“If the mind falls asleep, awaken it. Then if it starts wandering, make it quiet. If you reach the state where there is neither sleep nor movement of mind, stay still in that, the natural (real) state.”– Ramana Maharshi

Meditation has recently gained immense popularity and for all the right reasons. Our fast-paced lifestyles make it easy to get lost in the chaos and stress of our daily routines. Meditation is a powerful tool that can help you find peace and relaxation and reduce stress levels. There are several meditation practices, and in this post, we will explore mantra meditation and how it can help relieve emotional instability and stress. We will also examine the various free meditation classes offered in temples and churches in Sydney.

Mantra Meditation: A Powerful Tool to Relieve Emotional Instability and Stress

Yesterday, one of my known eye doctors visited me and asked me to tell him about meditation. He told me that lately, he has been feeling very stressed out. He had issues with his wife due to some property matter and argued with her. His relations with his wife fell apart as she was pretty demanding. Due to stress, in a fit of rage, he had also hit his younger son because he was making noise while playing.

So, he wanted some counselling and was looking for a meditation to relieve his emotional instability. Being an eye surgeon, he had to perform three surgeries on his patients daily, and being stressed, he was afraid of his performance, too. Though I am not a meditation expert, based on my experience, I thought I would tell him about mantra meditation, which relaxes one’s mind. After doing this mantra, he went home quite relaxed and will continue practising it at home.

Finding Peace and Relaxation: Exploring Free Meditation Classes in Temples and Churches

I always want to spend some time in meditation. I want to relax and keep my mind healthy for my daily work routine.  Though I meditate at home, I also often prefer free meditation classes. My best venue for free meditation classes is in temples or churches, which are non-professional, easy to do, and done in groups in a spiritual atmosphere. So, I go to the nearest temple whenever I feel like taking part in free meditation in a natural way.  I spend one hour in meditation and feel so refreshed and energetic.

This meditation is done in various ways at temples. It can be done by chanting a mantra, learning breathing techniques like Pranayam to relax your mind, or singing a form called kirtan.

If you do such natural meditation, it relaxes your mind and body. It takes you beyond consciousness by going deeper within yourself. This ecstatic state of mind can be achieved by freeing your mind from negative thoughts, keeping you still and tranquil, and bonding your mind with supreme power.

What is meditation?

According to the dictionary, ‘Meditation is to think deeply about a subject or question over some time for a spiritual pursuit or otherwise’. The old saying that a ‘healthy mind resides in a healthy body’ means that if your mind is at peace, your overall body or physical body is healthy.

That means that to enjoy good physical health, one must have a sound mental and emotional state.

In today’s world, where we live 24/7 in a mechanic or tech environment, where there is a fiercely competitive atmosphere in every sphere, where relations break so easily as tolerance is lost and anger is aggravated in seconds, meditation is what gets your mind working in the right direction and makes you emotionally stable.

All this stress that our mind is exposed to causes a significant impact on the hormones secreted by endocrine glands, causing different levels of mental and emotional disorders which, if left neglected or untreated, affect our whole existence. They affect everyone around you, including your family, friends, and professional co-workers.

So meditation is essential to manage mental, emotional, and physical health.

Types of meditation

Meditation is a type of yoga or sadhana. Though generally, every kind of meditation aims to calm the mind, there are various types of meditation. Although there isn’t a right or wrong way to meditate, it’s essential to find a practice of meditation that you need and suits your personality.

According to Healthline, there are six popular types of meditation:

1. Mindful meditation

In mindfulness meditation, you pay attention to your thoughts as they pass through your mind. You don’t judge the thoughts or become involved with them. You simply observe and note any patterns. This practice combines concentration with awareness. This type of meditation helps you focus on an object or your breath while you observe any bodily sensations, thoughts, or feelings.

2. Spiritual meditation

Spiritual meditation is popular in Eastern religions, such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Daoism, and in the Christian faith. It is often performed at temples with a prayer that reflects on the silence around you and seeks a deeper connection with your God or Universe. This is best for those who thrive in silence and seek spiritual growth.

3. Focused meditation

In this type of meditation, you can focus on something internal, like your breath, or you can bring in external influences to help focus your attention. Try counting mala beads, listening to a gong, or staring at a candle flame. These activities improve your mind’s concentration.

4. Movement meditation

It’s an active form of meditation in which movement guides you. It is a way of calming the mind and creating awareness. Meditation is typically associated with stillness, lying or sitting in a comfortable posture, and focusing on the breath. The practices of qigong, tai chi, and aikido also involve moving meditation, and even dance movements can form the foundation for moving meditation.

5. Mantra meditation

This is my favourite type of meditation. Mantra meditation is prominent in many teachings, including Hindu and Buddhist traditions. It can be a word, phrase, or sound like the popular “Om.” It doesn’t matter if your mantra is spoken loudly or quietly. After chanting the mantra for some time, you will be more alert and in tune with your environment. This allows you to experience more profound levels of awareness.

