Meditation

Meditation helps to calm our mind and bring our attention into the present moment.  

What is meditation?

Our guided meditation sessions will show you how to focus on your breath, observe your own thoughts without judgement and give you the space to unwind. Although meditation has its roots in many spiritual traditions, you don’t have to be spiritual to benefit from it. While many people turn to meditation to create some calm in their day or help to manage their stress, others do find that it helps connect them with an inner peace or something greater than themselves. With regular practice, even just a few minutes each day, you can make a positive difference to your sense of wellbeing. There is no right or wrong way to meditate, just find what works for you.  

Some people use meditation together with yoga but this isn’t essential. Meditation works well on its own.

Can meditation help someone with cancer?

Receiving a cancer diagnosis and battling through the disease, or helping a loved one through it, can be an overwhelming experience and often leaves people feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. Meditation offers a way to find peace and relief amidst the uncertainty and emotional challenges that come with diagnosis and treatment.

Cancer treatments can be physically demanding and emotionally overwhelming, and many patients experience worry, fear and restlessness. One of the main benefits is the ability through meditation to reduce stress and anxiety.  Regular meditation helps to calm the nervous system, lower stress hormones and promote a sense of inner peace, breaking cycles of negative thoughts.  In addition, because you feel calmer and less stressed, you may notice that other symptoms and side-effects improve too.  Because meditation can positively change the way the brain processes pain signals, people have reported that they are sleeping better, have less nausea, that their pain is reduced or that their blood pressure has come down.

Regular meditation can also help people gain a greater sense of control over their bodies and lives. It can change the way you think about different experiences and can help patients and loved ones process their emotions following a diagnosis.  Meditation can be a valuable complementary therapy to help cancer patients and those close to them to nurture their mind, body and spirit.

How to refer

If you are new to Wessex Cancer Support and have not already had a wellbeing assessment with one of our friendly team, we ask that you contact us to make a referral for an appointment. Our team will provide you with further information and availability of any activities you both decide on. As a new client, we’ll add you to our email newsletter list so you can keep an eye on forthcoming activities, too.

I’ve never tried meditation before, what should I know?

Meditation is accessible to almost everyone and can be adapted to individual needs and energy levels. It requires no special equipment or previous experience.  It can be practised in just a few minutes each day,  making it easy to fit into even the busiest or most challenging schedules.  At Wessex Cancer Support, we offer sound therapy which includes a guided meditation, and there is also a useful video on our website introducing the practice of mindfulness, which is a form of meditation.

You can mediate on your own, wherever suits you, or you can join a guided meditation with a group. Wherever you choose to take part, before you begin, think about getting comfortable both in terms of what you are wearing and potential distractions around you that you can head off in advance.  Sit in a comfortable position, trying to keep you back straight as this helps your breathing and your focus.  When you are in a suitable position, partially close your eyes and turn your focus on to your breathing.  Your mind will probably wander but try to direct your thoughts back to your breathing. This will become easier the more you practise. Gradually you should start to experience feelings of inner peace and relaxation, which in turn should refresh your mind. If you’d like to give it a try before you join us, we like this lovely bedtime meditation from the NHS.

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