comments: Everyday Meditation offers 100 days of meditation exercises, beginning on day 1 with simple deep breathing, then advancing to counting your breaths for concentration, then chanting a simple mantra or saying, then moving on to imagining scenarios for concentration and relaxation. One such mental image, in the Day 11 exercise, asks you to imagine "meditating before a great ocean, waves gently lapping on the shore, the sun warm but not hot, and the day quiet ."

I liked that these exercises don't require you to sit in the lotus position, which I would find uncomfortable after a while. You can sit on a chair or anywhere that is comfortable and quiet, says the author, as long as you are sitting, your back straight, your head up, and you are in a relaxed position. The book suggests closing your eyes while you meditate, although I have read in a book by a Tibetan lama that opening your eyes is better, to keep in touch with the real world.

The author gives health reasons for meditation - decreasing blood pressure and heart rate and relieving stress. He also discusses meditation as "turning inward" to find your inner core or spiritual self.

The 100 daily exercises seem a good way to ease into the habit of meditating, with simple exercises that build on each other, leading to your becoming more adept if you followed the exercises faithfully. Easier said than done, I thought.

I would recommend the book as an insight into the practice of meditation, whether or not you use it as a reference book and/or as a book of practice. I think it is a book I'm glad to have on my shelves.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book.

8 comments:

  1. I need to do something like this everyday! Thanks for sharing....and here's MY TT POST

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  2. Meditation always helps when you are stressed.

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  3. I do some of this when I practice yoga, and I find myself doing a lot of breathing exercises when I get stressed, so I think this book would be an excellent resource for me. I am glad that it was easy to follow along with, and am going to be thinking about grabbing my own copy soon. Great review today, my friend!

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  4. I try to give myself some quiet time everyday, a sort of informal meditation period. It does help relieve stress and I do feel healthier afterward. The only problem is finding the time for "down" time. Sounds like a good book - love the teaser!

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  5. After the crappy day I had at work this book is singing to me! I must find a way to spend some quiet time with myself and also a way to get rid of that negative stuff and focus/breath!!! Sounds wonderful!

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  6. Just reading your Teaser calmed me! This sounds like a great book that I would benefit from reading and following. Thanks for the post.
    Here's my Teaser: Sandy's Teaser

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  7. Great teaser! This is a book I could use. After a stressful day at work, this sounds like just the thing for me.

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  8. I think I could really use this book. Great review!

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