6. Transcendental meditation

Transcendental meditation is the most popular type of meditation worldwide and the most scientifically studied. This technique involves the use of a sound called a mantra and is practised for 15–20 minutes twice daily. Certified teachers teach it through a standard course of instruction.

Why meditation is important?

Meditation enhances emotional maturity, increases self-confidence and willpower, gives physical and mental stress relief, and helps eliminate harmful urges and habits· Meditation also strengthens the immune system, increases vitality, removes irrational fears and phobias, and improves family and social relationships, giving you inner peace.  Regular 15-30 minute meditation exercises can help increase the body’s metabolism, lower blood pressure, provide ease from stress and anxiety and improve heart rate and breathing.

Free meditation classes in Sydney

There are various free meditation classes in Sydney at yoga studios, temples, churches, and meditation institutes. Here are a few places to enjoy and practice free meditation classes in Sydney:

1. Free Meditation Australia

Free meditation uses the simple Sahaja Yoga Meditation technique and offers over 100 free weekly classes in Sydney and Australia Wide. Get Class locations & more info at www.freemeditation.com.au or call 1300 724 252

Find free lunchtime and meditation classes at Eventbrite, which lists all the free classes in Sydney and Australia.

City Community Tennis also offers free meditation classes in Sydney. The 45-minute class is free on Tuesday evenings 6 – 6:45 pm and on Thursday lunchtimes 12:15 – 1 pm. Click here to book your class today.

The following meditation centres offer free meditation classes in Sydney:

• Sydney Centred Meditation is Sydney’s first drop-in meditation studio located at City Mutual Building, Level 10, 66 Hunter Street. The bright and airy studio has classes designed for corporate workers, with 30-minute sessions before and after the business day and at lunchtime.
• At The Broad Place at Mosman, Paddington, and Palm Beach, meditators from all over Sydney gather. Run by Jacqui Lewis, the school prides itself on helping people feel happier, healthier, and more grounded through Vedic meditation.
• Meditation Sydney, located at Level 2, 65 York Street, Sydney, hosts weekly introductory free meditation classes. On signing up, you begin with a three-day course, followed by four months of weekly/monthly follow-ups. After that, graduates are welcome to attend any group meditation classes around the globe.
• Australian School of Meditation and Yoga at 154/160 Broadway, Ultimo, offers a course on meditation, including how to use it to lower stress and tension, improve decision-making, mental clarity, tolerance, and find inner peace. 
• Bondi Meditation Centre at 28 Moore Street teaches Vedic meditation. It’s effective and easy to learn, and the experience is made all the more enjoyable by the centre’s owner, Matt Ringrose. The centre offers free introductory talks and a four-day introductory course. Once you’ve completed that, you can join group meditation on Monday evenings and ‘Reboot Camp’ on Thursday mornings.
• Sydney Meditation Centre, located at 2/220 Liverpool Street, East Sydney, offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced six-week meditation courses.
• At the Meditation Sanctuary, located in Rozelle, Annandale, and Sydney CBD, you can learn and practice Zen meditation, an ancient Chinese and Japanese technique. Accredited teachers run the programs, which attract hundreds of students throughout the year.
• At 115 Cooper Street, Surry Hills, Yoga Surry Hills studio offers a range of yoga classes and meditation. The classes start with guided practice, and afterwards, the teacher opens the floor for questions and discussion.
• Meditate in Sydney at  693-695 South Dowling St Surry Hills is a modern Buddhist meditation centre with full weekly drop-in classes and guided meditations, including courses throughout the city and suburbs. 
• Two free meditation audios are offered by mrsmindfulness.

Besides Art of Living and Yoga, Sydney also offers free meditation classes in Australia.

Finally, remember that you can meditate even at home. The easiest way to begin is to sit quietly and focus on your breath. You can practice any meditation you want. Generally, the easiest way is to do mantra meditation or concentrated meditation at home. Set aside a secluded place at your home with a yoga mat. You can use some decorative ideas to create that atmosphere.

Then, sit in meditation for twenty minutes daily and gradually increase the time by an hour. Also, it’s best to start in small moments, even five or ten minutes, and grow from there. Let no one disturb you in those minutes. Switch off your mobile, shut the room door where you meditate, and relax your mind.

One important thing I would urge you not to do in meditation is force yourself to do it because others are doing it. Meditation is a self-practice, a journey of self-knowledge. Make it enjoyable and part of your routine. It is best to do it first thing in the morning.

Meditation is an excellent way to find inner peace and calmness in today’s chaotic world. The various types of meditation, including mindful, spiritual, focused, movement, and mantra meditation, can help you achieve this sense of calmness. Mantra meditation is beneficial in relieving emotional instability and stress.

Free meditation classes in temples and churches are a great way to explore and experience meditation without spending a lot of money. So, if you are looking for a way to reduce stress and find inner peace, try one of these free meditation classes in Sydney and experience the benefits of meditation for yourself.