… dangerous to the status quo. As Harvey Weinstein’s conviction was just announced, women across America are finding comfort in a verdict that will set a precedent not only for justice but also for women’s health and safety.
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The 2010s have made a dent in the history of women’s rights. The #metoo movement ignited a profound transformation crackling an unfair, oppressive social environment. Coincidentally the same decade also witnessed the ever-growing phenomenon of meditation practice. What does one thing have to do with another? Here we would like to argue that meditation and mindfulness offer a reliable key to women empowerment and freedom.
Meditation has acquired such a massive reach, it almost became a cliché. You’ve certainly been through hundreds of articles, books, videos, and podcasts about the endless list of science-backed health benefits of taking a few minutes of quiet breathing time each day.
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At some point in the mid 2010’s meditation stopped being a woo-woo thing and became a fashion statement. Glamorous celebrities of all ages like Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Aniston, J-Lo, Madonna, Katy Perry, and so on claimed all over the web that meditation was their secret to stardom.
An influencer like Jessica Alba stating “I like doing a guided meditation. Sometimes it’s just spending five or 10 minutes breathing and being connected to my body.” It has an even more powerful impact than white-coated prominent neuro-scientists explaining how meditation reduces levels of anxiety, stress, and anger.
Empowerment and resilience
This is wonderful news indeed for meditation is truly for everyone and we must all be grateful to media leaders and entrepreneurs who help democratize access to this century-old technique that does change lives. For example, Oprah Winfrey, once ranked the most influential woman in the world, is a strong advocate of practicing meditation. We are big fans of her 21-day Meditation Experience with Deepak Chopra. She has also pushed values such as self-improvement, overcoming adversity and empowerment. Her followers cultivate the belief that meditation helps build self-confidence and resilience, which may as well be true.
When asked what she wished she had known growing up, Arianna Huffington said, “I wish I’d appreciated just how powerful it can be to introduce just five minutes of meditation to your day.”
Work-life balance and multi-tasking
For many women in the western world, meditation has nothing to do with mysticism, faith or religion. It’s about calming down, getting grounded in an increasing multi-tasking lifestyle. It’s also a useful transition to restore work-life balance and make a daily switch from working girl mode to Mom mode or whatever other mind-weighing responsibility. For that matter, meditation is not only something to include in a morning routine, but it’s also something one can incorporate four or five times a day in a matter of minutes, just breathing deeply and remembering the morning practice.
The rise of meditation goes along with the increasing presence of women in key positions at the top of the corporate ladder and the administration. Today, 40% of new business creators in the US are women. Meditation is a handy toolbox that supports them throughout the most demanding phases of entrepreneurship. It also helps them increase focus and recover energy to face new challenges.
Healing and Recovery
We talked about meditation with 33-year-old Amy (her name was intentionally changed for privacy reasons) a sexual assault survivor who was at Xinalani last fall on a yoga retreat. “When I first started practicing with Headspace, a guided meditation app, I learned to focus on my breath and observe my mind in a non-judgemental way. Sometimes thoughts will pop up, unpleasant ones and my mind will automatically cling on them and generate feelings of fear or shame. I’ll get carried away. After a little while, I’ll notice I got distracted, I simply acknowledge it, let go of the thoughts and feelings and return to the breath. The breath is like an anchor to me. I know no matter how bad it gets I can always return to the breath.”
In 2012, The David Lynch Foundation launched the Women’s Health Initiative to offer Transcendental Meditation as an alternative therapy to heal victims of abuse. They claim to get a remarkable evidence-based result in treating post-traumatic stress, insomnia, flashbacks, and anxiety.
At Xinalani we created a sacred space to support men and women in their quest for self-discovery, healing, and transformation. Meditation is part of the things we believe in. We’ve seen tremendous changes occur with guests taking on meditation for the first time. We welcome your insight. Learn more about the holistic activities we offer.
About the Author
Co-founder of Xinalani, entrepreneur, yogini and passionate mother of three, Ana Paula has been shaping all sensory things around the Xinalani universe since its very inception in 2009. You will perceive her delicate creativity and her contagious vision in every little detail of the Xinalani experience.
