Zelma brings meditation experience to library

Whether it is school, work, or even the world around us, the world can be a stressful place.

Retired educator Zelma Chamberlain, M. Ed who has more than 35 years of meditating, brought her talents to the Lisle Library District.

"I've been meditating for 36 years," Chamberlain said. "I specifically like this practice of meditation because it focuses on the tenth opening of the body."

While going through a list of slideshows explain the nuances and the essential keys of the practice, Chamberlain said letting the body fully relax is the most obvious point to Meditation.

The term mindfulness, which is psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which one can develop through the practice of meditation and through other training, is a common word known through the practice.

Not only is the word used through meditation, it also popular in the world of psychology and psychiatry to treat patients with a mental illness.

Mindfulness practice involves the process of developing the skill of bringing one's attention to whatever is happening in the present moment, which is the center of what meditation tries to accomplish.

"We use a calming word with this technique," Chamberlain said. "It could be peace, calm, love and we use that word to keep our thoughts away in our mind as we go into this practice."

With Meditation being used with the aim of reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and increasing peace, perception, self-concept, and well being, Chamberlain wanted the audience to know that you do not have to be a professional in the field to be able to utilize meditation.

At home, in a quiet place, or wherever someone feels they can relax and have mindfulness, was something Chamberlain expressed to the crowd.

Getting comfortable while preparing to sit down for a few minutes or longer, focusing on your breath and following your breath for a couple minutes or the beginning stages of meditation.

Noticing when the mind has wondered, being kind to one's own mind wondering was also a main point illustrated by Chamberlain, acknowledging that rumination is something that is very normal in society.

"Those intrusive thoughts in our brain when we can't shut our brain off is why meditation is so important," Chamberlain said. "It's such a strategy of focus and refocus because once you focus your mind on the calming word and really sink in pushing those thoughts to the side is something that is very important."