Good App/Daily Practice

[tmdjad]

Hi,

Having finished the 8 week FPIAFW set course, I'm wondering if there's a good app or place to start, in terms of daily practice that will incorporate everything I've learned?

I've looked at Headspace Pro - is this any good?

I've particularly enjoyed the loving kindness, and varying different breath/body meditations, but can't seem to find an answer on a catch-all daily practice.

Cheers

[JonW]

Not a fan of Headspace myself. A bit too light and fluffy for my tastes. And not strictly a mindfulness approach. Headspace is really its own meditation genre.
After completion of an 8-week course, it can be challenging to maintain daily practice. There's no app I know of that will incorporate everything you've learned so far. It's really a question of deciding which meditations you are going to do regularly, which books you are going to read, and so on.
Which parts are proving a challenge for you at present?
Cheers,
Jon

[tmdjad]

Could you explain more about why Headspace isn't a mindfulness approach?

I'm doing the Pro series and it mentions mindfulness alot, although it's not as guided as the other meditations and works towards being completely unguided.

I struggle with having 6-8 meditations to choose from every day. I find it too much and I don't know which to do. There's no clear path.

[JonW]

Not familiar with the Pro series. Whenever I've looked at Headspace, it's always struck me as a little lightweight, really geared towards relaxation and chilling out, which is not mindfulness at all.
6-8 IS a lot to choose from. Why do you think you are finding it difficult to choose your own practice? Don't some meditation practices appeal to you more than others?
Jon

[tmdjad]

The pro series definitely focuses on Mindfulness, it really takes into account that one should carry the awareness which is nurtured during practice, into every day life.

I think I'm finding it difficult because I'm not sure which one out of the 6-8 I should go with..?

They all appeal to me in different ways. I find dealing with difficult thoughts useful, I find the loving kindness useful, etc etc. I just don't have time to pracice them all.

I'm wondering how others manage, post-8week course?

[JonW]

Hi tmdjad,
It just comes down to finding a practice that suits you.
After I finished my first 8-week course, I settled into a weekly routine that included sitting/breathing meditation (guided) and body scans (unguided). But, gradually, that changed.
These days I sit in choiceness awareness for 20/30 minutes each day, simply paying attention to whatever comes up - be that sensations of breathing, sound, difficult thoughts, physical discomfort etc. I no longer use guided recordings apart from the body scan which I find difficult to practice without guidance. I aim to do a 40 minute body scan at least once a week. Occasionally I use music to meditate to. When I am out walking, I turn that into a meditation, noticing sensations in my feet, legs, hips, arms etc. Thoughout the day, I notice when I'm not being mindful, bringing my attention back to breath or body sensations - or simply noticing the colour of the grass, the sounds around me etc.
There are no hard and fast rules here. Just a matter of finding your own way.
As I may have mentioned before, I find reading around the subject very useful to my practice. I also attend group sessions where I meditate with others.
I'm also a qualified mindfulness teacher so meditation is a massive part of my life all in all, and the thing I am most passionate about. It it impossible to imagine life without mindfulness and I can safely say that it has transformed my life - after a lifetime of anxiety, depression and a near constant feeling of disconnection (from myself, others and the world of nature), I feel much more intimately involved with life.
I put that down entirely to regular practice.
It can take time to find a practice that suits you and can be fitted into a busy life. So do be patient with yourself. And, in the meantime, please feel free to come onto the forum here and ask any questions that arise. We will do our best to answer them.
All good things,
Jon

[tmdjad]

Great post - thanks Jon!

[Labombard]

The pro series definitely focuses on Mindfulness, it really takes into account that one should carry the awareness which is nurtured during practice, into every day life.

I like what you're saying, Jon. It's a great idea to be guided at first so you learn the basic techniques. It's the same as with a lot of creative endeavours in life. It's ok to break the "rules," but you first have to know them and know why you're breaking them.

[Deborah1]

Hi tmdjad

I have also finished that course very recently. Ideally I would like a breathing meditation of 20 mins but it's only 8 mins. I did that for 2 days. Yesterday I did the body scan. Today I did the breathing one followed by sound and thought which I really like. I plan to do the body scan 2 or 3 times a week and hope to discover through practice and looking on line what is best for me.

Given I've never made any serious attempt at meditation before I think it'll take a wee while to find what works. Perhaps it's the same for you.

Best wishes
Deb

[Newbee]

Hi there,
I’m new.. what is the 8 week course?