Last semester, one of my classmates attended a program that I worked on in which she gave a talk about the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. A certified yoga instructor and energy healer, this person did a great job speaking to our group of college students (general interest, health and wellness promotion, healthy aging and facilitating social belonging) about what a meditation practice involves. One of the things that I remember most from this presentation was that she emphasized the fact that yoga is a lifestyle. While someone may not physically be doing a series of movements, they are still practicing yoga on a daily basis in living by principles of mindfulness, respect and care.
Mindfulness, in short, is the practice of being present and aware of one's own thoughts, feelings and behaviors—both physically and emotionally. For example, focusing on your breathing and heart rate at different times during the day and reflecting on the feelings associated with that process. In general terms, meditation is a specific process set up to facilitate mindfulness in an individual. Yoga, breath exercises and a number of other routines could be considered a meditative practice.
As the basis of meditation and mindfulness is awareness and wellness of the self, it is clear that it can benefit us in understanding ourselves. Some researchers are looking to understand if meditation and mindfulness practice could also help individuals improve their understanding of others. I participated in one such study, led by an undergraduate student, last year in which I meditated each day for ninety days. At the end of the study, it seemed unclear to me whether or not I had gained any better understanding of how other people may be feeling. Empathy changes during development of individuals, and can be difficult for young people. It is important in today's public environment to be aware of how someone else is feeling and to also understand how your own ideas play into your perception of the world.
If you'd like to meditate, there are many phone apps that can do a guided meditation. You could also try a group yoga or stretch class, or could just set aside several minutes each day to sit quietly and focus on your breathing and presence.
You can also test your understanding of other's emotions on this website. This is a task commonly used in research about empathy, and has been used in specific research involving meditation and social understanding.
